(pix, bio, discography and points of interest)
banjo pix by James Dewrance... other photos by Dave Lepori
blue sky shot by Jim Dirden
Hi-Res or hard-copy photos available on request: woodshed@verizon.net
Chuck McCabe
In groups, and as a solo performer, Chuck McCabe has played in Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Saloon, Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, L.A.'s Troubador and Ice House, toured Viet Nam, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines for the USO.
In 20 years on the road, he played more summers on Cape Cod, winters in Vail, Steamboat Springs, and Bear Valley than he can remember... more coffee houses, ginmills, Holiday Inns and Ramadas than he'd care to admit.
An award-winning songwriter (American Song Festival, Music City Songfest, Sisters Folk Fest , Napa Valley Music Festival, Tucson Folk Festival, Wildflower Festival, and the Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition), he has to his credit numerous independent releases (he will soon release his third self-produced CD on the BlahBlahWoofWoof label).
He has also recorded his songs on the ABC, Capitol and GRT labels in L.A. and Nashville, and was a staff writer for ABC. He wrote the Pet Rock song with the Rock's inventor, and was supposed to get rich... all he got was a big phone bill.
His first book was published in 1993, and sold not only to musicians and songwriters, but to countless colleges and county libraries across the country, following a buy-recommendation by the American Library Association.
He performs some 100 shows a year at rest homes, convalescent hospitals and senior living facilities for the non-profit Young at Heart Project, featuring vintage American music from the 1930's and 40's.
In addition to his work as a solo performer, he currently plays bass in an Irish group, lead guitar in an oldies band, and 5-string banjo with some folkies. He is working on a second book, and runs a popular workshop for the West Coast Songwriters organization.
Despite numerous close-calls, he has managed to elude both fame and fortune.
San Francisco: Drinking Gourd, Purple Onion, Coffee and Confusion
Ice House, Pasadena and Glendale
Golden Horseshoe Saloon, Disneyland
Colorado: Vail Village Inn, Steamboat Village Inn, The Nu Gnu, Inn at Copper Mtn., Denver Folklore Center
The Buddhi, Oklahoma City
USO Tours: Viet Nam, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Okinawa, Guam, Hawaii
Sid's Blue Beet, Newport Beach, CA
Penny University, San Bernardino
McCabe's, Santa Monica
Bear Valley, CA: Altitude 38, The Lodge
Cape Cod: The Woodshed, Lincoln Lodge, Improper Bostonian, the Oar and Anchor,
the Hose and Hammer, the Chuckwagon, the Windjammer
1984 Olympics (UCLA gymnastics venue)
Freight and Salvage, Berkeley
Strings, Berkeley
Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, CA
The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville
Cocoanut Grove, Santa Cruz
Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters, OR
Mosquito Serenade concert series, Anderson, CA
Mountain Garlic Festival, Angels Camp, CA
Music in the Vineyard, Morgan Hill, CA
Napa Valley Wine and Arts Festival
Shasta County Arts Council Concert Series
Shasta Damboree
Shasta Lake City Celebration
Lupin Songwriters' Festival
Sierra Songwriters' Festival
NARAS "Unsigned-Unplugged" competition
Founders Title Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Salt Lake City
Tucson Folk Festival
The Wildflower Festival, Dallas
Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Okemah OK
Staff Writer, ABC Records
Works-in-Progress Songwriting Workshop, Northern Calif. Songwriters' Ass'n... 15 yrs
Songwriting class instructor, Showcase Music Institute, San Jose CA
Americana Project Song Academy instructor, Sisters, OR
Fingerpicking Workshop, "Story Songs and Funny Songs" Workshop
Sisters Folk Festival, Sisters, OR
Host and MC, Night Owl Stage Sisters Folk Festival
Host and MC, side stage, Music in the Vineyard Morgan Hill, CA
80-100 shows a year for the Young at Heart Project (music for seniors, convalescent hospitals and assisted-living venues)
first place: Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition 2001
winner: Sisters Folk Festival Songwriting Competition 1998
Just Plain Folks nomination: "Burgers and Champagne" best traditional folk song
and numerous finalist, semi-final, or honorable-mention awards from:
Northern Calif. Songwriters' Association
American Song Festival
USA Songwriting Contest
Music City Songfest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
1967 single: "Tule Fog" Slippery Rock String Band, Dome Records
1968 album: "Six Penny Opera" Six Penny Opera, Capitol Records
1968 single: "You Took the Time", Metronome Records
1969 album: "Phoenix", ABC Records
1969 single: "Baby, I'm Sorry" Phoenix, ABC Records
1972 album: "Live at the Woodshed" (Cape Cod) Woodshed Records
1976 album: "Pensacola Flash" Woodshed Records
1976 single: "Travellin' Fever" Woodshed Records
1977 single: "That Old Pet Rock of Mine" GRT Records
1993 album: "Home" Hard Travelin', Gypsy Wind Productions
1996 album: "Making Tracks" Hard Travelin', Gypsy Wind Productions
1998 album: "Burgers and Champagne" BlahBlahWoofWoof Records
1998: BlahBlahWoofWoof sampler #1
1999 album: "The World Needs a Melody" Hard Travelin', Gypsy Wind Productions
2000 track: "I Like Your Skin" Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes #8 compilation
2001 BlahBlahWoofWoof sampler #2
2002 album: "Bad Gravity Day" BlahBlahWoofWoof Records
2002 BlahBlahWoofWoof Sampler #3 (2 tracks)
2003 album: "Blues Coffee House Collection Vol. I" IMS Records
2004 two cuts: Seamus Kennedy's album "On the Rocks" Gransha Records
