Greg Cahill is the only original member of The Special Consensus left.
Since the bluegrass band's founding in 1975, Cahill said in a telephone interview Friday morning, there have been approximately 40 band members who have come and gone.
The Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band that began performing in the Midwest in spring 1975. The first album was released in 1979 when the band began touring on a national basis.
Current band members are Ashby Frank on mandolin and vocals; David Thomas on bass and vocals; Cahill on banjo and vocals; and Justin Carbone on guitar and vocals.
The Special Consensus, with special guest The Harness Family Band, will perform at the Honeywell Center in Wabash Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Harness Family Band originates from Wabash.
Cahill's passion for music began long before The Special Consensus was formed. He said he was raised in a musical family, but not in bluegrass. He learned to play the harmonica and accordion. His parents were fond of Dixieland music.
Growing up in Chicago in the 1960s, Cahill said, he was exposed to the folk mecca there. He listened to folk and the blues. Eventually, he went on to college where he heard bluegrass for the first time in his early 20s.
Today, while bluegrass isn't as big as rock, Cahill said it's growing for a number of reasons. While no mainstream radio plays much of bluegrass, National Public Radio and satellite radio stations do.
Several movies over the years also have provided a spike in bluegrass music interest. First, there was "Bonnie and Clyde," then came "Deliverance" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou". The Internet also has made bluegrass music very accessible, Cahill said.
Instead of learning to play bluegrass by ear, like Cahill did, he said there are easier ways. People wanting to play bluegrass can learn how to play on DVDs.
That accessibility - DVDs, Internet, movies - lets bluegrass grow in places from Louisville, Ky., to Chicago to New York City.
In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music Program in schools across the country. Cahill said the program introduces kids to bluegrass music. During the program, students not only are introduced to musical instruments, but also the music and its history.
"It is really successful in introducing students to bluegrass," said Cahill. He estimates the program has reached more than 1 million students since it was started.
Since its first album in 1979, Cahill said they have released 14 albums. Their latest CD is "Signs", and it is doing quite well, especially on the bluegrass charts. The satellite and bluegrass stations are playing it heavily, Cahill said.
"They keep playing us, so we're happy," said Cahill.
On "Signs," Cahill said half of the songs are written by the band, and the other half are written by prominent song writers. Cahill writes instrumentals, he said.
"They're all good guys," Cahill said of the band. "We have a good time."
The Special Consensus plays about 140 days a year. Previously, they played 200 days a year, but, Cahill said that got to be a bit frantic.
The shows are a lot of fun to watch, Cahill said. During a show, the band performs traditional bluegrass, their own original songs and they borrow songs from other genres and quartets.
"We try to find something for everyone," he said. "... We're really looking forward to the Honeywell Center."On the Net:
