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Sawmill has officially been a band since around January 2001.
Before there was a Farmers' Opry to call home, most of Sawmill's shows were road shows, playing
weekends out of a customized Feather-Lite trailer. Since then, Sawmill has evolved into one of
NWFL's premier country band's featuring seasoned instrumentalist and world-class vocalists.
The band has performed for Alabama Governer Bob Riley and twice for President George W. Bush and
has also shared the stage with over 30 country music icons including Travis Tritt, Doug Stone, Gene Watson,
Craig Morgan, Terri Clark, Gary Allen, Darryl Worley, Ronnie McDowell and Daron Norwood.
What defines Sawmill's genre? The unique individuals that
make up the band. Each member has their roots in various forms of modern and traditional
country. The result is a well-blended mixture of singers and musicians focused on providing
quality entertainment.
THE SAWMILL BAND
Dereck Barnes - Harold, FL. - Keyboard.
Raised on Southern Gospel and Country Music, Dereck brings
invaluable knowledge to the stage and is certainly an anchor in the Sawmill Band. You may have seen
Dereck performing at Grandma's Restaurant in Milton in the past. Dereck has been with the band since
January 2005.
Rick Smith - Pensacola, FL. - Bass Guitar.
Rick's roots are in gospel music and his talent is welcomed
in country music. His notable accuracy certainly provides a strong bottom end in the band. Sawmill
benefits from the strong musical connection between Rick and his son Clint (Sawmill Drummer). Rick joined
Sawmill in January 2005.
Brooke Woods - Pace, FL. - Vocals.
Brooke was raised in the Gospel Music field and brings strong lead
vocals as well as world-class harmonies and duets to Sawmill. Her experience in the Gospel arena adds
another dimension to the band's classic country sound. Brooke's passion for music resonates in every
note she sings; she truely feels her songs. Brooke joined the band in January 2005.
James Broxson - Molino, FL. - Lead Vocals.
James made his mark in country music in the mid 90's
as lead singer of the local hit band "Yellow River". After taking a break from the limelight for a few years,
James joined Sawmill as lead vocalist in September 2006. His roots are in late traditional country; George Strait,
Steve Wariner and Mark Chestnut define his style. James feels his music and his love for it leaps from the stage
at each performance. That enthusiasm drives Sawmill.....which is why he's the lead singer.
Kelton French - Milton, FL. - Vocals.
Kelton made his premier in 2005 as the winner of the regional
Colgate Country Showdown held at The Farmers' Opry. His amazing vocal quality and control earned him a spot with
the band in September 2006 after performing as a guest for over a year. Kelton's style is mostly centered around
late traditional and new country (Joe Nichols, Gary Allen, etc). He brings a young freshness to the band and
helps round out Sawmill's variety.
Clint Smith - Pensacola, FL. - Drums.
Clint performed with Sawmill in the early days as the bands original
drummer. After pursuing other musical avenues, he returned to the band in mid-year 2005. Clint's drumming
encompasses a wide range of styles. His experience in many different musical generes adds a unique flavor
to Sawmill's music.
Melissa Welch - Milton, FL. - Vocals.
Melissa's musical background was founded with The Sawmill Band. At
the young age of 10, Melissa began performing with the band singing such tunes as Tammy Wynette's 'Stand
By Your Man' and Patsy Cline's 'Sweet Dreams' (Classic Country is her favorite). Now at the maturing age
of 14, Melissa has a strong, dynamic voice that adds an unmistakable variety to the band's sound.
Sandy Wyatt - Chumuckla, FL. - Steel Guitar, Band Leader, Sawmill founder, Manager of The Farmers' Opry.
The most seasoned musician of the Band, Sandy brings a rock solid foundation to Sawmill. His deep roots
in country music are evident in every steel guitar solo. Sandy uses the Opry as a platform to bring his
love for music to a multitude of people throughout the Southeast every weekend. The Sawmill Band looks
to him for leadership and direction.
Jeremy Wyatt - Chumuckla, FL. - Acoustic Guitar, Show Coordinator.
Jeremy's unique finger picking acoustic
style adds another element of traditional country to the Band. With 10 years of stage experience with his
father, Jeremy helps steer the shows in the right direction by providing a strong rhythem baseline while
helping manage the show's overall flow. In addtion to performing with the Band, he is also responsible
for writing and coordinating all of Sawmill's performances. Jeremy has been with the band since its inception.
As The Farmers' Opry celebrates it's 5th anniversary, Sawmill will play a large roll in maintaining a high
level of customer service. It's a pledge from all of us to provide the best dinner and show package for
the money anywhere in the world.
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