Tracy Byrd’s Keyboard Player Injured By Falling Light Rig at Texas Show
Tracy Byrd's keyboard player, Vernon Emshoff, was injured during a show in Texas on Saturday night (Oct. 20), when a lighting rig fell on him. Radio station 97.3 the Dawg reports that the musician was treated for his injuries and released.
Byrd and his band were performing at the Brazoria County Fair, which takes place in Angleton, Texas, a city located south of Houston, when the incident took place. Cell phone video obtained by TV station KTRX shows Byrd wrapping up his show and setting his guitar down as a full rig of stage lights falls from the back of the stage and onto Emshoff's keyboard.
"The incident last night is very unfortunate, and we are continuing an investigation, as safety is a top priority at the Brazoria County Fair," fair officials shared with KTRX in a statement. "It is our understanding that the injured band member has received treatment, and we pray for a speedy recovery."
The Dawg reports that Emshoff required stitches in his head following the incident. From the cell phone video, it appears that the lighting rig largely missed Emshoff, though his bandmates needed to lift the rig in order for him to get offstage.
"A difference of mere inches was the difference between horrible news and the worst possible news this morning / last night," writes bassist Kyle Hebert on Facebook. "To all of my other musician friends out there, double-check that all rigging has been anchored properly, before you get on stage to perform. As freak as this accident was, it could have been prevented. That’s the part that makes us all angry."
Byrd and company performed in Florida on Sunday night (Oct. 21), the Dawg reports; however, Emshoff did not play with them.
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