Miles Hoyt

Location: Lake Worth Beach, FL

Challenge: Vision Impairment

 

Miles got his first guitar for his fourth birthday and hasn't put it down since. When he turned six, Miles started playing lap steel and almost immediately found his musical voice. At the same time, he started losing his vision due to Stargardt's disease. While this has presented many challenges to Miles, playing the blues helped him to vent and express his frustrations.

Miles also began playing in front of audiences at age 6, accompanied by his parents on rhythm guitar and vocals. Since then he has participated in local blues jams and has formed his own bands. At age 13, his current project, Flavor Train, is a steadily working, blues / funk hybrid band with Miles also playing the Sacred Steel style of pedal steel guitar.

Miles is an alumni of the Pinetop Perkins Blues Masterclass and has performed at blues festivals in several states. In January, Miles will represent the Treasure Coast Blues Society in the Youth Showcase at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

Miles has had the honor of performing with Christone "Kingfish' Ingram, G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Schofield, Victor Wainwright, Brandon "Taz" Neiderauer, Annika Chambers & Paul DesLaurier, Selwyn Birchwood, Frank Bang, The Lee Boys, Melody Trucks, Bob Margolin, Ben Levin & Bob Stroger.

This year our family will hold our fourth 'annual' Smiles for Miles event locally, which raises money and awareness for the Foundation Fighting Blindness who are helping to fund research to cure blindness caused by retinal diseases like Stargardt's Disease, the one that Miles has.

Miles can be seen on his YouTube channel.

Miles Hoyt - "Voodoo Child"