Select a Category
Special ConsensusFast FactsBioThe Special Consensus is a four person acoustic bluegrass
band that began performing in the Midwest in the spring of 1975. The
first album was released in 1979 when the band began touring on a national
basis, and the second was released in 1983. In 1984, The Special Consensus
initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program in schools across
the country and began appearing on cable television and national Public
Radio shows. The band has since appeared on The Nashville Network "Fire
On The Mountain" show, toured for three seasons as 4/5 of the cast
in the musical "Cotton Patch Gospel" (music and lyrics by
Harry Chapin), and released eight additional recordings. Songs from
the 1998 "Our Little Town" release appeared on the national
Bluegrass Survey chart in "Bluegrass Unlimited" and on the
Gospel Truths chart in "Bluegrass Now." A video production
of the TMA Program, sponsored by the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association,
was honored by being archived at the International Bluegrass Music Museum
in Owensboro, Kentucky. To mark the twenty-fifth year band anniversary,
Pinecastle Records will release The Special Consensus video of a performance
filmed for Iowa Public Television's "Old Time Country Music"
show as well as a double length CD that features selections from previous
band recordings. International tours have brought The Special Consensus
to the British Isles, Canada, Europe, Ireland and South America. In
1993, the band performed the first of many concerts with symphony orchestra,
complete with orchestral arrangements of songs from the band's repertoire.
The Special Consensus is included on the touring rosters of the Illinois
Arts Council (Artstour program), the North Dakota Council on the Arts,
and the Heartland Arts Fund, and continues to participate in the Arts
Midwest Performing Arts Touring Program. The Special Consensus repertoire
features original compositions by band members and professional songwriters
(such as "Our Little Town," "Green Rolling Hills"
and "Margarita Breakdown"). The repertoire also included traditional
bluegrass standards (songs by Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Jim and
Jesse McReynolds, etc.) and songs by artists from other musical genres
(such as "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" as recorded by Keith
Whitley and "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin). As a result of
this musical diversity, The Special Consensus has performed at the most
traditional bluegrass festivals and has also been the band to bridge
the gap between traditional and progressive bands at more diverse festivals
and fairs. The band repertoire also includes songs for dancing at clubs
or parties. |
      
|
