RICH SANCHEZ

Rounding out Raising Cane is New Mexico native Rich Sanchez who has been called "one of the quietest bass players on the bluegrass scene." The epitaph refers to chatter, not music. According to Sanchez, he'd rather let his music do the talking. And if you listen real hard, you'll catch Rich's, well, rich vocal harmonies on most Raising Cane arrangements.

Rich Sanchez is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in American West history at the University of New Mexico. Though trained as a classical and jazz percussionist, he has made bluegrass a music staple in his life for the last 30 years, sharing the stage as a promising up-and-coming banjo player with bluegrass greats the Country Gazette, the Dillards and the Country Gentlemen.

When a skiing accident severely hyper-extended his thumb and ended his banjo career, Rich moved to bass and continues his career playing and performing, most recently with Raising Cane. Rich describes his fellow Caners as "some of the most gifted players and lyricists" that he has ever come across. Rich currently lives outside Santa Fe in the Northern New Mexico rio community of Jacona.

His musical influences include Beethoven, Gary Burton, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Carmine Appice, Earl Scruggs, Ben Eldridge, Tony Rice, Tom Grey, Todd Philips, Missy Raines and Paul Keller. Rich's extensive musical knowledge compliments Raising Cane, and he lays down some fine bass lines and innovative vocals. "Rich brings decades of bluegrass experience to the band and always has wonderful ideas about where we should go musically." >> back