Special C

Special Consensus (l. to r.): Rick Faris, David Thomas,
Dustin Benson, Greg Cahill

In 1975, Greg Cahill got together with some college friends and formed Special Consensus. Those friends have long since departed, but Cahill remains, the glue that holds it all together.

The band's first album came out in 1979; the most recent project, the Grammy-nominated Scratch Gravel Road, was released last year. In all, the band has 16 recordings, and Cahill has played on them all.

He has also released three solo recordings and four banjo instructional videos. In addition, he teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and served on IBMA's board of directors from 1998 to 2010, the last four years as board president. In 2011, he was awarded IBMA's Distinguished Achievement Award.

My favorite Special C recording, from 1996 (l. to r.:
Bobby Burns, Diana Phillips, Cahill, Colby Maddox)

January

Who are these bluegrass "educators"?

This band celebrates its 38th year in 2013. Many members have come and gone, but the banjoist has remained a fixture from the beginning.

Though based in Chicago, the band has strong ties to Nashville, as two members of the quartet call the Music City home.

A major focal point for this band is introducing young people to bluegrass music. In the past 30 years, it's been estimated the band has performed for more than a million students.

One of its strong recordings is 1996's Strong Enough to Bend.



Significant January dates in bluegrass history

• 2nd: Red Smiley, of Reno & Smiley, died (1972)
• 6th: Earl Scruggs, who passed away last year, was born (1924)
• 10th: Butch Baldassari, founder of the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, died (2009)
• 13th: Jimmy Martin recorded "You Don't Know My Mind" (1960)
• 19th: Charlie Waller (1935) and Dolly Parton (1946) were born
• 20th: Flatt & Scruggs played at Nixon's first inauguration (1969)
• 26th: Charlie Louvin, one half of the Louvin Brothers, died (2011)
• 30th: Reno & Smiley recorded "I'm the Talk of the Town" (1953)

2013 Bluegrass Calendar

A new year, a new calendar. But still the game goes on, or, as Sherlock Holmes would say, "The game is afoot." This year, each month will feature a different bluegrass act. Once again, it will be your task -- if you choose to accept it -- to identify the performer(s). As the title of the calendar suggests, each band is based in or around Nashville, Tennessee.

All the photos featured in the calendar were taken by Alane Anno, a Nashville native. Last year, she became the official photographer for the International Bluegrass Music Association's World of Bluegrass convention, awards show, and fanfest, held each year in Nashville.