What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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Cate Brothers If Stilley represents a unique old school of musical craftsmen, Ernie and Earl Cate are the music makers every child of the '60s dreamed of being — and 2019 saw the twins celebrate five decades of making music together. Ernie and Earl grew up on a farm in Sonora, east of Springdale, with horses, cattle, guitars and banjos. Their father, having dreamed of being a musician, acquired instruments here and there, and the brothers used whatever they had around the house to teach themselves to play. "We'd go to the neighbors' that were players," Earl reflects. "Back then, [we] didn't have a TV, so that was your entertainment on a Saturday night or something, go to the neighbors' and they would play and we watched them and just picked it up gradually." Playing the country-influenced rock of The Everly Brothers is where the pair really got their start performing. That foundation dovetailed nicely with the education the budding musicians would later get outside Ronnie Hawkins' south Fayetteville venue, the Rockwood Club. Hawkins' rockabilly-esque brand of rock 'n' roll helped usher in a distinct sound for the region that has continued even to the present. Names known today by history buffs and music lovers — and a few that would rocket past that modicum of celebrity and go on to true fame — either emerged in the region during this time or came to the area to perform. "Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, … that became The Band, eventually. We were friends with them and actually saw that group evolve to where it became The Band," Earl says, pointing to one of Arkansas' most famous musical exports. "And then like Windy Austin, Zorro & The Blue Footballs, there's so many bands when you think back, you lose track, that were fairly successful. There's just always been a lot of music here." Including The Cate Brothers Band. The pair started out with The Cates Gang in the early '70s and released a couple albums that have been out of print for decades. When they became The Cate Brothers Band, they also landed a contract with Asylum Records. Several albums followed — with Asylum and after — international touring, and an ever-growing reputation for expert musicianship. All the while, the brothers stayed true to their country/soul roots — with a blues and R&B leaning. "We were kind of fortunate to be in [music] at a certain time when everything was blooming," Earl continues. "Like the mid- '70s, right before disco took over, it was a really good time, and we kind of got in on a lot of that. And being associated with Levon [Helm] and those guys, we actually played with The Band for a couple of years. And through him we got to meet a lot of people … who otherwise we wouldn't have." The Cate brothers will be celebrated again on Feb. 19 when Benjamin Meade's biopic about them — titled "Cate Bros.: Arkansas Rock and Soul Royalty" — premieres at 7 p.m. at George's Majestic Lounge. INFO — shilohmuseum.org, cosmiccowboystudio.com Part II: The impact of music in 2019 was so big, we split it into two stories. Coming Dec. 29, the future of music in the year ahead as predicted by the year just past. PURCHASE IN STORE OR ONLINE. To find a location nearest your visit: LaVidaMassage.com | Open 7 Days a Week. Extended Hours. Licensed Therapists. Walk-ins Welcome. Franchise opportunities available. Call 248.360.6157. Bentonville 479.876.8004 Fayetteville 479.521.3232 $25 expires march 31, 2020 bonus card happy AHH...lidays Receive a $25 bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards give the gift of relaxation happy AHH...lidays Ben_Fay_Holiday_2019_fll_2ad.indd 1 10/25/2019 10:18:19 AM PURCHASE IN STORE OR ONLINE . LaVidaMassage.com | Open 7 Days a Week. Extended Hours. Licensed Therapists. Walk-ins Welcome. Franchise opportunities available. Call 248.360.6157. Bentonville 479.876.8004 Fayetteville 479.521.3232 Receive a $25 bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards Offer valid until 12/31/19 $25 expires march 31, 2020 bonus card happy AHH...lidays Receive a $25 bonus card give the gift of relaxation happy AHH...lidays Wishing You a Blessed Christmas Season! Smile-Shoppe.com Fayetteville (479) 966-4100 Springdale (479) 756-6377 rogerS (479) 631-6377 Bentonville (479) 876-8883 38 WHAT'S UP! DECEMBER 22-28, 2019 Music Continued From Page 7 File Photo Brothers Ernie (left) and Earl Cate celebrated five decades of making music together in 2019.