America's Bluegrass Band - America's Favorite Hymns

(Ol' Blue Records OBR-20051) 2005

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This one-off project sees Melvin Goins, Don Rigsby and Ernie Thacker sharing lead vocals on fifteen bluegrass gospel songs. As far as I can tell Ernie Thacker sings lead on six cuts (Shoutin' On The Hills Of Glory, Rank Stranger, Zion's Hill, Mother I'm Sorry, Who Will Sing For Me, Cryin' Holy), Don Rigsby on five (Me And Jesus, Working On A Building, A Vision Of Mother, Sinner In Sin Too Long, Beulah Land) and Melvin Goins on the remaining four (Precious Memories, Little White Church, He Showed Me The Way, Cabin On The Hill).

As one might expect, the performances are all top notch with good production and stellar back-up.

Somewhat of an unusual ensemble, but as the liner notes say both Ernie & Don's biggest reason to record the project was the chance to record with Melvin, whose school gigs with the Goins Brothers had a big impact on them.

This one's worth picking up if you can find it...

• Melvin Goins: lead vocal
• Ernie Thacker: guitar, lead/baritone vocal
• Don Rigsby: mandolin, fiddle, lead/trenor/high baritone vocal
• Billy Rose: banjo, guitar, baritone/low tenor vocal
• Randy Kohrs: resophonic guitar, weisenborn guitar
• John McNeeley: guitar
• Mike Feagan: fiddle
• Matthew Thacker: acoustic bass

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