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Cascio Interstate Music

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Interstate Music
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic
Founded1946
HeadquartersMenomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Key people
Jeff Peterson, Owner/Chief Executive Officer; Casey Seidl, Owner/Director of Sales and Operations
ProductsArtist Management, Recording, Video Production, Music Retail
WebsiteInterstateMusic.com

Interstate Music is an American music and media production company, artist management firm and musical instrument retailer headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Interstate Music provides artists with recording services, content creation, management and merchandise, as well as owns and operates interstatemusic.com, an online instrument and equipment store. Since 1946, Interstate Music has been part of the music products industry through its multi-channel retail, wholesale, and manufacturing operations. Since 2022, Interstate Music has operated a location on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, that serves as a headquarters for all artist services.[1]

History

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Frank Cascio, the son of Italian immigrants, discovered a passion for music by playing an old piano in the back room of the Milwaukee neighborhood grocery store founded by his parents Rosario and Concetta.[2] He eventually mastered the accordion and played live on local radio stations. After completing his service as a corpsman in the US Army in the Philippines, Cascio and his wife Marcie founded the West Milwaukee Accordion School on Beloit Road in West Milwaukee. Besides giving lessons and selling accordions, the store also sold Motorola televisions and radios.

After continued growth, a mail order division, Interstate Music Supply, began in 1970, initially with a small flyer to service regional school band directors in the far corners of Wisconsin, but which eventually grew into larger catalogs. In 1973, a second location, Cascio Music-West, was added in the rural New Berlin suburb of Milwaukee. The New Berlin store grew and eventually replaced the Lincoln Avenue store, which closed in 1976.

A stage with bright blue and pink lights. There is a drum set on the stage.
The Caribou Room in 2022.

In 2020, Wisconsin-based logistics and digital marketing agency, Geneva Supply, acquired Cascio Interstate Music through a voluntary receivership and rebranded the company Interstate Music.[3] With this change in ownership, Interstate Music shifted focus towards artist services, content creation and management, while still maintaining their online retail business.

Shortly after the acquisition, Interstate Music began work on a live music venue custom-built for obtaining live show video content, which opened in 2021 as the Caribou Room.[4]

A large 1920s style house in Nashville with a sign out front that reads, "Interstate Music."
The Interstate Music House in Nashville, TN.

After an increase in demand for creative services and positive reception from artists, Interstate Music opened a location on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee in early 2023.[5] This location houses a full recording studio, writer's rooms, and offices.[1] Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer, Greg Collins, assisted in the studio build, and is currently a collaborative partner of Interstate Music, and works out of the studio.[1]

In July 2023, Interstate Music opened an additional recording space on Music Square.[1] Jacob Kulick and April Rose Gabrielli currently work out of this studio.[1]

Artist Services

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Interstate Music currently handles a variety of work within the music industry, including:

Van Jams

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A man playing guitar in front of an audience. The sound system is a modified van. There are string lights all throughout the lot, giving the evening a warm glow.
Jeff Trott performing at Van Jams in 2023.

Hosted at the Nashville location, Van Jams is an artist showcase where performers play original music using "The Van," Interstate Music's modified sprinter van that functions as a live venue and recording studio.[6] Van Jams is appreciated for its uniqueness and sound quality, and is most-often attended by artists, managers, and employees in the music industry.

In August 2023, Van Jams hosted a one-time showcase called, "Legends Night," where famous songwriters performed their most well-known hits. The lineup included: Brice Long, Buddy Cannon, Greg Camp, Jeff Trott, Mark Nesler, and Marla Cannon-Goodman.

Notable Artists and Songwriters

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The following artists and songwriters have worked with Interstate Music or performed at Van Jams:

Historical Involvement in Milwaukee's Music Community

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Milwaukee Bucks Beats Drumline performing outside of the BMO Harris Bradley Center before the Bucks defeat the Warriors on 12/12/15
Milwaukee Bucks Beats Drumline performing outside of the BMO Harris Bradley Center before the Bucks defeat the Warriors on 12/12/15

Cascio Interstate Music was an active participant in southeastern Wisconsin's musical community, by providing free in-store educational/performance clinics with well-known musicians at the retail store. Cascio Interstate Music also entered into a partnership with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks franchise to sponsor the "Bucks Beats" Drumline, which performed during Milwaukee Bucks home basketball games.[7] Cascio Interstate Music also maintained relationships with the Stefanie H Weill Center for the Performing Arts, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, and Milwaukee Record.

DrummerFest

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Terry Bozzio at DrummerFest in 2010
Terry Bozzio at DrummerFest in 2010

Cascio Interstate Music hosted DrummerFest, an annual drum clinic, from 2001-2019.[8] The event featured notable drummers and percussionists from a variety of genres.

Year Performers
2001 Zoro, Dom Famularo, Hilary Jones, Charlie Adams, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez[9]
2002 Hip Pickles, Tom Brechtlein, Dom Famularo, Kenny Aronoff[10]
2003 Mike Mangini, Dom Famularo, Steve Ferrone, Steve Smith[11]
2004 Johnny Rabb, Todd Sucherman, Cindy Blackman, Alex Acuña[12][13]
2005 Peter Erskine, William Calhoun, Keith Carlock, Robby Ameen[14]
2006 Billy Ward, Ignacio Berroa, Virgil Donati, Dom Famularo[15]
2007 Paul Leim, Grant Collins, Teddy Campbell, Flo Mounier[16][17]
2008 Johnny Rabb (Collective Soul), Jim Riley (Rascal Flatts), Marco Minnemann, Dennis Chambers (Carlos Santana)[8][18]
2009 Hannah Ford (Prince), Rodney Holmes, Dafnis Prieto, Mike Mangini[19]
2010 Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Terry Bozzio, Marvin McQuitty, Dom Famularo[20]
2011 Bill Bruford, Chris Pennie, Aaron Spears (Usher), Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez[21]
2012 Rex Hardy Jr (American Idol, Mary J Blige), Ben Sesar (Brad Paisley), John Blackwell, Gregg Bissonette[22]
2013 Russ Miller, Gene Hoglan, Ronald Bruner Jr, Gavin Harrison[23][24]
2014 Dom Famularo, Brian Frasier-Moore (Justin Timberlake, Madonna),[25] Omar Hakim, Thomas Lang[26]
2015 Peter Erskine, Glen Sobel, Sean Fuller (Florida Georgia Line), Raymond Massey, Glen Caruba[27]
2016 Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex, Zwan, Skysaw, Jane's Addiction), Shannon Forrest (Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts, TOTO), Matt Garstka (Animals as Leaders, Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes), Gorden Campbell (Earth Wind & Fire, Phillip Bailey, Rascal Flatts, George Duke, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson)
2017 Daru Jones (Jack White, Slum Village, Taleb Kweli, Black Mild), Joe Saylor (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, John Batiste), Will Kennedy (Yellowjackets, Russell Ferrante)
2018 Dom Famularo, Antonio Sanchez (John Patitucci, Pat Metheny Group)
2019 Carter McLean, Gerald Heyward (Puff Daddy, Coolio, Beyoncé), Calvin Rodgers (Fred Hammond, R. Kelly, Kirk Franklin)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "The House - Interstate Music Productions". interstatemusicproductions.com. 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  2. ^ "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  3. ^ "Geneva Supply Acquires Cascio Interstate Music". musicincmag. Music Inc. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  4. ^ "The Stage - Interstate Music Productions". interstatemusicproductions.com. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  5. ^ "Artist Services - Interstate Music Productions". interstatemusicproductions.com. 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  6. ^ "The Van - Interstate Music Productions". interstatemusicproductions.com. 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  7. ^ "Cascio Interstate Bucks Beats Drumline". Milwaukee Bucks. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  8. ^ a b "Cascio Interstate's DrummerFest 2008 Features World-Class". shepherdexpress.com. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  9. ^ "Horacio El Negro Hernandez – Drummer". www.elnegro.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  10. ^ "Drummerfest at Cascio". www.audio-joy.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  11. ^ "1,000 turn out for Interstate's annual DrummerFest. (Retailer Update) – Music Trades". Archived from the original on 2018-11-19.
  12. ^ "Photos from Todd Sucherman (toddsucherman) on Myspace". Myspace. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  13. ^ "Photos from Todd Sucherman (toddsucherman) on Myspace". Myspace. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  14. ^ "Drummerszone news - DrummerFest 2005 boasting stellar line-up". www.drummerszone.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  15. ^ "Waukesha County Bulletin Board". www.jsonline.com. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  16. ^ "Drummerfest 2007". Official Drummer. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  17. ^ "DrummerFest showcases world-class talent: Cascio Interstate Music. Music Trades". Archived from the original on 2016-05-03.
  18. ^ "DRUM! Magazine". www.drummagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  19. ^ "DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM - Casio Interstate Music "Drummerfest 2009"". www.drummerworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  20. ^ "DRUM!Magazine". www.drummagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  21. ^ "Cascio Interstate Music's 11th Annual DrummerFest, October 22nd". www.mymuskegonow.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  22. ^ "Cascio Interstate Music's 12th Annual DrummerFest Clinic Welcomes Four Drumming Stars of the Music Industry, October 27". PRWeb. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  23. ^ "Cascio Interstate Music SuperStore's 13th Annual DrummerFest to Welcome Drumming Stars to Popular Milwaukee Drum Event, October 19th". PRWeb. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  24. ^ "Gene Hoglan At Wisconsin's DrummerFest: Clinic, Jam Footage Posted Online". blabbermouth.net. 2013-10-25. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  25. ^ "Brian Frasier-Moore: Born to Play | Modern Drummer Magazine". Modern Drummer Magazine. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  26. ^ "Cascio Hosts 14th Annual DrummerFest - Music Trades". Archived from the original on 2016-05-04.
  27. ^ "DrummerFest 2015 at Cascio Interstate Music to Feature Peter Erskine and Four Other Top Drum Artists October 24th". www.wauwatosanow.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
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