Crandall Creek hitting the charts

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.

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.

Lots of Good News with Crandall Creek

West Virginia’s Crandall Creek has shared some terrific news with their followers, starting with an update on band leader Jerry Andrews’ ongoing battle with colon cancer.

Following surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, doctors were able to tell Jerry that the surgery had been a success, and that he was cancer free. It is hard to imagine how liberating how such a report must be, and we share with many others in wishing Jerry good luck going forward.

Correspondent Bruce Winges shared some further details.

Jerry has a temporary ileostomy, which will be surgically reversed in six weeks. Once healed, Jerry will have a series of 12 chemotherapy treatments over six months.

“I am thankful that this is going to turn out well,” Jerry said. “I also want to thank all those who sent prayers and wished me well – there is strength in faith and community.”

Jerry hopes that by sharing his story, others will take it upon themselves to get cancer screening tests. If Jerry had a colonoscopy at age 50, he would not have needed the surgery 14 years later. 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.

The band has also announced the hiring of Abby Latocha as their new lead singer, following the recent departure of their bass player and vocalist, Lili Gadd. Abby, a resident of Mannington, WV, has just turned 20 years old and has been pursuing music and songwriting since she was a young teen. Her music up to this point has been focused on country and Americana.

A new single featuring her lead vocal is expected quite soon.

Crandall Creek has also announced Patricia Imbrogno, who goes by Trish, as their new bassist. Living in Pittsburgh, she has many years of experience as a professional musician in a wide variety of genres, including bluegrass, of course. Trish received a classical education, and spent much of her career in that realm, but is a convert to the grass, and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Bluegrass.

Other members of Crandall Creek include Dustin Terpenning on banjo, Kathy Wigman Lesnock on mandolin, and Roger Hoard on guitar. All are looking forward to a return to live shows later this month.

Written by Bruce Winges

Posted in Bluegrass Today on September 9, 2020

Read all about it!

The Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation work of Jerry Andrews and Crandall Creek is highlighted in Bluegrass Today article.

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.

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 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

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 funds $1,000 scholarship through IBMA

The IBMA Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of a new college scholarship for the fall 2021 semester. The Crandall Creek Scholarship is sponsored by the West Virginia band of that name. The annual $1,000 college scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates an interest and involvement in any aspect of bluegrass music, including but not limited to performance.

Crandall Creek is a Moundsville, West Virginia, based band, formed in 2015, that plays a mix of bluegrass, folk, acoustic country and gospel. The members’ original music and vocal harmonies reflect their Appalachian roots. Jerry Andrews, Wyatt Kidd, Abby Latocha, Kathy Wigman Lesnock, and Dustin Terpenning each contribute material to the group, which appears mostly in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Their 2020 album, Headed South, was critically acclaimed and received extensive radio airplay.

Bandleader Jerry Andrews says the band has been involved in community causes since its inception. “We’ve been so blessed, we wanted to share what’s so generously been given to us. The members of Crandall Creek think youth need to be given every opportunity to experience all aspects of bluegrass. The future is in our young people.”

Applications for the Crandall Creek Scholarship, IBMA Bluegrass College Scholarship, the Sally Ann Forrester College Scholarship, and the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship for the fall 2021 semester must be submitted by June 1. Apply by emailing the application form and one letter of recommendation to info@bluegrassfoundation.org or by mailing to: IBMA Foundation, Attn: Scholarships, 1183 University Drive #105-215, Burlington, NC 27215. (Letters must be postmarked by June 1, 2021.)

Students may apply for more than one scholarship on the same application form. Applicants must either be citizens of the United States or international students planning to go to college in the United States. Applicants for the Rick Lang Music Songwriter Scholarship must be current members of IBMA (info: ibma.org). Applicants may apply for and/or receive scholarship support for more than one year, but must re-apply each year by June 1 for the following fall semester.

Click here to download and fill out the application form and to review criteria for all four scholarships.