anyone know Buddy Cage's real name?

[scott murray]

I've been digging into some of Buddy Cage's earliest recordings and allmusic lists his name as Walter L. Cagle born in Concord NC. well he was born in Toronto which makes me doubt the name as well. anyone know for sure?

Cage's big hero was Buddy Charleton, born Elmer Lee Charleton in 1938. and we all know The Big E was born Buddy Gene Emmons in 1937 (misspelled Betty Jean Emmons on his birth certificate!)

[Chris Templeton]

The 'puter says this:
"Buddy Cage's original name was Buddy Cage; he was born with that name and did not change it. He was a professional musician best known for his pedal steel guitar work with bands like the Great Speckled Bird and the New Riders of the Purple Sage".

[Carey Lainhart]

Huge fan here. This is something I've wondered about for a long time. There is a reference to a different name in the Ian & Sylvia biography. The index entry for Buddy reads: "Cage, Buddy (Gary Saul)" and then: "Saul, Gary, see Cage, Buddy". Would love to know the story.

[scott murray]

I believe that’s it Carey, thanks for playing

[John Ciano]

Gary is correct! I have always been a big fan. Growing up in the shadow of Manhattan, I never saw a PSG before Buddy and Rusty. I always knew his real first name but only resently found out that his last name was Saul.

Quick story: For those that never met Buddy, he was a very personable guy, a good conversationalist and wonderful story teller. He also had a bit of a crusty side. When a steel player friend, who occasionally lacks proper social graces, called him Gary, it stopped him dead in his tracks. With a fierce look and sharp tone in his voice he said, "IT'S BUDDY"!

In a resent show I got to do Hello Mary Lou and for a personal tribute I did Tom Brumley's solo followed by Buddy's. Both knuckle busters but Buddy's, as always, grabbed a lot of attention. Fun stuff!

I could go on and on about Buddy but one more thing. A band I'm in started doing Panama Red. Not wanting to just hack through the solo, I revisited it for the first time in 45 years.
Talk about a knuckle buster! I play it often as an exercise to get my hand in balance and quite often it is not pretty! The second Am lick is genious! Back in the day he had tremendous dexterity and a great imagination.

Ahhhh..... we need more heroes!

[Chris Templeton]

Buddy had a band called "Bad Dog" that I enjoyed.