Beats and Brotherhood

Cadillac Willy’s Jam Band Legacy

By Hailey Bethke | Photography by Hunter Burgtorf

Cadillac Willy began with the union of five friends: Clayton Bonjean, Louie Antoon, John David Sullivan, Patrick Wilson, and Josh Pace. What started as a casual jam session in Bonjean’s project studio quickly gained momentum as more and more friends showed up to the weekend demos. Shortly after, Sullivan booked their first gig at Capisce in Fort Walton Beach, Florida—without telling anyone else in the band. He convinced the owners that they would pack the bar if they booked his crew. They might only have a few songs to play (and might repeat them), but the crowds would show.

This defining moment in 2000 was the group’s shift from pastime to performance, bringing their late-night jam sessions to stages in clubs and restaurants throughout the area. The Santa Rosa Beach “home field” advantage worked well for the band: they were booked at least three weekends every month, could sleep in their own beds, and went to their “real jobs” the following morning. The locals loved them. A good ol’ time was guaranteed—a timeless characteristic you’ll still find true when you catch the band playing today.

Although none of the band members drive a Cadillac, the name holds meaning. Sullivan explains that he was inspired by a bar when driving through an endearing neighborhood outside Memphis, Tennessee. The vintage sign out front read “Cadillac Willy’s,” and when he brought it up to the band, it just clicked. There was a unanimous feeling that the name captured the band’s soul—it sounded cool while still encompassing their easy-going nature.

The band’s greatest differentiator is their unique sound. When they formed in 2000, other bands in the area were playing traditional beach music. They took an alternative approach by sourcing inspiration from classic rock and jam bands, performing songs by the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, and J. J. Cale. There’s also an unexpected element of novelty that makes each show exciting; you never know which band members will be performing, which makes each night noteworthy.

Still, the band has a few lighthearted rules to stay true to their jam band roots. To this day, they have refused to play “Brown Eyed Girl” or “Sweet Home Alabama”—although you might convince them with a generous tip. At its core, Cadillac Willy is a Grateful Dead cover band with an audience-centric disposition and twist.

The members admit that, in their early days, they were known for taking long breaks during their sets. It wasn’t unusual to play a few songs live before retreating to the bar for a drink and putting on a gig mix of live recordings from New Orleans. Even so, the bars loved Cadillac Willy because they brought the crowds. High energy and good vibes were the standard, and their loyal local following always showed up to buy drinks (and tipped well).

Buckle up. This is just the beginning for Cadillac Willy.

The band has a reputation for having fun. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we also value performing well and improving our sound,” they say. Money is never the focus. Although a few band members play music for a living, it’s always an exciting moment of unbridled entertainment when Cadillac Willy comes together.

After playing together for almost twenty-five years, performing is second nature. So much so that the band only practices if they plan on adding a new song to the lineup. Even that typically involves a text a few days before a performance with the instructions, “Learn this song,” and a link to Bonjean’s YouTube page with a tutorial.

By keeping Cadillac Willy as a hobby, the band has preserved its sense of good energy, no disagreements, and classic sound. While the core members have shifted throughout the years, the band has always sought to bring on better musicians to enhance their performances. Bonjean says the new rule is that when someone leaves the band, their replacement has to be younger and better.

Moreover, success is inevitable when you love what you do. The band has received numerous awards over the past twenty-four years, including the Best Jam Band Award at the 2012 and 2013 Beachcomber Music Awards. They were also named Best Dance Band by Beachcomber in 2017 and were inducted into the Beachcomber magazine “Hall of Fame.” Several local publications have consistently named Cadillac Willy the best band on the Emerald Coast.

For those looking to catch the band live, Cadillac Willy consistently gigs at Red Fish Taco in Blue Mountain Beach, Florida. Although you may never know who will be sitting in on the set (past guests have included Emeril Lagasse, Eric Lindell, Allman Brothers bassist David Goldflies, and Edwin McCain), the current lineup includes Metz Barnes on lead vocals and keys, Shawn Shackelford on drums, Louie Antoon on Latin percussion, Clayton Bonjean on lead guitar, John David Sullivan on guitar and vocals, and Ricky Stanfield on bass.

As Cadillac Willy approaches its twenty-fifth anniversary, its members’ goal remains simple: keep making music together for as long as possible. With the vision of creating a fresh set of original songs to celebrate its deep-seated history, Cadillac Willy shows no signs of slowing down. After twenty-four years of jamming and evolving, the future promises more of the same—the joy of playing, the rhythm of collaboration, and spirited performances on stage.

Buckle up. This is just the beginning for Cadillac Willy.

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To connect with Cadillac Willy and learn more about upcoming performances, visit CadillacWilly.com.