Bio A native of Clinton, NJ, Black Potatoe recording artist Gregg Cagno has been out on the road extensively in support of his live CD Present Moment Days. He was recently a finalist in the Kerrville Folk Festival's prestigious New Folk competition and had the opportunity to open for 70's folk/rock stars America at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Gregg also recently had the honor of playing at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His ease of phrasing and clear, warm baritone communicates joy, wit, love and whatever else comes to mind without pretense. His guitar playing is bold and bassy, negotiating enlightening open tunings and various worldly rhythms like it was a roll through the park. Like just a small handful of other instrument intensive folkers - Michael Hedges comes to mind, and JT - Gregg Cagno is a studied and experienced performer and entertainer. Comfortable and warm with an audience, he's as creative an interpreter of other's works as he is his own. Gregg frequently co-writes with long time friend and novelist Christian Bauman. Mostly appearing solo, Cagno is sometimes accompanied by keyboard wizard Karl Dietel (The Samples), or Jim Heffernan on Dobro (Brad Paisley, Joe Diffie). Sometimes he's joined by his wife, actress, singer, dancer Maggie Anderson, for a duo show. Gregg also teaches songwriting and guitar workshops for the NJ State Teen Arts Festival each year. Gregg's song "In Her Own Eyes" (co-written with Robert Meitus) was recently placed in the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings archives with the FAST FOLK catalogue, and his "Backroad Driver" was featured on NPR's 'Car Talk'. His tune "Just the 3 of Us" won 'best mellow' at the 2002 South Florida Folk Festival. He was also a songwriting finalist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Fest and the Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival. Over the years Gregg has gotten to share the stage with many of his inspirers as the opening act including James Taylor and John Gorka. Cagno learned his craft, and perfected his smooth baritone voice, as a teenager playing and volunteering at the legendary Godfrey Daniels stage in Bethlehem, PA. The influence of fellow Godfrey's-alum Gorka can be seen in Gregg's sharp, descriptive, and often witty lyrics. But Gregg Cagno isn't an echo of any one performer, musician, or songwriter. He does, brilliantly, what only a few talented folks can pull off: translate the depths of his influences into a sound and style distinctly his own.

Quotes "He's got the groove..." - Tom Prasada-Rao “He Rocks!” – Catie Curtis “Best Folk Artist 2003” - Makin Waves Awards, Courier News "Crafty musings...an intimate, easy-going style" - Princeton Packet “Brings innermost feelings to the fore with an ease not achieved by most...especially pleasing’s ‘The Grind’” – Dirty Linen “Has a real good fist on the guitar” – The Folk Project “. . . works alone, carrying the whole program in a rich voice with a vigorous display on the guitar; and a quiet, comfortable banter.” – The Record “Cagno doesn’t growl or snarl or break instruments onstage, or rip off his shirt and pound you with how ‘significant’ his insights are. He gently, expertly removes the eye lash that’s been annoying you all day, scratches his beard and decides whether to order a cup of irony or a chef’s salad of poignancy” – The Hoboken Reporter “Plays well with others” – Mrs. Johnson (Kindergarten Teacher 1975)

Has Supported/Opened For: • James Taylor • John Gorka • America • Richie Havens • Chris Smither • Pete Seeger • James Keelaghan • Carrie Newcomer • Dar Williams • Chuck Brodsky • Marshall Crenshaw • The Nields • Ellis Paul • Vance Gilbert • Garnet Rogers • David Massengill • Alejandro Escovedo • Eric Andersen • The Bongos • The Dorkestra • Health & Happiness Show • The Burns Sisters • Maura O'Connell • Levon Helm • Andy Summers • Chris Barron

Has Performed: • The PNC Bank Arts Center, Homdel NJ • The Birchmere, Alexandria VA • The Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville TX • South Florida Folk Festival, Ft. Lauderdale FL • Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Hillsdale NY • Bottom Line, NYC • Maxwell’s, Hoboken NJ • Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem PA • House of Blues, Cambridge MA • Fast Folk Cafe, NYC • Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse, Dallas TX • 12 Corners Coffeehouse, Rochester NY • Eddie’s Attic, Decatur GA • Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN • Club Passim, Cambridge MA • CBGB’s Gallery, NYC • Lycian Theatre, Sugarloaf NY • Cafe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY • Happy Endings, Syracuse NY • Burlington Coffeehouse, Burlington VT • Postcrypt Coffeehouse, NYC • The Wetlands, NYC • The Mercury Lounge, NYC • Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ • Towne Crier, Pawling, NY • Blue Heaven, Key West, FL • OK Hotel, Seattle, WA • Freight & Salvage, Berkeley, CA • Harbin Hot Springs, Middletown, CA • Highland Grounds, Hollywood, CA • Susquehanna Music and Arts Festival Darlington, MD • The Cabin Concerts, Wayne, NJ • Heart's Desire House Concerts, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Discography: solo releases: • Backroad Driver (self release 1994) • Tales from Sixth & Clinton (Zesty Records 1997) • Present Moment Days (Black Potatoe Records 2000) • Simple Gifts (Winnie Cat Records 2002) Compilations: Live at Atomic Vol. 1, 1995 (Mandolin Moon) Exit #135 - NJ Songwriters' Circle, 1993 (Neighborhood Angel) Fast Folk FF607 Vol.8 #7. Songs from the Garden State, 1992 released Smithsonian Folkways (In Her Own Eyes)