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A Long Time Comin'...
Earl & Them
to release long-awaited cd: Special Blend
---Sondra Goode, story
---Jason Hudson, photography
After several months of recording, mixing, and
mastering the first Earl & Them album is ready to hit
the streets and airwaves. The great Earl Cate and some
of his friends have gotten together to mix up one Special Blend, the title of the group’s first recording.
Earl and Them is comprised of the core four: Earl
Cate (lead guitar), Jason Davis (guitar, vocals), Terry
Cagle (drums, vocals), and Mike Murray (bass); and,
joined by special guests Jimmy Thackery (guitar, vocals), RJ Mischo (harmonica), and Dave Renko (saxophone). The lineup is superb, in fact, it may be one
of the most seasoned set of performers on any album
project in Arkansas history. The collective experience
of the players is well over 200 yrs.. These guys have
been around awhile and are putting out some of the
best music of their illustrious careers.
“We are very excited and proud of the music we
have been able to put down on this recording,” states
Earl Cate. “We have been playing together off and on
for several years and felt it was time to put some of
the material we have been performing on stage on to a
permanent record.”
Those of you who have been fortunate enough to
have seen Earl and Them perform in recent months
know that they have become a very tight, groovy band
and when you add Thackery, Mischo, and Renko to
the mix you have one powerful group. They take it to
another level. It doesn’t get much better than this.
The band’s leader is legendary guitar player Earl
Cate, who was listed by Steve Cropper in his list of
top ten guitar players of all time. Earl has been writing
and performing music for five decades now. He has
a unique style of playing which sets him apart from
the rest. His level of experience and professionalism is
unmatched. Earl has played and toured with The Band,
Bo Diddley, Neil Young, Van Morrisson, and many others. His bands have shared the stage with Queen, Elvin
Bishop, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and many other rock legends
over the years. He played for Bill Clintons’ Inauguration Ball in 1992.
Jimmy and Earl: mutual inspiration
6
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NIGHTFLYING • AIN'T NO CURE... • 2011
...quite possibly the world-champion bar band...
Front man for the band is Jason Davis, the youngster in the group. He is often times referred to as
Baby Jason, a name he picked up many years ago in
Nebraska as a young performing artist in the Lincoln
area. Jason plays rhythm guitar and is the lead singer
on many of the band’s tunes. His bluesy voice exudes
plenty of soul on the songs he sings (“Loved By You,”
“Woman Sawed in Half,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” “Party
All Night,” and “Yellow Moon”).
The other lead vocalist for the group is Terry Cagle, who also provides percussion for the band. Terry
has been playing drums and singing since 1966 mostly
with the Cate Brothers Band. His voice and appearance
has a resemblance to his uncle, Levon Helm. He sings
“Puttin’ Out Fires,” “Remedy,” “Shape I’m In,” “Ophelia,” and provides the rhythm on all of the tracks.
The core four is rounded out by the bass player,
Mike Murray. Fondly referred to as “No Worry Murray,” due to his near perfection in the studio and on
the stage. Mike has been performing for over 30 years
in the Midwest with local bands and Grammy-award
winners from Arkansas to Iowa.
What makes Special Blend so special are the guests
who are heard on this recording.
First, Jimmy Thackery, a 30-year recording artist,
who undoubtedly is considered a master of the blues
guitar. He has toured nationally for many years as
Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers, and previously with
the Night Hawks. Jimmy is famous for his hard driving guitar work which compliments Earl Cate’s guitar
splendidly on this recording. Jimmy wrote “Puttin’ Out
Fires,” “Smoke and Mirrors,” and “Dirt Road Woman,”
which he sings on this recording. Jimmy played on all
the tracks and revs everything up. He adds the hot rod
to the group.
Secondly, R. J. Mischo, an internationally performing blues harmonica master joins the blend. R. J. has
been a recording artist for many years with several