Faith Band Oral History

Interview Highlight

In this interview highlight, Carl Storie and Dave Barnes reflect on the formation and rise of Faith Band, tracing the group’s roots in Indianapolis and their progression from regional clubs to major concert stages. They share stories of touring and performing alongside national acts including the Doobie Brothers, Allman Brothers Band, and Fleetwood Mac, offering firsthand insight into a period when Indiana-based bands were gaining access to the highest levels of the touring rock circuit.

Oral History Interview

In this complete interview, Carl Storie and Dave Barnes offer an in-depth look at the history of Faith Band, from the group’s early roots in Indianapolis to their development as a nationally touring rock act during the 1970s. They discuss the band’s evolving lineup, rehearsal and recording experiences, and the realities of life on the road, while reflecting on the regional music scene that helped shape their sound. Together, their recollections provide a detailed portrait of a Midwest band navigating the professional rock landscape during a pivotal era in American music history.

Biography

Faith Band’s story connects the music scenes of Muncie, New Castle, and Indianapolis through a series of bands and lasting musical partnerships. The group’s roots include The Invincibles and The Chosen Few, followed by Limousine and, eventually, Faith. Behind those changing names were musicians whose backgrounds ranged from school jazz bands to family music-making in Tennessee.

Drummer Dave Barnes grew up in New Castle and began playing snare drum in junior high. In high school, jazz and dance-band music helped shape his playing. His early musical experiences also brought him together with fellow New Castle musician Dave Bennett, beginning a partnership that continued through Dave and the Dynamics and into Faith Band.

Singer Carl Storie spent his early childhood in Tennessee before moving to Muncie around age five or six. He credits his grandparents with encouraging his interest in music: his grandmother sang and played instruments, and his grandfather was a music teacher. Summer visits to Tennessee kept him connected to those beginnings. He remembers trying to sing like Elvis Presley and buying “Denise” by Randy & the Rainbows as his first record.

Those paths came together through the regional club circuit. Barnes recalls spending about a year and a half playing at the Triangle in Greenville, Ohio, after high school. Storie, already a member of The Chosen Few, remembers going to hear Barnes and Bennett after learning about their playing. Impressed by what they heard, the group recruited the two musicians.

By the early 1970s, the band’s story had shifted to Indianapolis and Limousine. Bassist and songwriter Mark Cawley joined from the New York band Beggar’s Opera, adding songs and musical ideas to the group. The core Faith lineup brought together Storie on vocals and harmonica, Bennett on guitar, Barnes on drums, John Cascella on keyboards, and Cawley on bass.

Limousine released an album on GSF Records before producer Terry Knight reworked the recordings for a 1973 release on his Brown Bag label under the name Faith. In their interview, Barnes and Storie recall a promotional campaign that concealed the musicians’ identities and suggested they were established stars performing anonymously. The experience proved frustrating, but support from Village Records helped the band continue. Storie credits that backing with giving them renewed hope at a difficult point in their career.

Faith Band went on to release four more albums through Village and Mercury, building a following in Indianapolis and across the Midwest. Written by Carl Storie, “Dancin’ Shoes” became their signature song. Faith Band’s recording and Nigel Olsson’s version appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time in late 1978 and early 1979, reaching No. 54 and No. 18, respectively. Their concert history included opening for the Allman Brothers Band, the Doobie Brothers, and Fleetwood Mac. Barnes recalls the Doobie Brothers visiting their dressing room and inviting Faith Band onstage for encores, with Barnes taking over one of the headlining band’s two drum kits. Both Barnes and Storie remember the musicians’ warmth and generosity.

The members’ musical lives continued beyond Faith Band. Cascella joined John Mellencamp’s band, while Storie and Cawley formed Blinding Tears, releasing an album in 1986. Cawley also developed a career as a songwriter and mentor. In 2010, Faith Band released Legacy, a 19-track digital collection drawn from its archives, including previously unreleased recordings.

Image Gallery

Photographs and memorabilia from Faith Band’s history and the musical lives of its members.