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Stickshift Cadillac
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Stickshift CadillacBringing Blues to the Masses
2005-12-15
Article Written by: Jillian Smith
Stickshift Cadillac is and has been a favorite among hardcore blues fans in Daytona and beyond for many years. We at WHD have been hearing so much about them, in fact, that we decided to catch their act for ourselves on December 10th at Chap's Steakhouse & Night Club. All we can say is that we are all going to be 
fans for life after seeing that performance. The band, made up of Mike Prell (lead guitar/vocals), Tony Hall (lead guitar/vocals), Capn' Rob Barker (bass/vocals) and "Crazy" Marty Ryan (drums), played a nice mixture of covers along with their own original songs, but their set was unmistakably all blues.
Like most bands that seem to mesh together as effortlessly as these guys, there just has to be an interesting history behind Stickshift Cadillac. This particular story begins with a man who goes by the name Michael Prell. (He is also known as Michael "Chick" Hawkins to some.) Born and raised in the "wilds" of Northern New Jersey , Mike has been a guitarist since he was 13. Even at that early age he was influenced heavily by blues and rock artists such as Allman Bros., Sea Level, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters and the immortal Robert Johnson.
The earliest form of the band w as a collaboration between Mike and his friend "Cadillac" Jack Tatum. The two had a gift of performing, a talent for writing music and a love for the under-appreciated and rapidly vanishing art form known as The Blues. While in New Jersey , this early prototype of Stickshift Cadillac played to consistently packed houses throughout the state and in New York . After a while, though, Mike says he had to "put the Caddy up on blocks." He worked as a pick up guitarist and played in cover bands to keep food on the table until moving to the Sunshine State in 1988.
As the story goes, Mike ran into an old friend he knew from his past trips to the area, who told him about an upcoming benefit concert that he though Stickshift Cadillac would be perfect for. This sent Mike on a mission to find the missing pieces of the band. What he found are now the other members of this excellent act.
Robert Anthony Hall is usually just called Tony or T. There are claims that he come from somewhere in Alabama , but this has yet to be verified. What has been verified is that this incredibly talented guitarist and singer has played with many of the most famous Delta Bluesman, including but certainly not limited to Johnny Shines. Sometimes on long nights beside a fire, river and/or bottle of Bourbon bottle is low, Tony reveals stories about his life and the many Southern Blues players he met or played with in his youth. Tony's Delta Blues influences round out the guitar section of the band, and when you see Stickshift Cadillac play, you'll notice that the name "Rufus" carved into his guitar This and the collection of stickers from around the globe that adorn his guitar case only added to the mystery of this enigmatic man. He has this habit of inexplicably disappearing every six months or so for 2-3 weeks. Upon his return there are usually more stickers and general wear and tear on the guitar case New carvings have even been known to appear on the guitar body.
The band's bassist is named Rob Barker, though he is usually called Captain Rob. The Capn' is actually a native Floridian, and after countless attempts at holding a "real" job, he found himself living on the river on his sailboat the "Singlewide" with his trusty greyhound, Speedy. When an early-season nor'easter snapped the anchor rope, the "Singlewide" was sent adrift in the storm. The Captain and Speedy survived, but the "Singlewide" wasn't so fortunate. As it turned out, though, Michael "Chick" Hawkins was into his third margarita at The Boondocks bar when Captain Rob and Speedy washed ashore. The greyhound is actually credited with getting the two together.
Speedy is a "people doggie." He's the type of character who likes being man's best friend, and around this time, he had decided that he'd had just about enough of 
Captain Rob's sailing antics. He felt that he was long overdue for some shore leave, and he seemed plenty ready to ditch Captain Rob for a land-based operation! Being the friendly sort that he is, and being covered in muddy river water, he went right up to Chick and starting shaking and shimmying as a friendly greeting! Chick had no choice but to invite the pooch and his pal to sit down and have some drinks. Over a pitcher of Margaritas, Captain Rob mentioned"among other things"that he was a musician. He counts as his musical influences an eclectic mix ranging from Bruce Springsteen, Keb Mo and Muddy Waters to CCR and Tom Waits.
Last but certainly not least, drummer Marty Ryan"better known as "Crazy" Marty"is the newest member of the band. Before joining "the Caddy Crew" Marty lived in Connecticut and, it is rumored that he had been ill for a short while. He seems to be better now, but no one is sure exactly what was the matter with him. It might have something to do with the "Crazy" in his nickname, but nonetheless, he has added invaluably to the overall talent of the group. He has also, it seems, added to the already wide variety of musical influences of the band. Marty lists his influences as "The Beatles, The Beatles, The Beatles and of course, John, Paul, George and Ringo!"
Marty and Captain Rob represent the rhythm section "chassis" on which Stickshift Cadillac is built. This greatly varied group of talented musicians comes with a great history and a bright future. They are "bringing blues to the masses" and take it from us, you don't want to miss it.
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