Biography
There appears to be more than one band that goes by the name 'Cadillac Blues Band'. Two, one from the UK and the other from Texas are mentioned below.
I. The band traces its roots through guitarists Coll Michaels and Kim Rew back to Blues Apex, founded in 1966 by jazzman and composer John Altman in support of a CND fund-raising gig billed with Roy Harper and Stray at the legendary Roundhouse in Chalk Farm.
Charged by the experience, bassist Ian Charles and Coll Michaels enlisted two school friends - guitarist and songwriter Kimberley Rew and drummer Ian Worsfold, carrying the band on to North-West London's lively club circuit. 'Discovery' led to a demo of Kim's classic songs "get Around Stoned", "So Hard to Find" and "Summer Song" in London's Tin-Pan Alley' at Central Sound studios. Mickey Most's subsequent proposal for the band to record and release "Jet Set", an orphaned Herman's Hermits bubble-gum song, was met with abject horror by the band.
Blues Apex's naive and unworldly response was duly noted by the star maker, who subsequently refused to take further telephone calls pleading for a chance to record their own compositions for a culture-starved UK public. Daunted but not defeated, the boys resolved to finish their academic commitments while continuing to convene during odd weekends and college holidays until, not surprisingly, paths diverged.
Kimberley collaborated with his new friends at Cambridge, and the resultant Soft Boys enjoyed a long and successful run, achieving cult status. When the Soft Boys disbanded Kimberley formed Katrina & the Waves, best known for their enduring hit "Walking on Sunshine", which was written by Kim. Since then he has recorded three solo albums and participates in numerous projects with other famous musicians.
Meanwhile, continuing his musical involvement with Chris Cheale and Ian Charles in Great Escape a semi-pro rock and blues band, Coll became a pharmacist and family man. John ("J.C.") Curtis stepped in when Ian announced his retirement from music performance following Chris' untimely death. The band soldiered on for a number of years, with Coll and Phil Swan on guitars, John Curtis on bass and Tom Mautner on drums.
Cadillac Blues Band was born when drummer Brian Scott and bass player Frank Laughton recruited Coll after seeing him play with Smokestack Blues Band , a lively little outfit put together with teachers at his daughters' school for a benefit concert. Very loud and hard-hitting, the new Cadillac trio quickly became well-known in the proliferation of blues clubs and pubs of 1990's Herts, Beds and Bucks. Frank and Brian left to form another band and were replaced by faithful pal John Curtis on bass, and a seemingly endless procession of 'borrowed' drummers, which included Terry Wilson, Paul Hornsby, Joe Coulson, and then an old schooldays friend - Roland Kerridge. The need to constantly adapt to the different rhythmic interpretations presented by this constantly changing line-up created and honed an extraordinary musical trust and partnership between John and Coll - this is why the band always sounds so 'tight'. Roland was persuaded to join as resident percussionist in 1996 and the band has benefitted from his superb drumming since then, although Paul or Terry (etc, etc,!) still step in from time to time when Roly is on tour elsewhere.
The Cadillac core band is often augmented by other musicians. These additional guitar players have included the legendary Pete West, Ray Uren, Pete Wood, and the awesome Nigel Spennewyn. Keyboards have been contributed by Paul Hirsh, Richard Henningham and Hilary Briggs. The band have also provided backing for Polly Browne - of "Same Old Feeling" chart-topping renown.
Occasionally, the founder of the original Blues Apex band - Emmy-Award winner John Altman, pays a visit with his soprano saxophone. This constant flux of talent keeps the sound of the band fresh and exciting and a source of continuing pleasure for its participants, and sometimes, the audience!
The Return of Rew
Out of contact for 30 years, Coll finally got hold of Kim's phone number from Stephen Games, a friend reunited at a school reunion, and in 2002 the current line-up coalesced. Kim has woven his ringing, imaginative and harmonic playing into Cadillac's smoky, bluesy riffs - and hearing these guys together on stage is powerful and uplifting. In spite of a busy studio and touring schedule, Kim travels down from Cambridge and seldom misses a gig, often accompanied by his partner, bass player and singer-songwriter Lee Cave-Berry, to play and sing on rock'n'roll fun classics such as "Round and Around" and "Yaketty-Yak".
Cadillac Blues is more than a band - it's a complex interaction of enduring musical friendships.
II. The CADILLAC BLUES BAND TX, HOUSTON TEXAS..Since 2008
Our musical goal is to bring together a mix of blues and blues based rock. Our performance reiterates the sometimes lost knowledge that all American music that followed, has its roots in the blues.
We are regular performers at the HOUSE OF BLUES, and other appropriate top end venues in Texas
BAND members include;
ARRON BARRINGER, Irish Love God. Bass guitar. Arron is famous for flying and complex bass lines and…playing in a kilt..The ladies love it.
BOB POWELL, Drums, BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS. Bob designed and built a one of a kind, fully custom,10 piece drum set. Bob also toured as back up drums and tech with THREE DOG NIGHT
KEITH DONNAGAN, Lead guitar, lead vocals, Keith has three albums to his credit. Keith formed, produced, and wrote all the music for the Texas girl band, OUR DARK QUEEN.
RICK CLOUTIER, Formed the Cadillac Blues Band along with Keith in 2008. Guitar,Harmonica Lead vocals, and song lyrics. One album to his credit. Rick also works as an international Boeing 767, Captain for UNITED AIRLINES.
DAVID IRVINE, Vocals, Saxophone, plus various instruments. we have not found anything he can't do yet.David has his BA in music and band leadership, from Sam Houston, Texas, sitting first chair in symphony and jazz.
Our up tempo, BLUES and BLUES BASED ROCK performance, includes an extensive list of original songs as well as popular covers from artists such as, SRV, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Elmore James.Tom Petty, ACDC, Johnny Cash, JJ Cale, Beatles, Dewite Yokum, EAGLES etc.
All five of the Cadillac Blues Band musicians are also vocalists so our diverse sound can be tailored as needed for each song. We discovered that a diverse sound is preferable to a one singer,one sound three hour show.
OUR fan demographics are from AGE 28 and up. Our strongest fan base is here in south east Texas. from Galveston, Clear lake, Houston, Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Austin and Huntsville.
A Cadillac Blues Band performance includes our full backline of equipment,( as required). A custom overhead truss lighting / smoke system, and our iconic, red, 1962 CADILLAC ELDORADO CONVERTIBLE, (Where appropriate).
We recently recorded all the new songs for our album,SNAKE BIT. availible for download on our Reverbnation website
Thank You for Checking us out and..
KEEP ROCKIN THE BLUES!
Rick
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