Biography

Formed in 1986 by core members Larry Grisham and Tommy Stillwell, The Beat Daddys have spent almost 30 years bringing their blend of American roots music to audiences around the world. With nine international CD releases, film & TV soundtrack credits, and countless shows in the US and abroad, The Beat Daddys are a duo with authentic American roots.

Grisham, who can claim country music icon Merle Travis as a family member, spent his early years in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. On a donated piano from a local church, Grisham began his music journey. Grisham’s gospel music loving grandfather was not happy with his loud rock and roll playing. Enraged, he pushed the piano out of the house and set it on fire in the front yard.

In the Ohio River town of Cloverport, Kentucky, Tommy Stillwell’s introduction to the power of music came in the form of Pentacostal tent revivals and churches. Performing at the age of 8 as the drummer in a gospel band, Stillwell experienced music’s emotional power early in his life.

Meeting in 1970, Grisham and Stillwell connected immediately on their enthusiasm for music, especially the British Invasion.

In the early 80’s, Stillwell joined Grisham’s power pop band The Phonz (pronounced phones), beginning their enduring song writing partnership. Always including chestnuts from the Yardbirds, Kinks, Stones, and Animals in The Phonz set list, they re-examined their initial passions, the British Invasion, which led back to Muddy, the Wolf, and the Kings, Feddie, Albert and B.B. Dissolving The Phonz and creating The Beat Daddys, the duo began exploring American Blues and all the regional variations: Texas Blues, Memphis R&B, Chicago, and Muscle Shoals.

They were signed to Malaco subsidiary Waldoxy Records in 1992. Heading to the famous Muscle Shoals studio, two CDs were recorded with famed Muscle Shoals’ Swampers and released on the Waldoxy label:
No, We Ain’t From Clarksdale in 1992 and South To Mississippi in 1994.

The experience of the Muscle Shoals recordings were rewarding, but creative and directional differences led to Stillwell’s departure in 1995. Grisham relocating further South, first to Jackson, MS then to the Gulf Coast region. Living and exploring the musical heritage of the region, he formed a new line-up consisting of players predominantly from the Gulf Coast area and recording The Beat Daddys Live and Delta Vision.

Disaster struck Grisham in 2005. Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast destroying all of Grisham’s possessions. After several months of living in a FEMA trailer, Grisham relocated to Nashville, TN.

Drawing on his emotional and personal losses from Katrina, Grisham recorded 5 Moons and Root Rubbin’ Ball. 5 Moons went on to claim a nomination in 2008 for Best Self-Produced CD in the International Blues Challenge.

With Katrina forcing Grisham’s Gulf Coast bandmates to withdraw from the band, Grisham and Stillwell had a long overdue reconciliation of their creative and personal differences. The founding members of The Beat Daddys rekindled their partnership, writing and touring, and releasing the live set Live at the Quincy Blues Festival.

Grisham and Stillwell then cemented their resurgence scoring the Katrina based documentary Renaissance Village, (www.rvthefilm.com) a gritty look of life living in a FEMA trailer park, a subject Grisham had first hand experience.


2015 began a turning point for Grisham and Stillwell. Emerging from the hotly contested IBC band competition as a semi-finalist, The Beat Daddys focused on production of hoodoo that we doo.

Using three decades of song writing collaboration, Grisham and Stillwell crafted a career defining recording, hoodoo that we doo. The Beat Daddys are ready to add another chapter to their musical legacy. Stillwell’s searing guitar and Grisham’s memorable vocals and harp, The Beat Daddys are bringing their unique take on the “Blues” to loyal fans and introducing new ones daily.