Album Notes

The America's Bluegrass Band consists of vocalists Melvin Goins, Don Rigsby and Ernie Thacker plus world class musicians Billie Rose, Matt Thacker, Mike Feagan, John McNeely and Randy Kohrs.

MELVIN GOINS: Melvin has been in Bluegrass Music for over 50 years as a promoter, singer, musician and composer. He has played with such legends as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Hylo Brown and The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers. He is currently touring with Melvin Goins and Windy Mountain. The term "Pioneer" is a good fit with this elder statesman of Bluegrass Music.

DON RIGSBY: Don is a multi-award winning singer and producer from the hills of Eastern Kentucky. He has played with such groups as J.D. Crowe and New South, The Lonesome River Band and is currently touring with Don Rigsby and the Midnight Call. He is Director of The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music at Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.

ERNIE THACKER: Ernie is a highly acclaimed singer who as a teenager was tapped by Ralph Stanley to be the lead singer of the Clinch Mountain Boys band. After several years with Ralph, Ernie formed his own band, Route 23, and has been touring extensively throughout America. The Boman, syndicated radio host calls Ernie "The best Bluegrass singer on the planet".

When interviewed on the subject, Thacker and Rigsby agreed that the main reason to record this project was the chance to work with the legendary Melvin Goins. For Goins, it was a chance to impart some of the wisdom he has learned from the University of Hard Knocks to a couple of willing students.

We hope you enjoy the album.