Cadillac Sky was an American progressive bluegrass group based in Nashville, Tennessee. Their debut album "Blind Man Walking" is widely considered to be one of the greatest albums in Progressive Bluegrass music. The band is currently on an "indefinite hiatus."[1]

Cadillac Sky
OriginFort Worth, Texas, U.S.
GenresProgressive bluegrass
Years active2002–2010
LabelsDualTone Music Group, Skaggs Family
Past members

History

edit

Cadillac Sky was founded in Texas[2] and recorded their first album, Blind Man Walking, in 2006, including mainly traditional bluegrass tunes.[3][4] The band members at that time were Matt Menefee (Banjo), Ross Holmes (Violin), Bryan Simpson (mandolin), Mike Jump (guitar, vocals), and Matt Blaize (bass, vocals).

In 2008, the band played at the Panhandle Bluegrass Festival in Hedgesville, West Virginia, and released an album, Gravity's Our Enemy.[2]

Mandolin player and singer Bryan Simpson[5] left the band in the middle of a tour in 2010,[6] and was replaced by guitarist Levi Lowrey.[1] That year the band played at Merlefest and guitarist David Mayfield joined the band.[7]

The band's third album, Letters in the Deep combined elements of blues, rock country and jazz with some more traditional bluegrass numbers.[8] Most of the songs are written by members of the band.[9]

At the time the band members decided to go their separate ways in 2011, the lineup consisted of Matt Menefee,[10] Ross Holmes, Levi Lowrey, David Mayfield,[11] and Andy "The Panda" Moritz (Bass).

Discography

edit

Albums

edit
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Grass
[12]
US Country
[13]
Talent Show
  • Release date: 2003
  • Label: Self Release
Blind Man Walking
  • Release date: January 23, 2007
  • Label: Skaggs Family
2 75
Gravity's Our Enemy
  • Release date: August 19, 2008
  • Label: Skaggs Family
3 58
Letters in the Deep[14] 4
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

edit
Year Video
2007 "Born Lonesome"[15]
2010 "Hangman"[16]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Horner, Marianne. "Cadillac Sky Lead Singer Leaves Band". theboot.com/. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Bluegrass smokes for Larry Cordle, Infamous Stringdusters, Cadillac Sky". Country Standard Time. reviewed by Greg Yost
  3. ^ "CD review: Cadillac Sky's 'Letters in the Deep'". Washington Post. Friday, July 30, 2010
  4. ^ "Cadillac Sky - Blind Man Walking". No Depression, February 28, 2007
  5. ^ "The Whistles & the Bells". Pop Matters.
  6. ^ "From Cadillac Sky to The Whistles & the Bells, Bryan Simpson Is Back in Full Force". Music Times, by Kim Jones March 12, 2014
  7. ^ "Cadillac Sky". American Songwriter. by Davis Inman June 7, 2010
  8. ^ "Cadillac Sky – Letters in the Deep". Consequences of Sound, by Chris Coplan May 12, 2010,
  9. ^ "CADILLAC SKY LETTERS IN THE DEEP". Bluegrass Unlimited,
  10. ^ "Cadillac Sky: Letters in the Deep". Paste Magazine, By Christina Lee June 8, 2010
  11. ^ "Nightfall Preview: The David Mayfield Parade" Archived August 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. WDEF News.
  12. ^ "Cadillac Sky Album & Song Chart History - Bluegrass Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Cadillac Sky Album & Song Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  14. ^ "Cadillac Sky Letters in the Deep". Pop Matters
  15. ^ "CMT : Videos : Cadillac Sky : Born Lonesome". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  16. ^ "CMT : Videos : Cadillac Sky : Hangman". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2015.