Ernie Thacker

Ernie Thacker, a self-described miracle, is back.

Thacker, an alumnus of Ralph Stanley’s Clinch Mountain Boys, has traveled a long journey of recovering from a devastating 2006 car accident to once again hit the road with his band, Route 23.

The news gets bigger and better: He’s also just signed a recording contract with Pinecastle Records.

“I am what a lot of people call a miracle,” Thacker says on his MySpace home page. “In April of 2006 I was in a very bad automobile accident. In all medical terms I should have died upon impact. But anyway, I am alive and have made alot of changes in my life.”

Thacker started playing professionally when he joined Dr. Ralph Stanley’s band when he was just 16.

He already has several shows booked for the 2008 season, including the Live Oak, Fla., Bluegrass Festival March 22 and 23.

Other stops include:

April 4 — Bluetop Bluegrass Festival, Bluefield, W. Va.

April 18 — River Bend Music Park, Ocila, Ga.

May 8 — Apple Shop, Whitsburg, Ky.

May 16 — Amilia Family Campground, Amilia, Va.

May 22 — Ralph Stanley Music Park, McClure, Va.

June 21 — Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Festival, Bean Blossom, Ind.

June 27-28 — Rudy Fest, Grayson, Ky.

July 12 — Ed Hamilton Memorial Fest, Beach Grove Ind.

August 2 — Bluegrass festival in Greenup, Ky.