2008 Woodie Awards
Campus activity board welcomes Clayton Miller Blues Band
Stacy Katzenstein / Contributing Writer
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Most people don't find it particularly cool to play with their parents. But the three younger members of the nationally recognized Clayton Miller Band have been doing exactly that since 1999.
The Clayton Miller Band, based out of Lafayette, Ind., is set to perform at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the University of West Florida Commons Auditorium.
"We're really excited to get them here," said Ann McKinney, University Commons and Student Activities associate director. "We really wanted to see this band come to UWF."
The blues-style band consists of father Larry, 56, on bass; and sons Clayton, 22, on guitar; 18-year-old Cole on drums; and 11-year-old L.D. on harmonica.
Although Clayton is lead vocalist, each band member contributes vocals. Mother Tammy helps out by managing and promoting the band. McKinney, who saw the band at a showcase at the National Association for Campus Activities, has been trying to book their performance at UWF for almost 5 years.
"There were just logistic problems," she said. "We had them booked last year, but a couple of the band members got food poisoning."
The blues band is described by The Indiana Statesman as "'heavy' tonal blues in the tradition of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Delta/Texas sound."
CMB is also called "the hottest new act of the college circuit nationwide," according to Campus Activities Magazine.
Although Clayton is the namesake of the band, L.D. is often the favorite amongst CMB fans. The youngest member of the group performed and competed last year on NBC's "The Search for the Most Talented Kid," and he was invited to play harmonica alongside Motown music legend Stevie Wonder at the House Full of Toys benefit concert.
The band has played at college campuses across the country, and also performed on The WB's "The Steve Harvey Show," where they received a standing ovation from the crowd.
The Clayton Miller Band is currently in Las Vegas, and will take part in the Arts Midwest Conference before driving down for their Pensacola performance. From there, they will move north through Alabama and onto Memphis for a performing arts showcase.
The band took a break from their hectic touring schedule after the birth of Clayton's son. The two younger Miller sons spent time in Las Vegas doing stage performances, where L.D. is a star of the country production "Buck Wild."
McKinney describes CMB as "a tight band with a fat, full sound" that is fun to listen to.
"They just have fun together in the show," said McKinney. "And you will have fun if you're in the audience."
The performance is part of the Campus Activity Board's Catch A Rising Star series, U-Rock.
For more information on the Clayton Miller Band, visit their Web site, http://www.claytonmillerbluesband.com.