Railroad Earth’s Andy Goessling Dies

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Railroad Earth shared this photo of Andy Goessling along with the obituary posted on its website Oct. 12, 2018.

Railroad Earth broke the news to fans Oct. 12 that multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling had passed away. The brief statement posted on the bluegrass band’s website and social media accounts did not reveal a cause of death.

“Friends we come with heavy hearts and the sad news that our brother Andy has passed. He was truly one of a kind – a brilliant musician, and a better person,” Railroad Earth wrote. “It was a privilege to share this journey with him, and through his music he touched many lives. There’s simply too much to feel right now, words are hard to find, and we’ll have more to say in time.”

The band also quoted song lyrics from “Won’t You Come & Sing For Me,” a composition by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard: “How dear to my heart, how precious the moments, we stood side by side, singing a song …”

Goessling had been a member of the group since its inception in 2001.

Railroad Earth paid tribute to Goessling during its Saturday, Oct. 13 performance, the first of two at “Hillberry – The Harvest Moon Festival” in Eureka Springs, Ark. The group played “Won’t You Come & Sing For Me” and the 17th century Irish instrumental “Tabhair Dom Do Lámh” by Ruaidri Dáll Ó Catháin, which mandolinist John Skehan told the crowd was the last song he had the chance to perform with Goessling, according to Jambase. 

The band, which was featured as a “Hotstar” on the cover of Pollstar in 2009, is scheduled to take the stage next on Saturday at “Bridge Jam,” a festival in Fayetteville, W. Va.