Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (October 28, 2020) - Crandall Creek’s Jerry Andrews completed his third surgery as he continues his recovery from colon cancer. 

The October 26, 2020 procedure was for a medical port to accommodate chemotherapy. Jerry took his first dose of chemo the day after the surgery. He is scheduled to receive 12 light doses of chemo over the next six months. 

“One down and 11 to go,” Jerry says. “I am very thankful for the treatment UPMC has given.” 

Doctors at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center free of cancer. The chemo is to ensure he recovers. 

 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 had 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. 

Crandall Creek’s second album, Headed South, is in the final stages of production. The band now is working on its third album. 

With the addition of Abby Latocha (vocals, guitar and mandolin), Trish Imbrogno (upright bass and vocals) and Wyatt Kidd (fiddle, guitar, banjo and mandolin), the future looks bright for Crandall Creek and Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation.

          MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (October 16, 2020) - Sitting on an overturned five-gallon bucket, picking beans and feeling the good earth.  Life does not get any better than working the garden in a well-worn pair of jeans on a summer day. 

            Kathy Wigman Lesnock paints that picture in Crandall Creek’s latest release, The Bean Song. 

            The song grew on Kathy one day when she was working her garden in rural Pennsylvania. “The chorus popped into my head and I sang it over and over until I could get back up to the house and record,” Kathy says. 

            She worked on the song for a bit, then put it away. 

            Sometime later, Kathy brought the song out during a Crandall Creek band practice. The band members collaborate like a family on songs, with each person listening, putting parts in and sometimes taking parts out. 

            Crandall Creek founder Jerry Andrews came up with a better opening line. Dustin Terpenning and Lilli Gadd had some good input on another part. As the band worked it grew into the finished song you hear now. 

            “It is an honor to be the featured vocalist on The Bean Song,” Kathy says. “And I am equally excited about our new band member, Abby Latocha, singing harmonies on the song.” 

            “I find a great sense of contentment and thankfulness in my garden,” Kathy says. “I think The Bean Song reflects that.” 

            We hope you enjoy this song as much as spending a summer day in a well-worn pair of jeans picking beans…and feeling the good earth.

            MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. (September 9, 2020) – 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. 

            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, W.Va., 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.

By Bruce Winges 

MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va., (Feb. 23, 2020) - Bluegrass was music to Judy Kesterson’s ears when she needed money to help recovering addicts. 

A couple of years ago Judy was facing a challenging funding environment as director of Miracles Happen, a residential treatment facility in Wheeling, W.Va., for those recovering from alcohol and drug abuse. Crandall Creek, a bluegrass band from nearby Moundsville, helped fill that need by donating money from its shows to Miracles Happen. 

“They not only play wonderful music,” Judy says, “but it also is wonderful for them to reach out to the community.” 

Jerry Andrews started Crandall Creek Band (named after his favorite place to fly fish in Wyoming) in 2015. Jerry writes songs, plays guitar and sings. He had a vision for a bluegrass group made up of musicians who reflect his West Virginia roots in the songs they play and write. 

As the band was finding its voice, Jerry brought Donna Ulisse to Moundsville for a concert. Kathy Sacra-Anderson, manager of Hadley Music Group, was with Donna and met Jerry. She put the idea in Jerry’s head to give money earned from concerts back to the community. 

 “I found an attorney to do the paperwork,” Jerry says, “and away we went.” 

Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation was born. The foundation is a 501c3 committed to producing first-rate affordable bluegrass concerts that raise funds for charities. 

Tiny Moundsville (population 9,318, give or take) is the home of the Strand Theatre, which was built in 1920 and restored over the past several years. Profits from Crandall Creek’s Strand concerts are plowed back to the community – band members take no money from those events. In addition, Jerry says the band members agreed to give 10 percent of their profits from festival shows to charity. The money is funneled through Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation. The band also collects non-perishable items for the Feeding Body and Soul Soup Kitchen in Moundsville. 

Members of the band like the idea of giving more than their music to the community. 

“I think the mission is wonderful,” says Kathy Wigman Lesnock, vocalist and song writer. “I am that way in my personal life, church life and I am glad to be that way in my band life.” 

“I think it is great to give back to the community and do it through the music we love,” says Dustin Terpenning, who plays banjo and mandolin. 

“I am excited to be able to help people,” says Lilli Gadd, who sings, plays bass and guitar. “I am happy to donate through causes that are meaningful to us.” 

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve donated my music and time…” says Heather Wharton, who plays fiddle and sings. “I feel that sharing God’s gift is the best way to connect with other people and help them heal.” 

Community support has been “incredible,” Jerry says. “And everyone we give to has been incredibly appreciative.” 

Jerry does his own research to find where the money can do the most good. He also hears about community needs through word of mouth. 

The band has raised thousands of dollars and 8,000 non-perishable food items. 

Here are charities that Crandall Creek has supported through Bluegrass Music Endeavors Foundation: 

St. Jude’s Children’s Research 
Miracles Happen 
Reynolds Hospital Cancer Research 
Feeding Body and Soul Soup Kitchen 
Helping Heroes veterans’ group 
Sacred Solutions adoption agency 
Black Lung Clinic at Cabin Creek Health Systems 

And then there is the music itself. 

Crandall Creek Band plays high-energy original music that reflects the West Virginia mountains and traditional bluegrass. They collaborate to create original material. The band’s first CD, Goin’ Down Home, came out in 2019. It was self-produced and recorded at Jamie Peck Productions in Wheeling. 

Their second CD, Headed South is due out this spring. 

The band also made appearances at the 2019 IBMA World of Bluegrass in Raleigh and the 2020 SPBGMA band competition in Nashville. The band makes numerous area appearances, including at the Railyard Restaurant in Elkins, W.Va., the Penn Alps Restaurant in Grantsville, MD.  

Jerry gave the band’s first CD to Judy of Miracles Happen. They knew each other through mutual community ties.   

“I listen to that CD every day,” Judy says. “It is soothing.”