Crandall Creek hitting the charts
Bell Buckle recording artist Crandall Creek continues to make waves on the bluegrass charts.
Drivin’ Me Insane hit the charts in March and settled in for a total of 28 weeks so far. The song stayed in the top 5 of the Bluegrass Today Grassicana Weekly Airplay Chart for several months. Drivin’ Me Insane also has appeared on the Fan Voted Chart.
This Heart of Mine debuted at No. 1 when it was released in May.
This fall saw the release of a third single, The Bean Song. By November The Bean Song and Drivin’ Me Insane were in the top 10 of the Bluegrass Today chart. The singles also appeared on The Bluegrass Jamboree chart.
The three songs are from the band’s upcoming CD, Headed South. The album is in the final stages of production and will be available in December.
Jerry Andrews of Moundsville, rhythm guitar and vocals, founded the band in 2015. He is joined by:
· Kathy Wigman Lesnock of West Finley, Pennsylvania, lead and harmony vocals.
· Dustin Terpenning of Bloomingdale, Ohio, banjo, mandolin and guitar.
· Abby Latocha of Mannington, West Virginia, lead and harmony vocals, guitar and mandolin.
· Trish Imbrogno of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, upright bass and vocals.
· Wyatt Kidd of Moundsville, West Virginia, fiddle.
· Roger Hoard of Wheeling, West Virginia, guest lead guitarist.
While Jerry and Kathy are principal songwriters, Abby, Dustin, other band members and even family collaborate on the songs. The result is original bluegrass and gospel true to the band’s Appalachian roots.
Valerie Smith of Bell Buckle Records is the executive producer of the band. Jamie Peck of Jamie Peck Productions in Wheeling records and produces Crandall Creek. Mastering is by JP McMullen III of Highland Mastering in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Bruce Winges of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, handles the band’s publicity and media.
Fiddle player joins Crandall Creek
Crandall Creek did not have to look past its home town for a fiddle player.
Wyatt Kidd of Moundsville has joined the West Virginia-based bluegrass band.
Bell Buckle recording artist Crandall Creek is a high-energy bluegrass band based in Moundsville. They write original songs in the bluegrass style. Their CD, Headed South, is in final stages of production.
While the fiddle is his primary instrument, Wyatt also has been known to play banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass on a professional level.
The 21-year-old first picked up the violin at the age of 9 after hearing about a string program at his school. He became interested in old-time fiddle tunes after hearing Charlie Daniels’ The Devil Went Down to Georgia. He learned those fiddle tunes by sitting in on local jams and listening. After doing that for a few years, Wyatt was ready to perform.
He became known in the Ohio Valley and beyond though his work with local bands.
Wyatt joins Crandall Creek founder Jerry Andrews (guitar, vocals), Kathy Wigman Lesnock (vocals), Dustin Terpenning (banjo, mandolin), Abby Latocha (vocals) and Trish Imbrogno (upright bass). Guitarist Roger Hoard is the band’s special guest recording artist.
While Jerry and Kathy are the primary writers of Crandall Creek’s original songs, the rest of the band collaborates on their music.
Crandall Creek has been making waves in the bluegrass world. Their single Drivin’ Me Insane sat in the top 10 for 27 consecutive weeks. The band just released another single, The Bean Song. Both of those songs are on the upcoming Headed South CD.
Jamie Peck Productions of Wheeling records and produces Crandall Creek.
Crandall Creek also donates to deserving charities through the Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 set up by Jerry.
Here is a link to the Bluegrass Today story on Wyatt.
Newest Single! The Bean Song
Will be available for streaming on October 16, 2020 (Friday)
Written by Kathy Wigman Lesnock, Jerry Andrews, Dustin Terpenning and Lilli Gadd
Lead vocal - Kathy Wigman Lesnock
Harmony vocal - Abby Latocha
Lead guitar - Roger Hoard
Rhythm guitar - Jerry Andrews
Mandolin - Dustin Terpenning
Bass - Jamie Peck
Fiddle - Aaron Till
Executive Producer: Valerie Smith
Produced, recorded and mixed by Jamie Peck
Mastered by J. P. McMullin III, Highland Mastering
Bell Buckle Records
Upcoming album: Headed South
Single street date: October 16, 2020
About Crandall Creek
"This HEART OF MINE FROM UPCOMING CD "Headed South"
"I just listened to Crandall Creek's new release, This Heart of Mine. they know how to deliver a story.The band has voices to listen for."
– Laurie Lewis, Grammy Award-winning artist, Female Vocalist of the Year at the International Bluegrass Awards in 1992 and 1994.
"A gifted, natural, and refreshing new sound in bluegrass, this is one to pay close attention to."
– Terry Herd, co-founder, and CEO of Bluegrass Today, founder of the Bluegrass Radio Network and host of Into The Blue.
"Lovely harmonies and great writing! This is a really strong track."
– Becky Buller, Grammy Award-Winning artist, International Bluegrass Awards Recipient for Songwriting, and Fiddle.
Crandall Creek is excited to share with you songs from their upcoming release, Headed South. These songs are written in an original bluegrass style that reflects the West Virginia mountains the band calls home.
Appalachian love, coal mining, and heartfelt spiritual songs are familiar themes in Crandall Creek recordings. Their vocals are as unique and authentic as only a group who create music by writing, traveling, and performing consistently together can deliver.
Although they are not family, they sound and perform music like the best family bands in the industry.
Crandall Creek was founded by Jerry Andrews (rhythm guitar and vocals) of Moundsville, West Virginia, in 2015. Jerry is joined by Kathy Wigman Lesnock (harmony and lead vocals), Lilli Gadd (upright bass, and lead and harmony vocals) and Dustin Terpenning (banjo and mandolin). Roger Hoard plays lead guitar on Headed South.
Valerie Smith of Bell Buckle Records is executive producer of the Headed South. Jamie Peck produced, recorded and mixed the album. The 12-song album – all original songs – is due to be released in June.
Crandall Creek also donates a portion of the money they earn to deserving charities through the Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 set up by Jerry.
Headed South
Crandall Creek
Bell Buckle Records
First Release Was a Success!
"Drivin' Me Insane" debuts at Number #3 and Headed South deb
Read all about it!
The Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation work of Jerry Andrews and Crandall Creek is highlighted in Bluegrass Today article.
Crandall Creek Believes in Community!
Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation
Crandall Creek band gives more than just music to our community, the Moundsville, West Virginia-based band also makes a point to donate money from the shows to various deserving charities. Jerry Andrews, the leader of the band decided to take their act of giving a step further when beginning an organization that would support his surrounding community with education and culture.
In 2015, Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, Crandall Creek’s Jerry Andrews (Founder and Executive Director) created 501c3 who’s mission statement is to producing first-rate bluegrass concerts that raise funds for charities and educational workshops to residents of Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and neighboring Ohio. The band Crandall Creek became a driving force behind this foundation through their music.
Here are the many charities that Crandall Creek has supported through the Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation:
- St. Jude’s Children’s Research
- Project Healing Waters
- Miracles Happen Rehab Center
- Reynolds Hospital Cancer Research
- Feeding Body and Soul Soup Kitchen
- Helping Heroes Veterans Group
By booking Crandall Creek at a festival or an event, 20% of the fee is given to a charity that will go 100% for its cause. So the list keeps growing and so does the improvement of our community!
Crandall Creek helps those fighting COVID-19
While coronavirus closed the door on live bluegrass shows, it opened the door for Crandall Creek to help those fighting the virus.
Moundsville-based Crandall Creek bluegrass band donated bottled water and Gatorade to Reynolds Memorial Hospital, a West Virginia University Medicine facility, in Glen Dale on Saturday, April 4.
“This is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to those on the front lines of this virus,” said Jerry Andrews, founder of Crandall Creek. “This is our community involvement.”
Peggy Brafshak of Reynolds Memorial said the hospital was “most appreciative” of the donation. She and Jason Milczewksi received the water and Gatorade at the hospital.
The donation was made through the Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, founded by Jerry. Band members Jerry, Kathy Wigman Lesnock, Dustin Terpenning, Lilli Gadd and Heather Wharton give a portion of the money from their concerts to the Foundation.
Also donating to this effort were Roger Hoard, guitarist who records with the band; Jamie Peck, who has recorded and produced the band; and Bruce Winges, who designs graphics for the band and sits it occasionally.
Bell Buckle recording artist Crandall Creek is a high-energy bluegrass band based in Moundsville. They write original songs in the bluegrass style. Their CD, Headed South, is in final stages of production and will be released this spring.
“We are looking forward to performing again once the virus threat is over,” Jerry said. “In the meantime, we want to help where we can.”
Bluegrass Today Article
This article is a contribution from Bruce Winges, recently retired as Editor of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Are you 45 years old? Are you turning 50?
If so, Jerry Andrews of Crandall Creek has a message for you: Get a colonoscopy.
When Jerry turned 50, he did not undergo the cancer screening procedure – he didn’t think he needed it.
Now, some 14 years later, the founder of the West Virginia bluegrass band wishes he had. This July Jerry finally had a colonoscopy. A week later Jerry was told he has colon cancer.
“I could kick myself for not doing this when I was 50,” Jerry says. “At that time, the doctors just would have had to remove a polyp.”
Now Jerry is facing surgery for colon cancer.
Admittedly, most people can find plenty of reasons to avoid getting a colonoscopy. At 50, Jerry was living a clean, healthy lifestyle as he always has and still does. He does not drink or smoke.
But in 2019 his sister-in-law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Seven months later she passed away at age 65. That convinced Jerry to get the test.
Patients who are 50 or older account for 91 percent of new colon cancer cases.
The American Cancer Society recommends that people start screening for colon cancer at age 45, and people in good health should be screened every 10 years. Removing precancerous polyps by colonoscopy reduces the chance of getting colon cancer by up to 70 percent.
Jerry says his doctors are optimistic. The tumor is small. The next step is a screening to see if the cancer has spread. If that comes back clean, then Jerry is facing surgery and a good possibility of recovery.
Bluegrass singer and songwriter Steve Gulley also has been diagnosed with cancer.
Jerry wants to help through his Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation, a non-profit 501c3. The members of Crandall Creek donate a portion of the money they make to deserving charities through the foundation. They plan on making a donation to Steve.
(A GoFundMe campaign also has been launched to help Steve.)
If all goes well with Jerry, he will be back with Crandall Creek in the fall. The high-energy bluegrass band signed with Bell Buckle Records last year, and released three original songs this year – Drivin’ Me Insane, This Heart of Mine, and Headed South. The songs are getting noticed and are receiving airplay.
“I won’t be able to lift anything or drive for a while,” Jerry says. “But I did ask the doctor if it would be OK to lift a guitar and he said that would be fine.”
In the meantime, Jerry hopes that by sharing his story, someone will get a colonoscopy.
So… are you turning 50?
Bruce Winges retired as editor of the Akron Beacon Journal after more than 40 years in newspapering. He got his first guitar in 1969, and became hooked on old-time music and bluegrass while working in Huntington, WV. He lives in Ohio and sits in with his brother-in-law’s band, Crandall Creek, whenever he can.
Bluegrass Today
Jerry Andrews Cancer Diagnosis