'Music is my safe spot': Veteran crooner to perform at National Creative Arts Festival
Music is in Lloyd Stephens’ soul, and he puts plenty of soul in his music.
His talents and passion have earned him a spot in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, to take place May 11-18 in Indianapolis. He was chosen for the national festival after earning first-place honors in the Vocal R&B/Soul/Funk category for his rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
In fact, he is among only a handful of Veterans who will perform a solo live on stage at the festival.
“It is a very rare and special ask to have one’s solo performed in the show,” said Milwaukee VA music therapist Makenzie Kojis. “Some gold medalists are only invited to attend, and only a handful are invited to be chorus members in the show.”
Stephens, 71, a U.S. Army Veteran who served from 1973-77, said he decided to sing “Ain’t No Sunshine” for a particular reason — it was under the 3-minute time limit.
“I’m an old school R&B guy, but I picked that song because it fit the parameters,” he said.
While this is Stephens’ first time taking part in the Creative Arts Festival, music has been part of his life since the third grade, when he started playing the drums with a marching band in Mississippi.
“I played snare, and the drum was bigger than me,” he said. “I was kind of a novelty, but from that point on, music just became a part of me.”
Stephens grew up as a “military brat,” as his father served for 32 years. He joined his first gigging band while in high school in Germany.
While he said music was always his passion, it was never his profession. Though he majored in music at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., he ended up joining the military — more out of necessity than desire, he admitted.
“I got married early on, and during that time, the military was the best place to be when you are trying to raise a family,” he said.
His wife was also in the military, so his itinerant life continued, taking him to Guam, Pensacola, Fla., and San Diego.
On Guam, his days were spent being a recreation supervisor for the Navy hospital, but at night, he moonlighted as a disc jockey, becoming quite popular on the island, performing at military bases and hotels.
“I really enjoyed it. I made a really good living as a DJ,” he said. “It was a unique experience.”
It was Stephens’ friend Robin Adkins who got him involved with the Creative Arts Festival. Adkins was a longtime participant before passing away unexpectedly last fall. (The two submitted a duet of “Bring It On Home to Me” for the competition.)
“So it was bittersweet (to earn a gold medal) because my friend, who introduced me to this, had passed,” he said. “But I was excited (to win).”
Stephens fronts the Lloyd Stephens Band, which performs old-school R&B throughout the Milwaukee area. He also performs as part of a tribute band that covers a variety of artists, including Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton and Barry Manilow.
He said he and Adkins were talking about starting a Charley Pride tribute band before Adkins’ death.
He figures he’s been in at least 10 different bands over the years, and he’s often asked to sit in with other bands.
“Music is my safe spot; it’s my getaway,” he said. “People have vices, and music is mine. It’s so relaxing and soothing, and whatever direction you want to go, music will take you there.”