Neal Casal Biography
Neal Casal was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and photographer. First rising to prominence as lead guitar with Rickey Medlocke’s Blackfoot from 1988-1993, Casal is best known as a member of Ryan Adams’ backing band the Cardinals from 2005 until 2009, with whom he recorded three studio albums. He played in several groups, including the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Hard Working Americans, The Skiffle Players and Circles Around the Sun – and released twelve albums as a solo artist.
Neal Casal Education
Casal was a native of Rockaway, New Jersey, where he graduated from Morris Knolls High School. At the time of his death, Casal had been living in Ventura, California.
Neal Casal Career
Casal’s career began in the early 1990s.
Casal Signed His First Record Deal With Zoo Entertainment in 1994.
He signed with Zoo Entertainment in 1994 and releasing his first solo album, Fade Away Diamond Time, in September of that year. In 1996, Casal’s second album, Rain, Wind, and Speed, was released under Buy or Die Records.
Casal then went on to release multiple albums under the Glitterhouse Records banner. His record, Basement Dreams, was named as Americana Album of the Year by Mojo magazine in 1998. Casal had produced the album.
In 2005, Casal joined Ryan Adams’ backing band, The Cardinals. That same year, Casal exhibited his photography for the first time.
While with Adams’ band, Casal released another album, No Wish to Reminisce. While in March 2010, Adams joined the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. During that time, in 2011, Casal would release his tenth studio album, Sweeten the Distance.
Casal Released His Last Album in 2018 With The Skiffle Players.
Dan Grimm@Dansgrimm
Casal would begin performing with Circles Around the Sun, with Adam MacDougall, Dan Horne and Mark Levy in 2015.
The band had made their debut at the LOCKN festival in Arrington in 2016. The same event where Casal would have his last gig in 2019.
Casal Served as Owen Wilson & Vince Vaughns Voice Coaches in 2004s Starsky & Hutch.
Casal served as Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn’s voice coaches in the 2004 comedy, Starsky & Hutch. Casal spoke about the experience in a 2017 interview on Making It with Chris G.
Neal Casal Death and Cause
Neal Casal died on August 26, 2019, at the age of 50.
Casal had performed at the LOCKN’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia, on August 24, two days before his death.
Casal had been accompanying Oteil Burbridge, who was celebrating his 55th birthday, at the show.
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