Biography
Originally formed as an offshoot by several players from Nashville's Walk the West, the Cactus Brothers soon eclipsed that earlier outfit and established an independent identity. Following nearly a year of road work behind Walk the West's 1986 self-titled debut, vocalist/guitarist Paul Kirby and bassist John Golemon teamed with multi-instrumentalist Tramp for a friend's funeral performance. Joined by Walk the West alumnus Will Golemon on banjo and guitar, the quartet began playing acoustic shows across Nashville and the Southeast that leaned toward traditional country rather than the country-rock sound featured on the album. The Cactus Brothers quickly drew larger crowds than Walk the West, whose relationship with its West Coast label had soured; after being dropped by Capitol EMI the group reinvented itself as the Cactus Brothers.
Paul Kirby and the Golemon brothers had performed together since childhood; Kirby is the son of songwriter Dave Kirby, who penned "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," while the Golemons are sons of songwriter Guy Golemon. Tramp, skilled on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, had previously toured with the Kendalls. Manager John Lomax III recruited dulcimer specialist David Schnaufer, then added drummer David Kennedy and steel guitarist Sam Poland, enabling the Cactus Brothers to tour extensively. In 1992 the band signed with Jimmy Bowen's Liberty Records—the Nashville branch of the label that had previously dropped Walk the West—and cut its self-titled debut in 1993 under producers Allen Reynolds and Mark Miller. Nearly two years of promotion followed, encompassing dates in 38 states, Canada, Mexico, and six European countries.
Among the first country acts to harness video and cable outlets for audience reach, the Cactus Brothers saw their clips for "Fisher's Hornpipe" and "Crazy Heart" earn Bronze Awards at the 1994 Worldfest Competition in Houston. A filmed version of their intense reading of the country standard "Sixteen Tons" received notable rotation on VH1 and CMT. The group appeared in the film Pure Country alongside George Strait and served as the subject of a comic book drawn by Austin, TX, artist Mack White. Returning to the studio in 1995 with producer Randy Scruggs, the band tracked 24 Hrs., 7 Days a Week using John Mellencamp drummer Kenny Aronoff and Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans. By then Poland, Schnaufer, and Kennedy had departed, with steel guitarist Jim Fungaroli and drummer Johnny Tulucci—veteran of the theatrical production Always Patsy Cline—taking their places.
Later that year the members made history as the first Nashville artists to visit the former Soviet satellite of Estonia, where they performed at the Baltic nation's third annual Country Picnic, an event later broadcast on Estonian television. Executive turnover at the label once again left the band without a deal; by year's end the Cactus Brothers were released from Capitol EMI and gradually dispersed. Tramp later resurfaced in Bonepony, while former member David Schnaufer joined the faculty of Nashville's Blair School of Music and continues to appear at mountain music and bluegrass festivals while selling his recordings online.
Paul Kirby and the Golemon brothers had performed together since childhood; Kirby is the son of songwriter Dave Kirby, who penned "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," while the Golemons are sons of songwriter Guy Golemon. Tramp, skilled on fiddle, mandolin, and guitar, had previously toured with the Kendalls. Manager John Lomax III recruited dulcimer specialist David Schnaufer, then added drummer David Kennedy and steel guitarist Sam Poland, enabling the Cactus Brothers to tour extensively. In 1992 the band signed with Jimmy Bowen's Liberty Records—the Nashville branch of the label that had previously dropped Walk the West—and cut its self-titled debut in 1993 under producers Allen Reynolds and Mark Miller. Nearly two years of promotion followed, encompassing dates in 38 states, Canada, Mexico, and six European countries.
Among the first country acts to harness video and cable outlets for audience reach, the Cactus Brothers saw their clips for "Fisher's Hornpipe" and "Crazy Heart" earn Bronze Awards at the 1994 Worldfest Competition in Houston. A filmed version of their intense reading of the country standard "Sixteen Tons" received notable rotation on VH1 and CMT. The group appeared in the film Pure Country alongside George Strait and served as the subject of a comic book drawn by Austin, TX, artist Mack White. Returning to the studio in 1995 with producer Randy Scruggs, the band tracked 24 Hrs., 7 Days a Week using John Mellencamp drummer Kenny Aronoff and Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans. By then Poland, Schnaufer, and Kennedy had departed, with steel guitarist Jim Fungaroli and drummer Johnny Tulucci—veteran of the theatrical production Always Patsy Cline—taking their places.
Later that year the members made history as the first Nashville artists to visit the former Soviet satellite of Estonia, where they performed at the Baltic nation's third annual Country Picnic, an event later broadcast on Estonian television. Executive turnover at the label once again left the band without a deal; by year's end the Cactus Brothers were released from Capitol EMI and gradually dispersed. Tramp later resurfaced in Bonepony, while former member David Schnaufer joined the faculty of Nashville's Blair School of Music and continues to appear at mountain music and bluegrass festivals while selling his recordings online.
Albums
