Bill Millikin played his first professional gig at the age of 16, filling in on alto sax with The Cyril Paul Band. At 17, he composed his first original score for ?A Midsummer?s Night?s Dream?, performed by the theater company at Loyola Academy in Chicago. After attending the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Bill spent 10 years touring the country with ?One-Eighty?, a Pop/R&B band based out of Champaign, Illinois. He performed on several records with the band ?Champaign?-Columbia, co-writing their hit ?Let Your Body Rock? in 1982. Bill later started Creative Mills Productions (scoring for radio/TV, jingles) while becoming Senior Music Director at Studio Center in Virginia Beach, winning the 1994 Addy for ?Best Instrumental Score?, then returning to the Midwest as Creative Director for Clear Channel Broadcasting.
Today Bill runs Creative Mills Productions full time, enjoying success as a composer, producer, and performer.
Bill's Bio
Bill Millikin played his first professional gig at the age of 16, filling in on alto sax with The Cyril Paul Band. The gospel/jazz performance inspired Bill to continue his musical journey with a passion for years to come. At 17, he composed his first original score for “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream”, performed by the theater company at Loyola Academy in Chicago.
After attending the School of Music at the University of Illinois, Bill spent the ensuing 10 years learning his craft while touring the country with “One-Eighty”, a Pop/R&B band based out of Champaign, Illinois. In the 80’s. he performed on several records with the band “Champaign” (Columbia Records…”How ‘Bout Us?”, “Try Again”), finally breaking through as co-writer of Champaign’s hit “Let Your Body Rock” in 1982. Bill’s song “Everybody Wants You” won Chicago’s WTTW-TV “Newcomer of the year” award that same year.
During the years that followed, Bill made the successful transition from the pop music business to owning his own commercial production company (scoring for radio/TV, jingles) while becoming Senior Music Director at Studio Center in Virginia Beach, winning the 1994 Addy for “Best Instrumental Score”, then returning to the Midwest as Creative Director for Clear Channel Broadcasting.
These days, Bill and his wife run Creative Mills Productions full time. Over the years he has developed amazing versatility and continues to look for new ways to expand his musical horizons.