[2][3] In 1973, graduate student Cahill jammed with other bluegrass musicians at the University of Chicago Folk Festival.

They began playing house parties, but in 1975 Cahill and bassist Marc Edelstein decided to pursue a music career for a few years as Special Consensus.

[8] In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program, in which they introduce students and teachers to bluegrass in schools across the country.

[9][10] In 2016, Special Consensus was awarded the IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for their version of "Fireball.

"[11] Every five years, current and past members of the Special Consensus gather for and perform in an anniversary concert, often at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.