Cadillac Sky transcends tradition by infusing their progressive brand of bluegrass with groundbreaking originality and an insatiable musical curiosity. The band’s new Skaggs Family Records CD Blind Man Walking lands in stores on Jan. 23. The album features the virtuoso picking and singing you’d expect from a band made up of two national champion pickers, a respected guitar veteran, an upright bass phenomenon, and an award winning songwriter. A little more unexpected is the thematic range of the record that plays like a good novel with climactic moments and emotional highs and lows.
Cadillac Sky’s music is fueled by chemistry—a chain reaction transpires when Bryan Simpson (mandolin, vocals), Matt Menefee (banjo), Mike Jump (guitar, vocals), Ross Holmes (fiddle, vocals), and Andy Moritz (bass, vocals) come together to play music. The results are explosive.
One of Cadillac Sky’s secret weapons is their ace songwriting skill. Simpson has written tunes for George Strait, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson. He’s had cuts with Kenny Rogers, Jo Dee Messina, Diamond Rio and Neal McCoy. Simpson’s “Before I Knew Better” became a top 15 hit for Epic/Sony artist Brad Martin.
This record also serves as the coming out party for banjo phenomenon Menefee, who was crowned a Winfield champion at age 17. Blind Man Walking showcases his outstanding soloing, and excellent rhythmic backup skills. His playing is the instrumental center point of the record where he displays the world-class skills that have other players clamoring to learn his secrets after the band’s live performances.
In fact, the band has built a reputation as an amazing live band. Every time Cadillac Sky hits the stage, they earn more fans and accolades. The band was chosen as one of the twelve acts from hundreds of applicants, to showcase at the 2004 IBMA World of Bluegrass Trade Show, a very prestigious honor. That should come as no surprise because individually the band members have toured with Sara Evans, Josh Turner and a host of perceptive artists who know world-class talent when they hear it. Like a fine wine, the band is only getting better with time--at this year’s (2006) IBMA they were once again chosen as one of 12 acts to showcase for the who’s who of the bluegrass world. The buzz generated from their red-hot set was almost deafening.
One of their biggest fans is country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs who signed the band to his Skaggs Family Record label in April of 2006.
