The Kadillacs: Who knew?

City's favorite Fourth band shares all

The Kadillacs, led by Brentwood’s own Paul Ross, has headlined the city’s Fourth of July celebration for more than 20 years. And over the years, thousands of residents have enjoyed the show.

But do you really know the band? That’s what BrentWord thought. So here’s everything you’ve always wanted to know … and more … about The Kadillacs. And remember: If you want to hear them Saturday, make your way to the park early to reserve your spot in the natural grass bowl that is the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater. “Seats” are always at a premium.

So, how did the band get its name, and where did it almost meet its demise? Read on…

A little history: The band formed in January 1984 as the house band on Music City Live, a live TV show on WKRN, Channel 2. “When the show went off the air, folks loved the band and kept calling to book us,” Paul says. “We’ve never looked back since then.”

Coolest venue every played: The “Yellowstone Club” in Big Sky, Mont. Ross says it’s one of the country’s most “exclusive” club with member such as: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Warren Miller (US Olympic star), Greg Lamond (bicycling star), and several other anonymous billionaires. “Our ‘emcee’ for the evening decked out in jeans and Eddie Bauer attire, was ‘nearly a billionaire.’”

Farthest venue played: San Diego, Calif. (on several occasions)

Most fun gig: A Derby party with Dan Akroyd (who performed his show with the band).

Longest-lasting gig (besides Brentwood, of course): Cherokee Town & Country Club’s Wassail Ball, 15 consecutive years. The club is in Atlanta.

And here at home: The Kadillacs first played the City of Brentwood’s Fireworks Celebration in 1988. “In the early days, pre-1995, we used to do Brentwood pre-fireworks, then jump into a limo and rush to play Metro’s ‘after party’ after their fireworks. We had to stop when Brentwood moved out to Crockett Park,” Paul said. “It was too far away.”

Most interesting gig: New Year’s Eve in Savannah, Ga. As part of the show, the “Flying Wallendas” did a tightrope act in the hotel atrium, 10 floors up at midnight, Paul shared.

Most scary experience: This one’s a tie. Once the band nearly froze to death (“literally,” Paul says) on a broken down bus on top of Black Mountain in N.C., in February. Another time, the band’s bus rear ended a stopped tractor trailer on I-71 on the way to a job in Cincinnati.

Longest-tenured member: Phil Rugh is the longest tenured player in the band, "but more importantly the OLDEST member of the band. That's why I keep him in the band,” Ross said, winking. Hmmm. That must make Paul the second oldest member ...

Newest member: Eric Stephens (bass player), at 2 years, 8 months

Average tenure of today’s Kadillacs: 12 years

About the name: The band had a few different names before settling on “Kadillacs” in 1987. “We once had to change our name (for one day) to the Continentals, because we played a Ford motor convention; they couldn’t bear to book the “Kadillacs!’” Paul said.

Loving those classics: The band only plays “classics.” Of course, that now includes music through the ’90s.

There she is, Miss …: One of the original “Kadillac Girls,” was Nan Kelly, former Miss Mississippi and current on-air personality on CMT.

One impressive bunch: Today band members include a nurse on the Cardiac Bypass operating team at St. Thomas Hospital; president of the Nashville Toastmasters Club; head of the Jazz Department at Tennessee Tech University; a certified adolescent drug abuse counselor; the on-air promotions manager at Fox News and, of course, the former Brentwood Chamber of Commerce board chairman.

Broadway bound? The Kadillacs’ horn section has performed for over 75 touring Broadway Show productions at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
Well-traveled: Today the band travels around 16,000 miles on the road, per year in addition to several trips by airplane.

For all the scoop on the city’s Fourth of July festivities, read the previous post, or just click here: www.tinyurl.com/BWFourth