Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special can best be described as a band that is high energy, extremely fun to watch, and rich in musical talent. From playing clubs to weddings, casino’s, corporate events, festivals private parties and featured at sporting events, “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” has the experience and willingness to make whatever occasion you have, a most memorable one! With that said, let us tell you a little bit more about the band….

The band has been together for six years…why not longer??? It was about 6 and a half years ago that Lil’ Debbie (aka Debbie Lambert), and husband/bass player moved from Chicago to Phoenix. In Chicago they were members of the successful blues band; “Lil’ Debbie & 3rd Degree”. Upon arrival in Phoenix Debbie & Dennis wanted to put together something close to what they had in Chicago…what turned out was something even better! Starting by playing blues in Phoenix, the band put out one CD titled “What’s So Special”. The band has evolved from its Phoenix Blues beginnings and now includes Debbie’s long time dream; a “Horn Section”! Yes, Debbie is now in musical heaven with her horns!! With the horns came about an evolution of the bands sound. No longer restricted to the blues genre, the band now blasts out several styles of music; Blues to Jazz, Motown to R&B, Rock to Pop, you can catch the band covering it all…and covering it well!

Beside’s the aforementioned experience of Debbie & Dennis…this band is loaded with musical experience and talent…listed below are some of the musical facts behind the faces of the band;

THE PLAYERS:

Debbie Lambert – Vocals

As mentioned above, Lil’ Debbie hails from Chicago where she fronted the wildly popular blues band, “Lil’ Debbie & 3RD Degree”. She is featured with 3rd Degree on the band’s 1999 Blu Dog record release of “Color Me Blue”. Debbie’s musical journey has spanned over 20 years beginning with her experience in church choir and other musical ventures including fronting the bands “Mischief” and “Now & Then”. Debbie’s work has taken her on the corporate tour scene where she has sang at events taking place at The Tavern On The Green and The Plaza Hotel in New York. Additional musical highlights for Debbie including playing on Beale St. in Memphis, playing at the Orlando Convention Center and being the opening act for Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show. As mentioned above, she is now loving her current band and is defiantly in love with the horns and talent that make “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” so very special!

Steve Boomer-Trombone

When we say “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” is fun to watch, what were really saying is Steve, aka; “Boomer” is fun to watch, as he adds charm and humor to every note played by the band! Like Lil’ Debbie & Dennis, Boomer hails from the Chicago area where he began his Trombone odyssey in the 5th grade....from that moment on, his bone and he became a cosmic one! Winning numerous awards throughout his High School years, his deep and notable experiences include inclusion in the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic as well as playing with none other then the Count Basie Orchestra. Surprise, surprise, Boomer majored in music at ASU where he served as Trombone Section Leader and was a 4 year member of the award winning ASU Marching band. Boomer has been serving it up Lil’ Debbie style for 2 years and is the funnest member of the band, next to Lil’ Debbie (of course,) to watch on stage…..but check it out and see for yourself….he’s got the moves and he’s got the lip!!!

Dennis Lambert- Bass

As mentioned above….Dennis & Lil’ Debbie are a package deal having met in High School, anything Debbie has done, Dennis was there too, (albeit, in the background of Lil’ Debbie’s brightly lit aura!). So pretty much review Debbie’s musical bio, and apply it to Dennis’s. What else can be said of Dennis and his related musical accomplishments??? In addition to being the guy that lays down the pulse of the band, he also serves as it’s manager, coordinator, and chief roadie. From booking gigs to taping down mic chords, Dennis contributes in a variety of ways to the overall success of “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special”!

Dave Lara - Drums

Dave plays drums all the time….seriously, when he’s not on stage you will always find him pounding his fingers on something to the beat of something going on in his mind. So if Dave never stops playing drums, the question becomes, when did he start playing? Dave’s eternal pounding began in elementary school where he self taught himself to play along with the albums of Led Zeppelin and others. Dave went on to play formally with others in traditional grade school bands and then with Symphonic and Marching bands throughout high school and college. Dave also began to rock out with bands at a very early age playing clubs in New Mexico beginning at age 18. Dave’s percussive influences are many and include, Mitch Mitchell, Louie Bellson, Ian Paice, Jon Bonham, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham and all of the British Invasion drummers of the 60’s! Dave’s drumming can be heard on two CD’s; Vinyl Nova’s “House of Joy” and of course on Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special’s “What’s So Special”. Speaking of Lil’ Debbie, Dave joined the band very earlier on after the bands original drummer couldn’t make a gig and Dave sat in….after hearing Dave, the band had absolutely no other choice….Dave became our drummer from that moment on….and the beat still goes on!!!

Bill Miller-Guitar

Within the band Bill is known as “Xerox” based on his profound ability to get down so well the leads and phrasing of the songs we cover….his artistry speaks for itself. Like everyone in the band, Bill’s musical experience is rich and deep. Bill began playing guitar in the early 70’s and actually taught himself to play. Much of his learning was done on the road while being part of the US Swim Team, (an interesting factoid on the Bill man!!). Bill’s chief guitar influences include Larry Carlton, Al Dimeola, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Ty Tabor and B.B. King. Bill is also an appreciator of fine guitars…one of his favorite, which he plays with the band is his ’69 Les Paul Black Beauty Custom…those of you that are into guitars know that this guitar is more than just a guitar, it’s a work of art! Bill’s musical ventures, besides serenading the US Swim Team, included playing with the classic rock band Ram in Texas. Like many others in the band, much of Bill’s playing is within a faith/church environment. Bill has played for years in church services, orchestras and praise bands. He was the featured guitarist in the contemporary Christian rock band “3 Sixteen” and for the Christen ensemble “Lifesong”. Early in 2006 Bill joined “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” and has helped to make the band, that much more special!

Dusty McWilliams – Percussions

Dusty indeed likes to bang on the drums ….and does it with class and style! Dusty’s musical history is rich and started with winning two musical scholarships to ASU. Dusty can per-cuss with finance any style as he has done it all; from Latin to jazz, reggae to funk, big band to rock, Dusty has kept the beat to it all. While he is now anchored in AZ with “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” his past musical ventures have taken him throughout the US including performances at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. Dusty’s experiences have included influences with the likes of Chuck Berry, Roger Squitero, Rob Harari, Bemsha and his dear friend Gregory Hines. invites us to your event and hear Dusty slapping those tubs!

Erik Ogden - Keys & Trumpet

Prior to the last 6 years with Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special, Erik’s musical resume rings wet with inspiring accomplishment. Erik has been playing music his entire life, playing trumpet in high school Jazz, Marching , Pep Band and Orchestra…and of course, he was first chair where ever there was a chair to be had. Erik also won the coveted John Philip Sousa award for outstanding player his senior year. His High School accomplishments transferred to his musical experience at Western Michigan University where he played trumpet all his college years and was trumpet section leader for trumpets for 4 years…his “chairmanship” continued into college where he was of course, a 4 year first chair musician for the jazz band. Once in Arizona, Erik hooked up with the ASU Marching and Jazz Repertory band where he earned first chair honors from 2001-2004. Outside the academic arena, Erik flat out rocks. He toured the west coast playing keys with a Bon Jovi tribute band, he was a member of the well respected Phoenix based band “Polliwog” and while in Michigan he was a member of the band “Crystal Faith” which signed a record deal with Warner Brother records. Erik is one of the founding members of “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special”…which makes him that much more special to us! Just watch and listen, his talents are most impressive!!!

Rick Smith- Sax, Flute, Guitar, Keys

The only things that looms larger then Rick’s musical talent and diversity, (the guy plays about every instrument!!!), is the kindness that he imparts on everyone he meets. Rick’s musical adventure began with the piano while in the 4th grade. His first horn, of all instruments, was the tuba. From there, he began to pick up and play anything that got in his way. In “Lil’ Debbie & Blue Plate Special” you’ll find Rick playing multiple saxophones, flute, guitar, and keys, (sorry, no tuba!). Rick majored in music, (surprise!), and has played in numerous bands as well as being a rock of a fixture in the praise and choir scene at his church. Rick was influenced early in life by the likes of Bud Shank followed by David Sanborn, and most recently Sam Levine. In addition to playing like a banshee, Rick has taught private lessons on the Sax, Flute, and Clarinet since 1998. Oh, and if you have a broken horn, he can fix that too as his job is, you guessed it, horn repair! When you next see Rick on stage, be sure to belt out, “How about some jazz flute”…that really get’s his Mojo going!!!