Ernie Thacker

Hailing from Northern Ohio, Ernie Thacker was raised on the essentials of bluegrass music. Steeped in the work of Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, and Jimmy Martin, Thacker took classical violin lessons as a child but quickly fell under the tutelage of an uncle who played in a bluegrass band. Breezing through studies in fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, he soon began to gain renown in the surrounding towns. By chance, Thacker ended up moving to live with his grandparents and attending the same church as his idol Ralph Stanley, who was soon convinced enough of the boy's talents to offer...