"Blues music brings together people. It has no boundaries, race, religion, politics, etc. don't matter when you love and feel the blues... You just become a family..."

Richard Cagle: New Mexico Blues

You may not be familiar with Richard Cagle but quite a few folks in the Houston music community know the artists he's worked with to help develop their career. Produced and recorded Carolyn Wonderland's first and second album. Won Producer of the Year (Houston Press/KLOL Music Awards) for Carolyn's 2nd album "Truckstop Favorites Vol. 2" While managing her, Carolyn signed with Warner Chappell, William Morris and was offered a major recording deal with Giant Records. Recorded dead horse's "Demo90" that got them signed to their first record deal and managed them a few years later. Recorded Soilent Green's (New Orleans) first and second albums that got them signed. Recorded Uncle John Tuner and Johnny Winter, Academy Black, Dirt, Hayflick Limit. Produced and recorded Joe "King" Carrasco, Simpleton, Lee Alexander, Carrie Ann and the Apocalyptics, L.L. Cooper, Voices of a Red God. Recorded and managed Dive, the Jinkies, Under the Sun, Rosebud, and Clay Farmer. Went into partnership with Skip Rudsenske and Greg Pitzer to open the "Artist Management Group" and "The Urban Art Bar". Co-owner of "Montrose Records" and manages Pasadena Napalm Division. Raised in Panhandle of Texas in the small town of Dumas. Started first band "Shades of Time" with Joe "King" Carrasco in the seventh grade. Moved to Baytown in 1967 and join the "Nomads".

(Photo: Richard Cagle)

During high school and college knocked around with numerous bands and finally settled into "Big Family" with Heli Joe Martinez in the mid 70s  playing regionally. Late 70s got married and started a family. The music dreams stopped but not the spirit. Started learning recording engineering in 1987 and opened Saturn Productions Studio in Baytown and a few years later, moved into Houston across the street from the Movie Studio (Houston Studios) in the warehouse district. Lost the studio in 1993 due to the building's owner being foreclosed on, and started managing Carolyn. Nowadays, Richard lives and works in the cool mountains of Ruidoso (New Mexico) where he owns Montrose Recording Studios, a beautiful space located on the top of a mountain with a spectacular view of the Sierra Blancas. In 2024, Richard Cagle & The Voodoo Chor released the new 12-tracks album "Zia Blues" (Montrose Records).

Interview by Michael Limnios                  Archive: Richard Cagle, 2012 Interview

How has the American Roots music influenced your views of the world? What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I believe that Blues Music is the most emotional music in the world... it's beginning started when the black slaves were enduring being bought and sold and forced to do labor for whoever owned you... which also meant your wife, husband or children could be sold... separated from you... nothing you could do about it... the pain is still there...so they sang in the cotton fields to ask God to hear their prays for deliverance... I can feel it now... I write from my heart and soul... things that I feel in everyday life... I don't chase trends or what seems relevant... I don't want to chase a music style to be cool... I just want to write what I feel...

How do you describe your sound and songbook? What characterizes Montrose Records music philosophy?

I'm a Blues Rocker at heart, plain and simple... I grew up on Johnny Winter, ZZ Top and the Brits bringing the Blues back to America... I started Montrose Records LLC to support all of the great blues and roots talent like Carolyn Wonderland and Annika Chambers in Houston Texas...  every once in a while, I'll put out a band that isn't blues, but I think it needs to be heard and felt...

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “Zia Blues”? Why is it important to preserve and spread the blues?

I had plans on having a new album out around 2020... but Covid F'd that all up... I had already been writing a new tune with my band in Houston...  once Covid hit hard, I moved my family to Ruidoso New Mexico... a small mountain town in New Mexico... kinda started all over... had to find the right musicians that play with feeling... took a little while, but I found them, and I am very proud of their work on my new album Zia Blues.                                 (Richard Cagle & Annika Chambers / Photo by Steve Myers)

"I'm a Blues Rocker at heart, plain and simple... I grew up on Johnny Winter, ZZ Top and the Brits bringing the Blues back to America... I started Montrose Records LLC to support all of the great blues and roots talent like Carolyn Wonderland and Annika Chambers in Houston Texas...  every once in a while, I'll put out a band that isn't blues, but I think it needs to be heard and felt..."

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Once people feel the Blues, they are hooked... they go out to Blues clubs and bars and it's a social event of dancing, singing and meeting people that are like minded... It kind of becomes a big family... Another thing has happened here in the states. There aren't any more current Rock stations.... Nobody is playing new rock music... And all of the rockers love great guitar players, so they are tuning into the blues stations because of artists like Joe Bonamassa, Walter Trout, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales, Billy Gibbons, etc..

What moment changed your music life the most? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

The first time I saw Johnny Winter back in 1968... I was amazed! This was back when he was playing with Uncle John Turner and Tommy Shannon. Awesome band! He was such a great guitar player, and his vocals would go between soft and beautiful to raw and ragged with emotion... I had never seen anything like it....

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss Stevie Ray Vaughan... he was the closest thing to Jimi Hendrix... His fluidity on the guitar was like Jimi... the moment he thought it, his fingers already played it... In 1980, he raised the whole level of awareness of blues in America first and then to the world.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Blues music brings together people. It has no boundaries, race, religion, politics, etc. don't matter when you love and feel the blues... You just become a family...

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Bands and artists are all different levels of skills... We all started alike, trying to learn guitar chords, play a bass, keyboards, horns, or drums... some develop faster, some slower... we are all on the same path. Some will become famous, most won't... but it's the joy playing with other musicians that are trying to create a song that is rewarding... I wish the best to all the artist I meet, and lend a helping hand if I can.

(Richard Cagle & The Voodoo Choir / Photo by Michael Villegas)