On The Verge

Cas Haley

Paris, Texas
America’s Always Had Talent
www.cashaley.com

Cas Haley’s America’s Got Talent audition caused judge Piers Morgan to call his “Walking on the Moon” cover better than Sting’s original, and his performance of “Red Red Wine” with UB-40 helped the Texas native win a coveted runner-up spot at the end of the show’s second season. But Haley actually has more in common with his current world-inspired jamband tourmates such as Easy Star All-Stars and Toubab Krewe than his fellow TV contestants. “I’m more excited now about my career than I was when I was on the show,” he says. “It seems more real—like I’m where I’m supposed to be versus where I just happened to be.” The singer/songwriter released his second album, the Southern-blues-meets-island-reggae Connection, on Easy Star in September. After a falling out with his old manager following the release of his self-titled debut, a new record label has put Haley back on his original path: he’s currently on an extensive nationwide tour and is set to appear at several summer festivals, including the Hangout Music Festival. “I’m trying to get out from under the America’s Got Talent cover. That’s what’s cool about Easy Star—I think they’ve helped me move on.”