Richard Cagle has produced and recorded folks like Carolyn Wonderland, Uncle John Turner, Johnny Winter, and Joe King Carrasco as well as others from his studio in the cool mountains of Ruidoso, New Mexico where he owns Montrose Records. Richard has wone a couple of New Mexico Music Awards over the years, but many folks don’t know that he is a blues artist in his own right.

He recently released “Richard Cagle and the VooDoo Choir-Zia Blues”, his first album since 2016. Most of the songs are written by Richard Cagle.

“Zia Blues” opens with “Dance, Dance, Dance” featuring Eric Demmer, saxophone (who played with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown); Arnold Cardon, guitar; Paul Goad, bass and piano; Danny Cresap, drums; and backing vocalists Wayne and Lou Ann Ellison. “Knockin Me Down” includes Tim Martin, guitar; and Dave Shanks, Hammond Organ. Cagle provides the vocals. Other guests include El Paso’s Sam Barlow on harmonica, Rich Chorne, guitar; Grant Gerondale, bass and Ron Ramelli, who toured with Lavelle White, on harmonica, Mark Kashmar on guitar, Kelley Wright, percussion and pianist Shawn Allen.

The late Sher Katz wrote the closer, “Whadda Think O’ That” which features Cagle singing with lots of emotion and playing harmonica and Sam Shackelford, drums. All in all, a terrific effort from a brilliant producer, engineer and artist.

Available on all platforms.