Learn About Our Amazing Story

Hi, we are Steve Mills and Ray Cutshaw. We have been friends and songwriting partners since we formed an all-original band, Climax, in 1969. The band wrote several songs and performed at local venues that hosted original music groups. In 1970, Steve, Doug Crill, and I teamed up with members of the Bittersweet Bridge to record a single entitled "Simon" that became a local hit. We re-recorded this tune many years later for our first CD, "The Road."

Journey for Better Opportunities

Due to limited opportunities in Indiana, we headed for Seattle, eventually forming "Rock Island" with two more Indiana musicians, Doug Williams and Lloyd Crafton. Over time, the band evolved into "Island," a regionally popular road band. In 1976, Island released a single, Time and Fate/ Sunshine Dancer, that got airplay on the larger radio stations in the Northwest. Sunshine Dancer was also re-recorded for The Road CD.

Parting Ways

When the lead singer had to quit the group, we decided to move operations back to Indiana, where we reformed Island as a part-time group while we attended college. We built a small recording studio and gained a great deal of recording experience. Upon graduation, we went our separate ways as Electrical Engineers.

Coming Together

After growing up in the same Neighborhood in Northern Indiana, moving to Seattle, playing in a road band between 1972 and 1980, then following separate career paths for nearly 33 years, we ended up living just 100 miles apart. Steve was the Director of New Product Engineering for Gibson Guitars in Nashville, and I was a Senior Systems Engineer on the Artemis program at Boeing in Huntsville.

The Revamp

We were both still active in music and decided to set aside time to record a CD. The goal was to take some of our older songs and re-record how we would have recorded them if we had been able to afford them back in the day.

During this creative process, three new songs emerged as well. We were back in the songwriting business, and we soon had four CDs worth of Mills Cutshaw original songs, with a fifth CD ready to release.

Steve played most of the instruments, and I provided the lead vocals on the tunes and bass on several. Randy Barden provided backing vocals on all the CDs. Nashville studio musicians filled in some of the music where needed.

No Plans to Stop

We have been friends and songwriting partners since the 60s and have no plans to stop. Listen to our music and let us know what you think.

Mills Cutshaw music is available at the following sites:

If you prefer to purchase music directly from us, contact us at [email protected].

Ray Cutshaw

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