Bios
Ric Hollister — guitar and vocals (and an occasional ukulele)
Ric Hollister who learned show business from the ground up tells about his start. “In 1978-79, I ran sound and did lighting for the band “Both Barrels” who were one of the top regional acts in the 80s throughout the Midwest. I would play songs during set breaks. Danny Orttel of “Both Barrels” started calling me Jack Knife and the Sharps, so I adopted the name. So, Danny and Steve Orttel gave me my start and named my band!”
Jack Knife and the Sharps (aka JKATS) became a two-piece band in 1980 and emerged into a rockabilly trio in 1982. JKATS have been booked pretty much weekly year-round ever since.
As well as headlining their own shows, in the last 25 years JKATS opened for over 100 recording stars from John Lee Hooker, Dwight Yocum to the Stray Cats, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Paladins and David Allan Coe and have entertained the U.S. Troops on three different tours to Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Bosnia and Kosovo. They have also appeared with Garrison Keillor over ten times on A Prairie Home Companion and Hollister has played with Reverend Horton Heat.JKATS have won five music awards and appeared on the Grammy-Award winning Garrison Keillor Prairie Home Companion 25-year Anniversary album, so JKATS have a song on a Grammy Award winning album!
Hollister’s recording career originally began at the age of eight in 1960 when he cut his first record – a 78 rpm for his mom. Hollister says, “I learned the song off Johnny Cash’s album, back when I used to be cool.” JKATS' latest CD – “Rumble” – includes that recording.Along with recording six CDs, Hollister has appeared on two of Bruce McCabe's albums with Jonny Lang. McCabe and Hollister played on one of Lang's unreleased albums produced by Dave Rifkin, who was the first one to have a gold record out of Paisley Park – Hollister notes, "By the way, I do not know Prince."
Hollister said, “In 1987 I recorded an album, “Project Live” which I hope to make available again along with our other albums (see our CD Web page) and some unreleased cuts from the album “Rumble”.
Bookings for JKATS: contact Ric Hollister at (763) 477-8002.
Ric with ukulele (of course, his vintage Gibson is always nearby)
Erin McCawley — vocals and prettying up the place
JKATS are pleasing their audiences with the addition of a fourth band member - rockabilly gal singer, Erin McCawley! Born and raised in
John Sandbo on drums
