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BIOGRAPHIES
Since 2001 the Cats and the Fiddler have been performing for dozens of venues each year throughout the Metro-Detroit area and beyond. Parade of Stars Bluegrass Festival, The Ark of Ann Arbor, Mama's Coffeehouse, Farmington Founders Festival, Milford Memories, and Whispering Winds Bluegrass Festival are just a handful of the many places where the Cats and the Fiddler have amazed audiences with their exceptional musical talent. In addition to appearing on television and radio stations such as WDIV, WJR, WDET, WCXI and WCSX, the Cats and the Fiddler were the winners of the 2005 Meijer Kid Talent Quest. The Cats and the Fiddler released their first CD Just Warmin' Up in 2005 when they were all just 10 years old. Their second CD, Down the Fast Lane, was released in 2007.
SHAUN RICHARDSON
While still a toddler, Shaun was making fiddles and guitars with his tinker-toys and imitating the movements of country performers on television. His interests led him to explore other types of roots music including bluegrass, folk, and southern gospel. At the age of 4, he began taking fiddle lessons and within just a few more years he was playing the mandolin and guitar. At the age of 10, he taught himself to play the banjo. Whether playing the mandolin, guitar, banjo, or fiddle, Shaun's prodigy style picking plays a major role in the band's superb instrumentation leaving audiences awestruck.
CARMEN GIBES
Carmen started showing off her musical abilities at the age of 1 by tapping sticks and dancing in music classes. When she was 4, her mother encouraged her to take up the piano, but when her cousin, Shaun, introduced her to roots music, at the age of 7 she decided to learn the guitar. After seeing bluegrass artist Cia Cherryholmes perform, Carmen added the banjo to her repertoire. With her smooth alto tones, Carmen's lead and harmony vocals, along with her hard driving guitar and banjo, bring power and energy to every Cats and the Fiddler performance.
JAMES RICHARDSON
At the age of 1, James and his twin brother Shaun were taking music classes focusing on rhythm and tone. James began taking piano lessons at the age of 4 and by the time he was 6, he was doing his own piano improvisations. Like his brother, he grew to love roots music. Watching country and bluegrass artists perform inspired him to take up the upright bass. In addition to playing the bass with precision and style, James' ardent lead and harmony vocals add the final touch making the Cats and the Fiddler a superbly talented trio.
