Tom McMillian
Inducted in 2018
Tom McMillian is a Hammond B3 player. It has
been that way since he began playing keyboards
in southern California in the early 1970’s.
Tom moved to northern Arizona in the mid 80’s
where he immediately began playing in dance
cover bands. In the late 90’s he teamed up with
Arizona Blues Hall of Famer (ABHOF) Hank Tomlin
to play on his CD, ARMS Around My Rose. Tom
played with the Hank Tomlin Band (with ABHOF
players Bob Blasi and Jimmy Mac) for the next
three years. Tom then moved on to be The Tommy
Dukes (ABHOF) keyboard player for close to a
decade. During that time he produced Northern
Arizona’s first Blues and Boogie Fest (Orpheum
theater, Flagstaff) featuring three ABHOF
players, Hans Olson, Hank Tomlin and Cold Shot
featuring Small Paul. During the last few years
Tom joined forces with R.D. Olson
(Vocalist-Harp, ABHOF) to compete in the 2016
Blues Challenge in Memphis.
Today, Tom is the newly elected Board Member to
the ABHOF representing the northern region of
the state. He can also be found where he began.
That is, playing out in northern Arizona with
his Hammond B3 and spinning Leslie’s. Asked why
he doesn’t play on a synth or a Hammond clone
board, he will tell you. “There is nothing like
playing the blues on the real deal.”
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