Neal Casal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neal Casal
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Neal Casal in concert at Manchester Academy, 2008
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 2, 1968 |
| Origin | Denville, New Jersey |
| Died | August 26, 2019 (aged 50) |
| Genres | Rock |
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| Years active | 1988–2019 |
| Labels | Zoo Records, Fargo Records, Glitterhouse Records |
| Associated acts | Ryan Adams and The Cardinals, Blackfoot, Beachwood Sparks, Hazy Malaze, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, Circles Around the Sun, GospelbeacH |
Neal Graeme Casal (born November 2, 1968 – died August 26, 2019) was an American musician and photographer. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Neal first became well-known as the lead guitarist for the band Blackfoot from 1988 to 1993.
Later, he joined Ryan Adams' band, the Cardinals, from 2005 to 2009. With them, he recorded three studio albums. Neal also played in many other groups, including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, and Circles Around the Sun. He also released twelve albums as a solo artist. His last solo album, Sweeten the Distance, came out in 2011.
Neal was born in Denville, New Jersey, and grew up in Rockaway Township. He went to Morris Knolls High School.
Contents
Neal Casal's Solo Music Career
Early Solo Albums: 1990s
Neal Casal started working on his own songs in the early 1990s. He recorded demos in studios in Los Angeles, New York, and New Jersey. During this time, he worked with his manager Gary Waldman and producer Jim Scott.
In 1994, Neal signed with Zoo Entertainment. He recorded his first album, Fade Away Diamond Time, in California. The album was released in September 1994 and was well-received by music critics. Neal then toured the US with his band to support the album.
After leaving Zoo Records in 1996, he released "Rain, Wind, and Speed." In 1997, Neal signed with Glitterhouse Records. He released five albums with them, including Field Recordings and The Sun Rises Here. In 1998, his self-produced album Basement Dreams was named Americana Album of the Year by Mojo magazine.
In 1999, Neal toured Europe with Kenny Roby and recorded a live album called Black River Sides.
Music in the 2000s
Neal released his sixth solo album, Anytime Tomorrow, in 2000. It was produced by Jim Scott. This album led to a big European tour in 2000 and 2001.
In 2002, Neal worked with Shannon McNally and other musicians to create the EP Ran On Pure Lightning. Around this time, Neal also formed the band Hazy Malaze with bassist Jeff Hill and drummer Dan Fadel. The band Railroad Earth covered Neal's song “Dandelion Wine” on their 2002 album.
In 2003, Neal signed with Fargo Records. They released a collection of his songs called Maybe California. This led to a European tour and Neal's first solo tour in Japan. In 2004, Fargo released two more collections: Leaving Traces (his original songs) and Return in Kind (cover songs).
Neal joined Ryan Adams and The Cardinals in 2005. In December of that year, he had his third Japanese tour, which also featured his first photography show. In early 2006, he released No Wish to Reminisce. This album had a more layered, psychedelic sound. Another collection of live and unreleased songs, All Directions, came out in 2007.
In 2009, Neal recorded and produced Roots and Wings. This album featured many talented musicians.
Later Years: 2010s
Neal started recording his tenth solo album in March 2010. While he was touring Europe, Fargo re-released his albums Basement Dreams and Rain, Wind and Speed.
In March 2010, it was announced that Neal had joined the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. His tenth studio album, Sweeten the Distance, was released in November 2011.
In 2013, Neal joined the supergroup Hard Working Americans. Their first album was recorded in 2013 and released in 2014.
In 2015, Neal and other musicians formed Circles Around the Sun. They recorded five hours of music that was played before and during breaks at The Grateful Dead's Fare Thee Well concerts. This music was later released as the album Interludes for the Dead. Circles Around the Sun played their first live show in 2016. In 2018, they released their second album, Let It Wander.
In 2016, Neal also formed The Skiffle Players with other musicians. They released their first album, Skifflin, that year.
Playing with Hazy Malaze
In the summer of 2002, Neal formed Hazy Malaze with Dan Fadel and Jeff Hill. Their first album, Hazy Malaze, was recorded in just eleven days. Later that year, they toured with Robert Randolph and the Family Band. In 2003, they continued to tour and started working on their second album.
Hazy Malaze released their second album, Blackout Love, in 2005. They supported it with a tour in France. In 2009, Hazy Malaze released their third album, Connections.
Neal Casal with Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Neal joined Ryan Adams & The Cardinals in 2005. He toured the US and Europe with them in 2006.
In 2007, the Ryan Adams album Easy Tiger was released and became a top-ten hit. This led to a year-long world tour. The band also released the Follow the Lights EP in October 2007.
In 2008, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals released Cardinology. This album reached number 11 on the Billboard album chart. Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the best albums of 2008.
In January 2009, Ryan Adams announced he was leaving The Cardinals. The band played their last show in March 2009. In December 2010, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals released their final album, III/IV. This album was a collection of songs recorded in 2006.
In April 2011, Ryan Adams released Class Mythology. This EP featured unreleased songs from the Cardinology period. Neal Casal spoke positively about his time with the band. He said they were "on fire" and played "amazing shows."
Session Work and Collaborations
Neal Casal was a sought-after session musician. This means he played guitar or other instruments on albums for many other artists.
He played guitar on Tift Merritt’s 2005 album Tambourine. He also played on Gin Wigmore’s 2009 album Holy Smoke, which won several awards in New Zealand.
Neal played guitar and piano on Willie Nelson's 2007 album Songbird, which was produced by Ryan Adams.
Other artists Neal played for include Shooter Jennings, Phil Lesh, Lucinda Williams, Minnie Driver, Duncan Sheik, The Jayhawks, and Amanda Shires.
Neal Casal's Photography Work
Neal Casal was also a passionate photographer. He took photos for many album covers, including those he played on. He shot the album covers for Easy Tiger and Follow the Lights. He also provided photos for other albums by The Cardinals.
In 2010, a photo book called Ryan Adams & the Cardinals: A View of Other Windows was published. It was a collection of Neal's photos documenting his time touring with the band.
Neal also took photos for albums by Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Courtney Jaye, and Tift Merritt. His photographs appeared in magazines like Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Spin. In January 2008, Neal showed his photos at the Bauhaus Gallery in Tokyo.
Films and Television
In 2001, director Ray Foley made a documentary about Neal Casal called Neal Casal: Anytime Tomorrow. It explored his influences while making his sixth album.
In 2009, two Hazy Malaze songs were featured on the TV show Private Practice. Neal's song “The Losing End Again” appeared in the TV show Fringe.
Neal was a voice coach for actors Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn for the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch. He also played guitar on Owen Wilson's song "Don't Give Up On Us" for the movie's soundtrack.
In 2011, Neal worked as a guitar instructor for actor Garrett Hedlund for the movie Country Strong. Neal also appeared in the film as Gwyneth Paltrow’s guitar player.
Neal Casal's Passing
Neal Casal passed away on August 26, 2019, at the age of 50.
Neal Casal's Legacy
On July 20, 2021, a special tribute album was released called Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal. It was a 3-CD collection of Neal's songs covered by many different artists. Some of the musicians who contributed included Phil Lesh, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Bob Weir.
In March 2022, this collection was also released as a 5-LP vinyl box set.
Neal Casal's Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Neal Casal released or played on:
Solo Albums
- Fade Away Diamond Time (1995)
- Rain, Wind and Speed (1996)
- Field Recordings (1997)
- The Sun Rises Here (1998)
- Basement Dreams (1999)
- Black River Sides (with Kenny Roby) (1999)
- Anytime Tomorrow (2000)
- Ran on Pure Lightning (with Shannon McNally) (2002)
- Return in Kind (2004)
- No Wish to Reminisce (2006)
- Roots and Wings (2009)
- Sweeten the Distance (2011)
Albums with Hazy Malaze
- Hazy Malaze (2003)
- Blackout Love (2004)
- Connections (2009)
Albums with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
- Easy Tiger (2007)
- Follow the Lights (2007)
- Cardinology (2008)
- III/IV (2010)
- Class Mythology (2011)
Albums with Chris Robinson Brotherhood
- Big Moon Ritual (2012)
- The Magic Door (2012)
- Phosphorescent Harvest (2014)
- Anyway You Love, We Know How You Feel (2016)
- Barefoot in the Head (2017)
- Servants of the Sun (2019)
Albums with Hard Working Americans
- Hard Working Americans (2014)
- Rest in Chaos (2016)
- We're All in This Together (2017)
Albums with Circles Around The Sun
- Interludes For The Dead (2015)
- Let It Wander (2018)
- Circles Around The Sun (2020)
