NEW HAVEN, CT (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — In what is destined to be an exciting and historic evening, musicians from Connecticut, NYC, and as far away as LA and Memphis will come together to commemorate the life of Doc Cavalier, the architect of so much that is memorable about the music scene in the Nutmeg State, and to spotlight his productions and the studio he created, Wallingford’s Trod Nossel Artists.
Thomas “Doc” Cavalier was a man on the cutting edge of music, and of life. His passing on January 1 leaves a huge artistic legacy.
His resume includes his seminal sixties garage band productions with the Shags, The Bram Rigg Set, and others (scheduled for compilation reissue on Sundazed in Summer, 2005); the establishment of his first label, Poison Ring Records; the Wildweeds’ R& B-inflected hits, including “No Good To Cry,” which forged a relationship with Chicago’s Chess Records; his proto-punk seventies label Big Sound and the establishment of Trod Nossel as a studio host to pop/punk greats Alex Chilton, Chris Stamey, Mick Farren, and Van Duren, as well as legendary road warriors The Scratch Band (featuring future Saturday Night Live Band members G.E. Smith, Christine Ohlman, and Paul Ossola) and the B. Willie Smith Band; his musical brotherhood with Detroit powerhouse Cub Koda, for whom he served as producer, manager, and musical mentor (Koda passed in 2000; he will be remembered during the concert in a mini-tribute by fellow Detroit rocker Marshall Crenshaw and songwriter and former Styx guitarist Glen Burtnik); A Tribute To Howlin’ Wolf, Cavalier’s Grammy-nominated tour (with the surviving members of Wolf’s band) through the history of the blues—a trip he continued with blues legends Eddie Kirkland and Pinetop Perkins, mixing and mastering a series of CDs by each; and his ongoing partnership with British producer extraordinaire and architect of the early Rolling Stones classics, Andrew Loog Oldham.
Through it all, Cavalier managed a string of successful bands (some of which will reunite especially for this concert); produced artistically-acclaimed 45s, LPs, CDs, and compilation tracks; served as a consultant for numerous companies and artistic projects; and maintained Trod Nossel Artists—which, as a family business, continues to operate as a vital musical force—as the longest-running recording studio in the Northeast. (For a complete bio, discography, and artist tributes, go to www.doccavalier.com).
Musical magic will be spun on the evening of April 22 on the Toad’s Place stage. Artists in the lineup include Marshall Crenshaw, Phoebe Snow, G.E. Smith, Syd Straw, Mighty Purple, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez, Plan 9, The Reducers, Eddie Seville & Steel Rodeo, Glen Burtnik, James Velvet & Patsy O’Brien, The Swaggerts, David Foster & The Mohegan Sun All Stars with Lenny Pickett, Mike DelGuidice (Big Shot), Andy York, Bruce Henderson, The Van Duren Band, Taylor Barton, The Nelson Adelard Band, Joe Hurley, Elaine Caswell, Ricky Byrd, Tommy Mara, Ian Charles, Mark Mirando, The Sin Sisters, and historic performances by members of The Scratch Band (G.E. Smith/Robert Orsi/Christine Ohlman/Paul Ossola/Vic Steffens/Doug Schlink/Tom MacGregor), The Shags (feat. Tommy Violante), Eclipse (Bob Mel/Joe Mel/Tom Harper/Rick Liso), Pulse (Jeff Potter/Harvey Thurrott), and The B. Willie Smith Band (Bob Elliott/Steve Baldino/Mike Cavadini/Jerry Connolly/Bill Holloman).
The concert will be hosted by some of Cavalier’s friends in the worlds of radio, records, and music journalism, including writer, historian and Rolling Stone contributing editor Dave Marsh, WCCC-FM’s “Sunday Night Blues” host Beef Stew, actor/designer May Pang, and author and longtime KC-101 morning anchor Vinnie Penn (both Marsh and Penn currently also man the dials for SIRIUS Satellite Radio).
Van Duren will be traveling from Memphis to celebrate the importance of Doc’s life.
“First, it is a recognition of Doc's influence and vision, of many years of bucking the odds and stubbornly supporting the artists he believed in. And for all the old, unemployed, uninsured musicians like me, it's an opportunity to show what we can't do anymore. Then there's the charity that benefits, and that is really a good thing,” said Duren. “But perhaps the greatest thing about all this is that all of these people whose lives Doc Cavalier touched will be in the same room at the same time, an intersection of souls out-of-time, in Rod Serling's neighborhood. I can't wait.”
Tom Harper will be coming back to New Haven from California to reunite with his former band Eclipse for Doc’s celebration.
“This concert is a fantastic way to celebrate Doc's life and his many contributions not just to the industry; but to each of us who were lucky enough to attract his personal attention,” said Harper. “I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for imparting on me what it means to be a professional in every sense of the word. In addition, I wouldn't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to see so many of the old Trod Nossel gang again.
Tickets are $10, available now at Toad’s Place, 300 York Street, New Haven (203.624-TOAD/Box Office and all ticket outlets) and on line at www.toadsplace.com and www.etix.com. Premium 2-ticket packages for upcoming shows have been supplied by Toad’s Place for additional door donations of $20 (Dick Dale); $40 (Dick Dale/Rev. Horton Heat); and $100 (Dale/Heat/Average White Band/Tower of Power).
All net proceeds will go to The Citizens Commission On Human Rights, a legislative watchdog organization that advocates for the rights of children in American schools not to be labeled with fraudulent mental illnesses and placed on dangerous psychotropic drugs. –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
