Tucked away in Butte Creek Canyon, a small community has turned harmony into more than just music. The Canyon Caterwaulers, an Americana and classic country collective led by husband-and-wife duo Mark and Darlene Lightcap, make their debut with “Choose Love”—a song that doubles as both anthem and invitation. At its heart, the track is about a choice we all face daily, and their decision to frame it through family, neighbors, and song gives it an uncommon depth.
The spark came from a timeless reminder by Johnny Cash: “All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate…I choose love.” Songwriter Mark R. Lightcap carried those words like a compass, shaping them into a chorus of resilience. But rather than keeping the message within the band, the Caterwaulers threw open the studio doors. Twenty-two of their Butte Creek Canyon neighbors—across political, cultural, and religious lines—joined in to belt out the rallying cry: “Choose love, choose grace!”
That session was more than recording—it was communion. Warm acoustic guitar, a spirited fiddle, and heartfelt vocals from the Lightcaps’ son build the foundation, but it’s the collective voices of a community that turn the track into something unforgettable. Acting as producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, Mark captured not just a performance, but a moment: the sound of people putting aside differences to sing for what unites them.
The result is a song that feels alive wherever it’s played. On a canyon porch at sunset, blasting from car speakers on a country drive, or streaming quietly through headphones, “Choose Love” radiates the same warmth and optimism. It’s not music for isolation—it’s music designed to be shared.
And while this debut single plants a strong flag, it’s just the start for The Canyon Caterwaulers. Mark is already shaping the next project, including a tender duet written for Darlene. But with “Choose Love,” they’ve already defined their purpose: to use music not as escape, but as reminder—a chance to choose harmony when it matters most.
In a time when division too often drowns out connection, The Canyon Caterwaulers offer something refreshingly simple: a chorus worth joining.
Listen to “Choose Love” and feel the harmony:
“Now more than ever: CHOOSE LOVE please.”
— The Canyon Caterwaulers