Introducing WFSU's 'Tiny Desk' Local Favorite, Clay Dilmore

For years, NPR has hosted musical guests at its studios in Washington, D.C. These small, informal concerts have become the catalyst for NPR's "Tiny Desk Concert" series. Two years ago, the musical gurus in Washington decided to have a national contest to find undiscovered artists making beautiful music.

They invited local member stations to participate as well. So WFSU decided to jump in. In 2016, our station held a fan favorite contest. We collected regional submissions to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest, put them online and allowed listeners to vote for their local favorite. More than 5,000 votes were cast--some as far away as Europe! And now, the results are in. WFSU listeners have spoken, and our winner is...

Clay Dilmore!

Dilmore lives in Jackson County, Florida. He's a graduate of Florida State University's College of Education and is in his ninth year teaching English at Cottondale High School. He's a two-time "Teacher of the Year" at Cottondale, and the Florida Department of Education recently recognized him as a high impact teacher. Clay has always relished the challenge of helping kids, and he says over the years, music has been an important tool in that pursuit.

Dilmore began playing in college and has been writing songs ever since, mostly in the folk and alternative country genres.

His wife, Rebecca, a graduate of FSU's College of Music, is a constant source of support and patiently answers Clay's musical questions without laughing or rolling her eyes, a feat worthy of remark. They have been married for six years.

Dilmore will perform on WFSU-TV's "Local Routes" and you can hear him Friday, April 1st on WFSU's Morning Edition in an interview with Tom Flanigan. For now, here's his winning entry, "Henry Goes To War". You can follow Clay on twitter @babybearclay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ToXNBzkEvM