Cedar Hill is an Atlanta band. Why Atlanta? Why not New York, L.A., or Nashville? Here's why: They are without question the SEVENTH BEST bluegrass band in the country. However, it is a little known fact that a heinous conspiracy dictates that there are can only be SIX full-time, national-touring bluegrass bands in America. Undaunted by this repression, Cedar Hill has squandered (devoted) their talents building a dedicated following (OK, so the following consists of one guy named Bob Perl) and has rightfully earned a reputation as Atlanta's MOST ENTERTAINING bluegrass band.

Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called Cedar Hill "the fun bunch of the genre" while not mentioning the specific amount of any bribes they may have received. Luckily for the shameless reviewer, none of Cedar Hill's members knew what a "genre" was and bloodshed was averted.

HISTORIC 1976 CEDAR HILL GIG

Performing since 1976, Cedar Hill has the remarkable track record of NEVER being rained on at a outdoor, paying gig. They did endure a heavy snowfall once, but to the promoter's delight, they completed the show, obviously driven by the profit motive and partial paralysis due to the cold. For this reason, Cedar Hill is often booked strictly as a good luck weather charm, especially during the summer thunderstorm season. (At no extra charge!)

Cedar Hill has performed their brand of bluegrass entertainment at many venues, clubs, conventions, concerts, festivals, private parties, and special events around the southeast. Cedar Hill was not nominated for a Grammy in 1995. They were voted "Favorite Entertainers" for five consecutive years at the McIntosh Amphitheater in Peachtree City, Georgia. They have the plastic trophies to prove it. Rumors of vote-buying and coercion were never proven and were most likely planted by jealous rivals.

The group has been called upon to perform at many of Atlanta's premier events including the Coca-Cola Centennial, the 1996 Olympics (Underground Atlanta), and Peach Bowl Presidential Balls. Cedar Hill has opened for many national acts (such as Doc Watson, Leon Russell, Phish) at local concert venues such as Lakewood Amphitheatre and the Variety Playhouse.

ABOUT THE CEDAR HILL DUDES:

Cedar Hill has fIve members. Behold...

Jim "Duck" Adkins plays his Gibson Mastertone banjo in a style reminiscent of Bela Fleck's imitation of Uncle Dave Macon. Jim's favorite number is 1099. Among his many attributes is the fact that he has had the same phone number for over 30 years. Not many people can say that.

Nobody says anything bad about guitarist "Wild Bob" MacIsaac and the sounds he squeezes from his '51 Martin D-28. (Nobody who lived to tell about it anyway.) Bob owns and maintains Cedar Hill's tour bus and often spends weeks at a time underneath "The Leviathan" drenched in motor oil and axle grease. Luckily for his fans, he showers before every gig.

Jerry "Heavy Equipment Man" Zee, the prodigal bass player, having only once requested a permanent leave of absense (immediately granted with reservations) from the band in the distant past, has lost all seniority and must now suffer the almost well-deserved humiliation of sitting in the middle of the front seat on the way to gigs in nearby states. Nonetheless, despite his low seniority, he does have a nice set of pipes (8" & 12" ductile iron, 1/2" copper and 2" PVC) and we are proud to have him back in the "brotherhood."

"Ranger" Brad Laird, while always keeping a photo of Daddy Bill in his case, has recently made forays into experimental slide mandolin playing and claims to own Duane's Coricidin bottle (empty), though he has only been seen with a Craftsman deep well socket. (Which he recently lost at a gig, possibly while changing his spark plugs in the parking lot.)

"Diamond Dave" Ellis does double duty as fiddle & dobro player. David is the youngest member of the group. So far, he has shaved twice and cut both legs. Cedar Hill's favorite past-time at rehearsals is trying to remember how many years it's been since Dave joined the band. (Brad prefers to call him "Ol' Davey!" in a "seafarin', pirate voice.)

All of the members sing and produce blended harmonies characteristic of the great bluegrass music, barbershop, gospel quartets, and other styles of music they incorporate into their sound.

Left: Cedar Hill performing at MerleFest, 1986 perhaps? Right: Brad can never get enough bass in the monitors. His cure here.

Transformed by ridiculous hats and shades, Cedar Hill morphs into their alter-ego, The Dazzling Duckwavers, and surprises dumbfounded audiences with a peculiar form of music called Duck Wave. Limited by a strict court order to only one Duck Waveª song per set, the troupe highlights the inimitable "duck" voice of Jim Adkins on such quasi-hits (or is that queasy-hit?) as "Elvira", "Free Bird", "Cheatin' Heart", or the immortal "I Wanna Da Big Fat Mama Widda Da Meat Shakin' On Her Bones." Unique (that is the best word to describe it) choreography by Ranger Brad, Wild Bob, Diamond Dave and Heavy Equipment Man never fails to delight entertainment-starved crowds while simultaneously reducing pest-control bills.

 THESE 2 EARNED MOLD RECORDS!   

After contemplating offers from CBS and Sony, (precisely in the manner as one contemplates future lottery winnings) Cedar Hill stuck to it's artistic principles and released FOUR ALBUMS on their own Duckwave Records label. They have also been heard on the soundtracks of many truck and fried chicken commercials.

We can come do this at your backyard party, black-tie event, wedding, or beer joint... we ain't picky...

...as long as the check clears the bank.

Notable Clients of Cedar Hill include:

(In reverse alphabetical order for you analytical types) Zoo Atlanta, UPS, Underground Atlanta, World Trade Club, World Congress Center, Stone Mountain Park, Six Flags, Pine Isle Resort, Shepherd Center, Sewanee Club of Atlanta, Scientific Atlanta, Robinson-Humphrey, Red Light Cafe, Radio City Music Hall Productions, Pine Mountain Tourist Association, Piedmont Driving Club, WRFG Peachblossom Bluegrass Festival, Pace Acedemy, March of Dimes, Lovett Alumni, Low Country Barbecue, Lakewood Amphitheater, Intermodal Expo, Holiday Inn, Georgia Society of Professional Engineers, Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association, Emory University, Eddie' Attic, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Airlines, Cox Advertising, Coca-Cola, Cherokee Country Club, Carter Center, Bentley's at Airport Marriott, Bell South, Banks and Shanes, Berry College, Atlanta Steeplechase, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta Historical Society, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Atlanta Arts Festival, Anthony's, and a pile of superior bluegrass festivals. There are plenty more, but frankly after three decades, it's getting harder to remember them all. But, if you book us your name will be forever engraved on this list of suckers, er um... I mean satisfied clients.