Award Honorees

A half-mile from where Steve Seamans grew up listening to his grandparents' live musical radio morning show, he carries on the family tradition. Steve's grandparents were both musicians, his father was a local guitarist and now Steve is an accomplished musician and songwriter, most well-known as a member of the hit '70s country-rock group, The Daisy Dillman Band.

As a kid growing up with six brothers and sisters, Steve says he was quiet and shy, but that music was what encouraged him to be more outgoing. He started writing and performing music from age 12, but it wasn't until high school when Steve discovered two-track recording, the new technology of the time, that the pieces all came together and Steve realized he wanted to pursue music as a career.

Former MHS Band Director Dan Geldert, whom Steve credits with helping foster his interest in music production remembers, "Steve was one of those students who 'stuck out' because of his interest and determination. He was not afraid to ask questions. It was obvious to me at that time that he was going to do something with his life through music and do it well."

Soon after graduating Steve and his friends formed The Daisy Dillman Band. The group soon found success on the Minnesota music scene and in 1976 they signed a major recording contract with United Artists Records. They released their first self-titled album in 1978 and scored a regional hit with the song Flying Solo. In 1981 the band signed with RCA Records and that same year Steve was honored with a best male vocalist nomination at the Minnesota Music Awards.

Now simply known as The Dillman Band, the group released their second album in 1981. The record included their biggest hit Lovin' the Night Away, a song that reached the Top 40 on the national music charts.

After many years of writing, recording and touring The Daisy Dillman Band disbanded in 1985, but reunited in 2003 and continues to play a few gigs each year. In 2005 Steve received a lifetime achievement award from the Minnesota Country and Rock Hall of Fame.

Today, Steve works in Human Resources at a plastics molding company and writes and produces music on the side. He and his wife of 36 years Lesley Hughes-Seamans, a retired Minnetonka teacher and a 1971 Minnetonka graduate, live in Tonka Bay. His dad, Bill, an Excelsior High School 1938 graduate also lives in Tonka Bay. Steve also has two daughters that graduated from Minnetonka, Sarrah Nelson '00 and Rachel Ritchie '02.