Jim Thrasher - vocals; Buddy Thrasher - vocals; Joe Thrasher - vocals; John Gresham - bass vocals; Dave Hofner - keyboards; Gary Tally - lead guitar; Ron Bidle - drums; Tommy Watwood - bass
The Thrasher Brothers began singing together in 1948 when they were between the ages of 6 and 10. Emerging from Georgia as a Southern country gospel group, like The Oak Ridge Boys, they eventually moved into mainstream country music. Jim, Buddy, and Joe Thrasher toured non-stop for more than two decades along with "adopted brother" bass vocalist John Gresham (who was with the group for nearly 15 years).
This recording was made in 1982 for the Silver Eagle Cross Country radio series, which had taped them for broadcast primarily in Europe. The group had signed with MCA's country division and scored a number of radio hits after writing and recording the theme song for the popular 1980s TV show Simon & Simon. Through Universal's TV division (MCA was owned by Universal), they were given the luxury of being hired to write theme songs for several other shows through the decade.
Brothers Jim, Buddy, and Joe began as regulars on the Wade Fowler Gospel Singers segment of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. By the early 1950s they were winners of Ted Mack's Amateur Hour, and in 1967 were popular enough to have a regional TV show called America Sings! They produced and starred in that gospel music TV show through 1976, when they decided to cross over to mainstream pop and country music. They saw their biggest success in the early 1980s while on MCA.
In 1986 the quartet retired. Jim took over the Thrasher Brothers Motorcoach Company (which the brothers had collectively begun in 1969) and was eventually was named President of the Alabama Motorcoach Association. Joe took a job with the highway department.
The group reunited for a one-off farewell record, Encore, released in 1996. The record included a posthumous performance by bass singer John Gresham.