BIGSONG:
Caedmon’s Call is a contemporary Christian band which fused traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They were composed of Cliff Young (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead vocals, guitar, songwriting), Danielle Young (vocals), Garett Buell (percussion), Jeff Miller (bass guitar), Todd Bragg (drums), and Josh Moore (keyboard, accordion, harmonica).
After membership turnover and an 11-year hiatus, the original line-up reformed in 2022 and, with the help of a Kickstarter campaign, re-recorded their major label debut eponymous album and performed a reunion concert at the Ryman Auditorium.
History
Caedmon’s Call was formed in 1993 with six original members, Cliff Young (whose father and brother are highly successful pastors of megachurches), Danielle Glenn, Todd Bragg, Cari Harris, Doug Elmore, and Aaron Tate. Tate, however, never intended to tour with the band, and was included in a songwriting capacity only. Derek Webb also joined the band early on, though he did not even meet all the band members until after they had played their first show together. In June 1994, the band released their first album, My Calm // Your Storm, originally a cassette-only demo recording. Webb connected high-school friend and drummer Garett Buell with the band. My Calm // Your Storm was re-issued twice the same year with different cover art each time. In 1996 the band signed with now-defunct Christian label Warner Alliance, producing their self-titled major label debut. Around this time, Randy Holsapple joined the group.
After the collapse of Warner Alliance in 1998, the band signed to Essential Records, where they remained until May 2006. In 2000 through 2003 they were part of the four City on a Hill releases: Songs of Praise and Worship and The Gathering, It’s Christmastime and Sing Alleluia.
In mid-1999, both Aric Nitzberg and Randy Holsapple left the band, while Joshua Moore and Jeff Miller (high-school friend of Buell and Webb) became official members. In 2003, after the release of Back Home, Webb left the band to pursue a solo career. In early 2004, Andrew Osenga, former lead singer of the Normals joined.
Tate and Webb shared most of the songwriting duties until the album Back Home, which featured songs by a more diverse set of writers. Randall Goodgame has, in the proceeding years, become one of the band’s primary songwriters.
Share the Well was released in 2004 as a missions album. Well-received by critics but unable to find a radio audience, the album, which includes songs written by Goodgame, Osenga and Moore, was inspired by the band’s trip to India, Brazil and Ecuador. In addition to broader Christian themes, it tackles a variety of social-justice issues, such as hunger and the Dalit’s battle for freedom in India.
Meaning behind the name
The band’s unusual name was inspired by Cædmon, an Anglo-Saxon cow-herder and monk who lived during the 7th century. Legend has it that Caedmon was afraid to sing in public due to a lack of musical talent, and shied away from occasions where he had to sing. After leaving a feast one night because he was too embarrassed to sing, he lay down in the pasture with the cattle to sleep. An angel appeared to him in a dream, calling him to sing. After initially refusing, he eventually decided to sing and when he did, he sang beautiful verses that had never been heard before. His songs were in the local vernacular language at a time when all other Christian songs were in Latin. Founding band members Cliff, Danielle, and Aaron decided on the name “Caedmon’s Call” after all three heard this story during the same week and thought it was fitting.
