Dr. Claxton, Mr. Musician Titles For Same Local Vet

Dr. Bill Claxton is a popular Quinlan veterinarian by day. His notoriety as a musician is growing.

He has a busy veterinary practice at Quinlan Animal Clinic and is the lead vocalist for his folk-rock band Claxton Welch. He opened the clinic in 1982.

Claxton said his dad had owned some land near Royse City since 1964 where he was a weekend rancher. He had always wanted to be a veterinarian and settled on the Quinlan location when he saw all the traffic on State Highway 276.

Claxton’s rich, mellow voice filled the Opening Bell in Dallas last week, a coffeehouse located in the basement of the former Sears building south of downtown at 1409 S. Lamar St. Claxton’s lyrics echoed off brick walls of eclectic art including a stylized Jimi Hendrix.

Patrons gathered at the tables and sofas that lined the venue where coffee, tea, beer, wine and sweets are tasty menu fare as well as sandwiches and soup. The scene was reminiscent of the ’60s but Claxton Welch played a new sound that earned the attention of an appreciative crowd.

Joining Claxton and Paul Welch on drums was Ricky Turner of Union Valley.

In addition to their menu, the Opening Bell promises "…some amazing live music from some of the most sought-out musicians from all over the globe."

Claxton and Welch have played together for 10 years. Their first band was Bedrock that played rock at events like the Dallas Marathon, Lake Tawakoni Dagerboard Hobie Regatta, Sons of Hermann Hall and private parties.

They grew up in Dallas and attended high school together. They discovered only last year they also went to kindergarten together. Welch is a geologist.

Claxton said his only training as a musician was guitar lessons from Terrell Gardner at McCord’s on Elm Street in Dallas as well as the church choir. He now attends Grace United Methodist Church in Dallas.

Claxton plays acoustic and electric rhythm guitar as well as harmonica. Welch plays acoustic and electric lead guitar and provides harmony vocals.

The songs Claxton writes come mostly from true stories, he said and includes the 10 originals on an album they play to release under the name Claxton Welch. The songs are Dry Creek Road, Without a Struggle, Chicken Roost, Restaurant Buddha, Guarare, High Drama, Horizon, Peak and Bryan, Texas Eagle and Black Jesus. The CD is expected to be available at the band’s website, www.claxtonwelch.com.

Chicken Roost is a blues number, while Guarare and Black Jesus were inspired by trips to Panama and the Mejorana Festival in Guarare, Panama. Dry Creek Road and Texas Eagle are more country-rock.

They have also played at the Blue Armadillo Winery in Greenville and Lee Street Bar and Grill in Greenville.