Buddy Cage

Buddy Cage ( born 1946 in Toronto, Ontario) is an American musician and pedal steel guitarist. Cage was known primarily as a member of the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, but was also a studio musician.

Biography

Buddy Cage grew up in Toronto, Canada. At age eleven, he took classes at the Hawaiian guitar. It was based on the play of his idols Ralph Moonie ( from Buck Owens' band ), Buddy Emmons and Curly Chalker, but was also interested in rock and roll and soul music. Already in his youth Cage entered into bars and clubs and soon played on albums by Anne Murray and accompanied Ronnie Hawkins. Since 1968, Cage lives in the U.S., mostly in California.

1969 Cage played in the folk rock band Great Speckled Bird ( with Amos Garrett, Ian & Sylvia Tyson ), which published a produced by Todd Rundgren album in the same year. When the New Riders Of The Purple Sage in 1971 after the departure of Jerry Garcia looking for a new steel players, the choice fell on Cage. He coined the New Riders albums Powerglide, Gypsy Cowboy and The Adventures Of Panaman Red with its psychedelic pedal steel sound. Except for a short break 1978/79, where he founded the San Francisco All-Stars with John Cipollina, Cage remained until 1982 when the New Riders.

Alongside Cage was also in demand as a studio musician. Bob Dylan hired him for the session to his album Blood On The Tracks. He also played on albums by the Grateful Dead musician Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Robert Hunter and worked with David Bromberg, Sly Stone and others.

In the 80s, Buddy Cage largely disappeared from the scene. He had to deal with alcohol problems and was temporarily moved to Massachusetts. With the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, he defeated the late 80s his alcoholism. Then he engaged temporarily in organizations of alcohol and drug counseling.

In the 90s, was Cage member of country-rock band Stirfried, with whom he released three albums. Later he published and toured with the Brooklyn Cowboys. Occasional guest appearances in the band of his old New - Riders - mate David Nelson led the end of 2005, finally, to a revival tour of the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, in addition to Buddy Cage and David Nelson also members of Stirfried and Michael Falzarano of Hot Tuna involved were.