Cas Haley: Connection

America's favorite homegrown reggae artist, Cas Haley, will be releasing his highly anticipated new album Connection in the summer of 2010. Haley ascended to international fame in 2007, performing and ultimately finishing as runner up, on NBC's second season of America's Got Talent. The following year saw the release of Cas Haley, a self-titled, independent album which achieved extraordinary critical and commercial success; finishing out 2008 as the #8 Billboard Top Selling Reggae Album.

One track on the album is a cover-version of the Commodores song "Easy," and upon hearing Haley sing his classic hit, Lionel Richie stated "He made it seem easy, and there's nothing easy about [it]." Since rising to prominence on the world stage, Haley has performed alongside such notables as UB40, Blues Traveler, Al Green, Los Lonely Boys, Martin Sexton, Soulive, Mofro, and Lucky Dube, to name a few.    

This time around, Cas Haley has assumed the reigns of producer, as well as performer, which makes this album the best realization yet of his true musical vision. The hallmark of Haley's sound is his powerful, soulful voice, which oscillates between Texas-tinged soul and island-inflected groove. His accomplished backing band delivers play that is infectiously funky: overflowing with addictive hooks and right-on-time reggae riddims.

Performing professionally since the age of seventeen, Haley is already the veteran of seven national tours; playing to packed venues from Boston to Seattle, and nearly every market in between. Haley consistently delivers impassioned, transcendent, live performances which, over time, have elevated him in the American consciousness to the level of a rare, "can't miss" talent. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement of new national tour dates in support of Connection.

In addition to Connection, Haley has recently recorded an album of classic reggae hits entitled Favorites. On Favorites, Haley and his close friend, former Jah Roots front man, Josh Heinrichs deliver exciting and original takes on reggae standards originally released by Bob Marley, Toots & The Maytals, Steel Pulse, Third World, Bobby Mc Ferrin, as well as others. Haley and Heinrichs dreamt up the idea for the album while touring the American heartland as an acoustic duo in the spring of 2009. The release date for Favorites is forthcoming, and will likely be available to the public in the fall of this year.

Upon listening to Connection, it's easy to agree with Ali Campbell of UB40, who said of Haley, "Oh, he's good; man…got a real good voice." However, with Cas Haley, it doesn't stop with the remarkable voice, that's merely what is immediately apparent. As evidenced on this album, Haley is also an excellent musician, lyricist and composer. "This album is honest," said Haley. "I feel like this is the first of my records [on which] I had real things to write about … to me this is my first album." On this latest release Cas Haley's evolution as an artist is apparent, and the music created will undoubtedly form a lasting connection with music-lovers the world over.                                         

--- D. Wells

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