Doherty Teacher Nominated for Local Music Award

Students and and Schools know him as Mr. Beddow, their personable music teacher. Audiences throughout Southeastern Michigan know him as the bugs Beddow Band frontman — vocalist and trombonist Doug Beddow.

Now those listeners and pupils' families can give it up for the veteran musician, a West Bloomfield resident since 1992, in WDIV's "Vote 4 The Best" online balloting through Nov. 16. Beddow's five-member rhythm and blues group is nominated in the Local Bands category.    

• Background: Beddow, whose trombone lessons began in 1967 at Royal Music Center in Royal Oak, earned a music education degree from Northern Michigan University in 1975. He has taught at many Metro Detroit schools, including Huron Valley Schools and Cranbrook Arts Academy, and gives private lessons at in West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake School Of Music in Sylvan Lake for orchestra and band students in grades 4-12.
  
  "I really enjoy it. It's rewarding," says the 58-year-old. The musician-teacher adds: "I'm trying to carry that tradition forward." His popular funk band occasionally performs at school assemblies, when star pupils get a chance to sit in.
  
  In the ensemble, Beddow plays flute as well as trombone. Upcoming gigs include a Sterling Heights club show Nov. 4 and a Nov. 19 appearance at a Detroit restaurant in the Greektown area.  

• Achievements: Beddow has recorded CDs, is working on one for 2012 release, while earning five Detroit Music Awards with his band from 2000-08. He won individually in 2010 for flute skills. As a sideman, he has played with Boz Scaggs, Eddie Money, Robert Cray, Spyro Gyra, Earl Klugh and other headliners.
  
  On successive days this past September, the West Bloomfield resident backed up trombonist Curtis Fuller at the Detroit Jazz Festival and singer Brett Michaels at Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak.
  
  Reflecting broad musical interests, Beddow also performs classical music with the Orchard Lake Philharmonic Society, which plays Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in .
  
  
• Testimonial: "Doug's enthusiasm is contagious. He is a great motivator and makes people want to learn. He has excellent communication skills and teaches with a drive." – Judith Moslak, music education master's program instructor, Madonna University in Livonia
  
  
• Online voting: The TV news site has nominees in 16 main categories and dozens of sub-categories. Registration, which can be done through Facebook or Twitter sign-ons, is needed to vote. The local teacher's band page is here if you want to give him a click by Nov. 16.