(Photo: Adam Putman)Fayetteville lost one of its heroes over the weekend.
Terry Cagle, drummer for the legendary Cate Brothers Band and others, died on Sunday, Feb. 12. He was 72.
Cagle was born in Helena, Arkansas, and grew up in Turkey Scratch, an unincorporated community in Phillips County.
He was a self-taught drummer who began playing professionally at just 15 years old. In the mid-60s, he was recruited by his uncle Levon Helm of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, The Band, to play in a band called The Del-Reys. That band later became The Cate Brothers.
Cagle played the Cate Brothers for years, recording on their studio albums, touring alongside his uncle and The Band through Japan, and sharing the stage with bands like The Grateful Dead, Queen, and others.
He played with The Cate Brothers until 1989, before starting his own group The Jungle Bush Beaters, named after Levon’s high school band. He later teamed up with Earl Cate again to drum for his current band, Earl & Them.
Terry is survived by his wife Gena Cagle, who he was married to for 52 years, his son Terry Wade Cagle and daughter Kacy Brady (Doug), along with his grandson Chace Phillips (Dove), his brother Rickie Cagle, and three step grandchildren, Brittany, Josh, and Nick Brady.
An obituary and online condolences and memorials to Cagle are available here.
According to the obituary, no public memorial or funeral will be held at Cagle’s request.
