NEW SAND MOUNTAIN WILDCATS
Since the NEW SAND MOUNTAIN WILDCATS formed in 1977 they have played concerts and festivals throughout Florida, including appearances since 1978 at the Florida Folk Festival.
"We have no leader, and no two of us ever agree," said the Wildcats, "we just
argue until whoever is the most hard-headed on that particular day wears
everyone else to a frazzle."
The WILDCATS are:
DARRYLN CAUDILL (vocals, Jew's harp) This Ohio Buckeye performed folk music in college and with several Tampa groups before the Wildcats. Darryln founded a theater production company, the Tampa Alliance of Dramatic Arts (TADA!). She is a champion horsewoman and teaches at the Academy at the Lakes, Land O'Lakes.
DENNIS DEVINE (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals) San Antonio, Florida, has studied music and philosophy in college. The Wildcats think of Dennis as their "token musician." Where musicians gather, this musically-promiscuous sideman is ubiquitous watch for him in any number of concatenations. Dennis has played folk music since he was a little bitty child, studying blues, folk, bluegrass, Civil War, Old-Time, and ethnic music. Dennis has played in clubs and listening rooms from the Bahama Islands to North Florida. His heart is in traditional acoustic music and he plays regularly with the 97th Regimental String Band, Southwind, Devine and LaRoche, and DiNella and Devine and Gadjo.
ROBERT LEVINE (washtub, vocals) This Bean from Boston began his musical career in 1976, when he and Ernie Williams toured the country from Florida to California, playing parties, bars, and nudist camps. Robert has won the Florida Old Time Music Championship's "Rhythm Instrument" contest, playing washtub bass. He is a Professor of Psychology at Hillsborough Community College, Tampa.
ROCHELLE MORRIS (vocals, tambourine, guitar) A Miami Beach Matzo Ball who became interested in the folk revival movement of the '60s. Her favorites include Bob Dylan and Buffey Saint-Marie (whom she recently got to meet) Rochelle is a full-time festival-goer and concessionaire. She and her husband Norman offer exotic blends of coffee from a café on wheels called "Coffee Talk." Look for it at the top of the hill at the FFF amphitheater. In her spare time, she can be found in the mountains seeking clear streams and perfect harmonies.
ERNIE WILLIAMS (banjo, vocals) This Redneck began playing old-time clawhammer banjo in his native Alabama, south of Sand Mountain, home of the original Wildcats. Ernie has won the Tennessee Valley Old Time Banjo Championship and the Florida State Banjo Championship. He is a Professor of Philosophy at Saint Leo University.
New Sand Mountain Wildcats on YouTube
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The WILDCATS have had all their shots
and practice safe music.
