Cross Canadian Ragweed plans to take a break from touring
Oklahoma-Texas red dirt rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed announced today their decision to take a rare break from their extremely busy touring schedule.
The decision will allow band member Randy Ragsdale, who lives in Yukon, to spend more time with his son, JC, who has autism.
The band’s publicist said it is not yet known whether some already scheduled dates will be affected by today’s announcement.
The alt-country quartet of Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Jeremy Plato and Ragsdale has established a reputation as musical road warriors, playing more than 220 dates a year for 13 of the last 15 years.
The members made the decision together to take a break from the road, according to a statement released by the band’s publicist.
The foursome established Ragweed as teenagers in 1994 and eventually moved to Stillwater, where they built a following playing for the college crowds around Oklahoma State University. Half the band members now make their homes in Oklahoma, while the others live in Texas.
The band celebrated its 15th anniversary last fall, and over the years, the members have watched each other grow up, get married and start families.
While they love their time on the road, each has yearned to spend more time with their families at home, according to the statement. Ragsdale, the band’s drummer, let the others know a few days ago that he needed to be at home with his family, especially JC.
“For many years my band has been my top priority. Being in a touring band you have to give it your all, give it 100 percent. Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He’s 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands on and close to home,” Ragsdale said in the statement.
“I would understand and support the band’s decision to get another drummer and press on. But that’s not what they wanted to do. I was blown away by their decision and their support.”
Frontman Canada said in the statement, “We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all.”
Guitarist Cross and bassist Plato echoed those sentiments in the announcement.
“These guys, they’re my brothers, I love playing with them,“ said Cross in the statement. “I’m sure we’ll be back on the road soon.”
Plato added, “We’ve been at this for a long time, we’ve all had to spend time away from home missing birthdays, holidays … it’ll be good for us to have a breather.”’
One of the most influential groups on the Texas/red dirt music scene, Ragweed has sold more than 1 million albums, released its last four albums on major label Universal South Records and sold out venues from New York to California. The group has played major festivals like Stagecoach, ACL Fest and Summer Fest. The band also has headlined their own festivals, drawing more than 60,000 fans each year to their Red Dirt Round Up in Fort Worth, Texas, and Family Jam in Oklahoma City.
The Family Jam raises funds for Mandi’s Ministries, a charity named for Ragsdale’s sister, who died in a 2001 car accident. She was 9 years old.
The nonprofit raises money for children’s causes. For the past few years, funds from the concert have gone to a special needs T-ball field the group helped build in Yukon. Ragsdale and wife Ashley started the Yukon Spirit League so JC and other special-needs children could play ball.
“It’s going strong, and we plan on still trying to fund that and make it better,” Ragsdale told me in a 2009 interview. “We’ve got kids driving down like from almost Kansas, like from Ponca City and stuff like that, to play in this thing. So, it’s a really cool deal.”
Along with the seventh annual Family Jam, set for Aug. 28 at the Zoo Amphitheatre, Ragweed is currently scheduled to headline its Music & Mayhem festival May 30 at Eufaula Cove Amphitheatre on Lake Eufaula.
- BAM
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As a mega Ragweed fan, I must look beyond my own selfishness and focus on their concerns. This is NOT Randy’s fault. It’s a combined band decision. It’s NOT a break up. The bottle was NOT the deciding factor. This decision is hundreds of times harder on them, than us. I TOTALLY support Cross Canadian Ragweed’s decision. I’m ready for the Reunion Party already!
Ragweed Rick