Band
Beth | John | Rob | Doug | Tony | Jim
-- or --
Check out Clear Blue Betty in the Press
- 2008 WI Area Music Industry Awards (WAMI):
People's Choice for SW Quadrant - 2008 Madison Area Music Awards (MAMA):
Rock Artist of the Year
Jazz Song of the Year ("Say My Name")
(Finalist: Ensemble Vocalists of the Year) - 2007 MAMA Awards:
Entertainer of the Year
Rock Artist of the Year
Rock Album of the Year (Write Your Name in the Sky) - 2006 MAMA Awards:
Best Female Vocalist (Beth Kille) - 2005 MAMA Awards:
Best Rock Album (Never Been a Rebel)
(Finalist: Best Rock Artist)
Clear Blue Betty emerged in 2002 out of the highly respected Madison music scene and has quickly risen through the ranks to become a Wisconsin-music powerhouse. Their freshman release, Never Been a Rebel, earned them the 2005 Madison Area Music Award (MAMA) for Best Rock Album. Not to be outdone, their 2006 sophomore disc, Write Your Name in the Sky, also won the 2007 MAMA for Best Rock Album. It was released to a sold-out crowd at Madison's Majestic Theater and was described as "a giant step forward ... putting Clear Blue Betty in the running as one of Madison's hottest groups" (Rick's Cafe, May 06).
They have played in venues large and small across the Midwest, including Denver, Chicago, St Louis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Rochester, Des Moines, Madison, Green Bay, and almost everywhere in between.
Their music has been described as anything from "Madison's answer to the BoDeans" (Isthmus, Aug 06) to "intelligent, vigorous rock & roll" (Madison Songwriters' Group, May 06) and "high energy Midwest roots rock" (Appleton Post Crescent, Mar 06). Whatever the description, one thing is evident - their live shows are always powerful and entertaining, as thousands of fans across the Midwest can attest.
Where did the name Clear Blue Betty come from?
(lead vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin)
Clear Blue Betty is led by "the straightforward local rockers' not-so-secret weapon" (Isthmus, April 06), Beth Kille, who was recently dubbed the "Queen of the Madison Rock Scene" (John Urban, Urban Theater, UPN 14) and earned the 2006 MAMA for Best Female Vocalist.
Beth's musical journey began while playing the piano and clarinet as a child, and continued after becoming only the second female Drum Major in the UW Marching Band's 110-year history. In 2000, she embarked upon her songwriting career by picking up the guitar and performing with a Southern Wisconsin band, Watershed. In early 2002, she was ready to front her own band, and armed with a book full of original songs she formed Clear Blue Betty with her husband, Tony, and friends Rob and Doug. Beth attributes her creative voice to the support of her mother and grandmother, both successful poets in their own rights.
What I'm listening to: Indigo Girls, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, Alanis Morisette, Guster
Favorite show: 2006 CD Release party at the Majestic Theatre
Local favorites: Mark Croft, Sean Michael Dargan, Bascom Hill, Amy Curl, Erin O' Brien, Jessi Lynn Band
(lead guitar, backing vocals)
John Masino has performed across the country for the last 30+ years and was an intricate part of many popular Midwest bands such as Punch, Hi-Fi, Powerplay, Masino, The Rage, and Neptune. He was featured on the Gregg Clemons album on CBS Nemperor Records (1980) and has opened shows for John Cougar Mellencamp, The Tubes, Cheap Trick, Quiet Riot, Ted Nugent, Robin Trower, Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, and many others. In the early 80s, John did session work and demos in New York City and frequented the jam sessions in Greenwich Village. In 1999, John was a semifinalist in The Jimi Hendrix Electric Guitar Competition held at B.B. King's Blues club in Memphis, TN. Back in Madison, he can also be seen as the front man of the John Masino Band.
What I'm listening to: Todd Rundgren, CBB, rough mixes of new songs, Hall & Oates, Beatles, Jet, Little Big Town
Favorite show: CBB & Patrice Pike at The King Club, JMB / Susan Masino’s AC/DC Biography book release party at The Club Tavern, opening for Neil Zaza at The Warehouse Stage
Local favorites: Michael Massey, Buddo, Madison County, MSB, Sunspot
(electric guitar, backing vocals)
Rob initially met both Beth and Tony while he was an accomplished trumpet player with the UW Marching Band. He then met up with them again to start the rock band that would become Clear Blue Betty. After playing all the electric and lead guitar parts on the band's first two albums, he is excited that John has joined the group (in early 2007) to round out the powerful dual-guitar sound.
What I'm listening to: Mostly indenpendant music, Black Crowes, Los Lonely Boys, the theme song to Dora the Explorer
Favorite shows: 2006 CD Release party; a random Wed night in Columbia, MO, while on tour; Outside on the UW Terrace during the 2004 Sona Music Fest
Toughest show: Trying to not pass out from the flu at the 2006 Taste of Madison
Local favorites: Mark Croft, Sunspot, Bascom Hill, Aaron Williams, Jessi Lynn, The Randy Cliffs (RIP), Lost Between (RIP)
(bass guitar, backing vocals)
Doug became the last piece of the original puzzle (with Beth, Tony, and Rob) when the veteran musician temporarily put away his rhythm guitar that he played for over 30 years with the successful cover band Summer Haze to play the bass for Clear Blue Betty. After meeting Beth when both were members of the band Watershed, he proclaimed Beth a star that is going somewhere and wanted to be there when she got there…
What I'm listening to: Los Lonely Boys, John Mayer
Favorite show: On the Annex stage with Lost Between & Sand
Local favorites: Arena Venus, Bascom Hill, The Dorothy Heralds, The Randy Cliffs, Lost Between
(percussion)
Tony’s lifelong “air-drumming” skills finally came to fruition after receiving a drum set from his wife upon graduating from UW Medical School. He uses his time performing with Clear Blue Betty as an escape from the continuing rigors of his medical residency. Tony in his own words:
Single word that describes my playing: sweaty
# of broken drumsticks since we started: 42
# of broken drum heads: 5
# of broken cymbals: 1
Current # of drum heads properly tuned on my set: 0
# of gigs I was allowed to have a microphone: 3
# of times microphone privileges have been revoked: 3
What I'm listening to: Incubus, Counting Crows, Dvorak's New World Symphony
Favorite show: 2004 Madison Battle of Bands, when the fans were pressed up to the stage cheering us to victory
Local favorites: All
(percussion, backing vocals)
What started as a fill in slot for Tony when he was unable to make a live show has now blossomed into a full time gig with the band as the "all around" guy. Jim met Beth while playing in the band Watershed and fell in love with her music. When Beth stepped out of Watershed to form Clear Blue Betty, Jim had hoped to fill the drummer's chair for her at that point, but little did he know that there was another drummer in her life! Jim is not new to original music, however, as he has two recording projects under his belt with Green Bay bands.
What I'm listening to: Bad Religion, Barenaked Ladies, Neil Young, David Gray, Brian Wilson
Favorite show: Playing for the grand opening of the Overture Center in Madison.
Local favorites: Box Elder, The Profit$, Patrick Bodell, Greg Boerner
Jon Kille is our manager of Bookings & Promotions, sound technician, light technician, and every other type of technician we have needed. Words can't describe how valuable he is to us.
Dan Catlin has also quickly become invaluable to our promotions both before, during, and after each show. He is the organization behind much of our outward display of promotions and management. He should also be credited with taking most of the pictures and assembling all of the slideshows that you can find on this site.
Christine Koth, our former manager (and now #1 fan!), really got Clear Blue Betty out of the basement and on Madison's map. Through all of her (mostly unheralded) hard work, Clear Blue Betty's sound quickly spread throughout the Midwest and helped set the stage for a great start.
And: Jake Johson and Billy Maynard of Paradyme Productions have recorded all of our current material and have provided support and advice to help our musical direction; Michelle Park from North Street Media for all of our duplication & replication needs; Jim Nicodemus created our new logo and artwork; John Urban for our latest media photos, poster photos, and great support for the Madison music scene; Prizepromos for all of our merchandise; and to all of our fans who continue to fill each venue for a rocking good time.
©2002-2009 Property of Clear Blue Betty (ASCAP)
Contact cbb_webmaster@yahoo.com with any questions or concerns.
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