The Cartwright Brothers are Mark Nelson and Jeff Schwebach.  They are a rare and versatile act from Sioux Falls, who combine their musical talents with comedy.  Their career spans well over 30 years, averaging between 100 and 150 shows a year for the majority of those years.  It would not be out of the ordinary for you to find The Cartwright Brothers headlining a comedy club as a duo on a Friday night, then engaging in a sweat-filled rock and roll show on Saturday night with The Split Pea band, which boasted as many as six members.

For over ten years they were the main summer musical attraction of the Iowa Great Lakes, playing the Bavarian Gardens in Arnold’s Park every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day. VH-1’s Corey Moss once wrote, “The Cartwright Brothers are to Lake Okoboji as Jimmy Buffet is to Key West.”  

In addition to hundreds of shows at the legendary Pomp Room, they have performed at the Sioux Falls Arena, the Great Hall of the Washington Pavilion, the main stage of a major Las Vegas casino, and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville in Cancun, Mexico.  To add to their busy performing schedule, they also found time to host a morning show on Q95.7 radio in Sioux Falls for over seven years.

 In 1992, they were a N.A.C.A. Showcase winner, and over the years they have shared the stage with many rock and roll legends, like Bad Company, Kansas, and Pat Benatar, as well as performing comedy shows with the likes of Dave Chappelle and Bobcat Goldthwaite.  They have released three CDs, including  “Serious,” “ Peaking at Life,” and “Halfway to Nowhere.” Along with the Cartwright Brothers, the Split Pea Band has featured the talents of Don Cooper on drums, Jerry Turner, Monte Beringer and Brian Detmers on electric guitar,  bass players George Puder (Pronounced Pyoo-der), Dave Van Roekel, Derrick Zeeck and Robin Snow, and Barb Weidenaar on keyboards.

Awards