Terry Cagle Interviews

Terry Cagle

Ralph Terry Cagle was born in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas, in 1950. He grew up in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas.

Cagle is a self-taught drummer who began working as a professional musician at age fifteen. In 1966 Cagle's uncle, Levon Helm, recruited him as the drummer for the Del-Reys, a group which later became the Cate Brothers. As part of the group, Cagle shared the stage with such bands as the Grateful Dead and Queen. In 1983 he toured with the Cate Brothers when they performed with The Band in Japan. Cagle remained with the Cate Brothers until 1989. In the early 2000s, Cagle started a band called the Jungle Bush Beaters, named after Helm's first band in high school. Cagle then rejoined Earl Cate in the group, Earl and Them.

Cagle passed away on February 11, 2023.

Video

Audio

AUDIO-CAGLE-Terry-20130814 - 4:03:51

Transcript pending

Composite image of early photo of Terry Cagle and still frame from Pryor Center video interview © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#1: Composite image of early photo of Terry Cagle and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: Terry Cagle's maternal great-grandmother, Addie Dollar Wilson
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's maternal great-grandmother, Addie Dollar Wilson, with her daughter and Cagle's grandmother, Emma Nell Wilson (Helm) © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: Terry Cagle's maternal great-grandmother, Addie Dollar Wilson, with her daughter and Cagle's grandmother, Emma Nell Wilson (Helm)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's paternal grandparents, Dolphus Alton and Annie Elizabeth Cagle © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: Terry Cagle's paternal grandparents, Dolphus Alton and Annie Elizabeth Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: Terry Cagle's mother, Modena Helm (Cagle) at age 14
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: Terry Cagle's parents, Ralph Junior Cagle and Modena Helm Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: Terry Cagle, 1950
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle with his cousin, Treda Reed; Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, ca. 1950s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: Terry Cagle with his cousin, Treda Reed; Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, ca. 1950s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle and Sherry Lynn Kemmer, winners of the Little Mr. and Miss Marvell contest, 1958 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: Terry Cagle and Sherry Lynn Kemmer, winners of the Little Mr. and Miss Marvell contest, 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: Terry Cagle's father, Ralph Cagle, with his hunting dogs
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: Terry Cagle's maternal grandparents, Diamond (seated) and Nell Helm
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle (2nd from left) with his brother, Rickie; cousin, Michael Palmer; and mother, Modena Cagle © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: Terry Cagle (2nd from left) with his brother, Rickie; cousin, Michael Palmer; and mother, Modena Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: Terry Cagle's ninth-grade photo, 1966
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Terry Cagle's wife, Gena Garrison (Cagle), 1968
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: Terry Cagle's senior high school photo, 1969
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: Terry Cagle's high school graduation photo, 1969
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

From left: Earl Cate, Ernie Cate, Terry Cagle, and Bill Wright in a publicity photo for The Cates Gang, New York, 1969 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: From left: Earl Cate, Ernie Cate, Terry Cagle, and Bill Wright in a publicity photo for The Cates Gang, New York, 1969
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: Terry and Gena Cagle on their wedding day, July 25, 1970
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: Gena and Terry Cagle, 1970
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: Terry Cagle in the US Army, 1971
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Clockwise from left: Terry Cagle's grandmother, Nell Helm; mother, Modena Cagle; wife, Gena Cagle; great-grandfather, Wheeler Wilson; and son, Wade Cagle © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Clockwise from left: Terry Cagle's grandmother, Nell Helm; mother, Modena Cagle; wife, Gena Cagle; great-grandfather, Wheeler Wilson; and son, Wade Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's maternal grandmother, Nell Helm, with her father, Wheeler Wilson, and son, Levon Helm © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: Terry Cagle's maternal grandmother, Nell Helm, with her father, Wheeler Wilson, and son, Levon Helm
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: Terry Cagle's maternal grandmother, Nell Helm
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's cousin, Amy Helm, daughter of Levon Helm; Woodstock, New York, 1972 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: Terry Cagle's cousin, Amy Helm, daughter of Levon Helm; Woodstock, New York, 1972
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle plays at The Library Club; Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1970s © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Terry Cagle plays at The Library Club; Fayetteville, Arkansas, ca. 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Terry Cagle plays at The Rink; Fayetteville, Arkanasas, ca. 1970s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

The Cate Bros. Band publicity photo: Terry Cagle, Earl Cate, Ernie Cate, and Ron Eoff © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: The Cate Bros. Band publicity photo: Terry Cagle, Earl Cate, Ernie Cate, and Ron Eoff
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: Terry Cagle on tour in Amsterdam, 1974
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: Terry Cagle with his newborn daughter, Kacy, 1976
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#30: Terry Cagle with his wife, Gena, and children, Wade and Kacy
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: Terry Cagle's daughter, Kacy, with Levon Helm's daughter, Amy, 1979
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's mother, Modena Cagle, with a stringer of catfish, including a 98-pounder © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: Terry Cagle's mother, Modena Cagle, with a stringer of catfish, including a 98-pounder
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: Terry Cagle's father, Ralph Cagle, fries fish
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#34: Terry Cagle's father, Ralph Cagle, at Goose Creek
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: Terry Cagle's maternal grandfather, Diamond Helm
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: Terry Cagle with his grandmother, Agnes Wilson, and son, Wade; 1980
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#37: Terry Cagle, ca. 1980s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#38: Terry Cagle with his wife, Gena, and children, Kacy and Wade
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#39: Terry Cagle's parents, Ralph and Modena Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#40: Terry Cagle's children, Wade and Kacy Cagle, 1981
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#41: Terry Cagle plays with Richard Manuel of The Band, 1983
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#42: Terry Cagle with The Band manager, Bill Avis, 1983
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Ron Eoff and Terry Cagle at The Grand Hotel, Osaka, Japan; August 27, 1983 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#43: Ron Eoff and Terry Cagle at The Grand Hotel, Osaka, Japan; August 27, 1983
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle, 1983 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#45: Terry Cagle, Levon Helm, and Max Weinberg in Connecticut, 1983
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle and his uncle, Levon Helm, on the movie set of <i>End of the Line</i>, 1986 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#46: Terry Cagle and his uncle, Levon Helm, on the movie set of End of the Line, 1986
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle playing at the cast party for <i>End of the Line</i>, 1986 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#47: Terry Cagle playing at the cast party for End of the Line, 1986
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#48: Terry Cagle with his mother, Modena Cagle
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#49: Terry Cagle with his niece, Chloe Dennis
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#50: Terry Cagle with his niece, Bennett Manard, 2002
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#51: Terry Cagle plays with John Davies, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle plays drums, 2008 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Terry Cagle's uncle, Levon Helm © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Terry Cagle; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#54: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Terry Cagle; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Behind-the-scenes photo of Terry Cagle's wife, Gena, with Randy Dixon of the Pryor Center; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#55: Behind-the-scenes photo of Terry Cagle's wife, Gena, with Randy Dixon of the Pryor Center; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#56: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Terry Cagle; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#57: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Terry Cagle; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#58: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Terry Cagle; Springdale, Arkansas, 2013
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas