Video of Cream Corn's Blue Angel Performance

WINONA, Minn. — Lukas Holland is the type of person who seems to have success in whatever he tries. A four-year starter on the men's basketball team, Holland has been a huge contributing factor in the recent turnaround in the Cardinal program.

Holland is a two-time member of the All-MIAC First Team and put himself in the 1,000 point scoring club last season at SMU. He's helped lead the Cardinals to a 6-1 start this season heading into the holiday break.

But his latest venture has moved the La Crosse, Wis. native from the courts to the stage as one of the lead singers of the newly formed band Cream Corn.

Cream Corn — including Holland, Quinten Castillo, Marcus Webb, Alex Conover, Rob Sassetti, Andy Bauer and Tony Clafton — made its debut at Blue Angel last month and received rave reviews.

“We put the band together over the summer,” Holland said. “None of us have had any real formal musical experience.”

Holland says he comes from a family that loves music, but it wasn't something that he ever took seriously. He hasn't sung in any choirs and he hasn't taken any music classes here at SMU.

But last month, Holland and Cream Corn looked like true professionals standing in front of the large student crowd.

“It was one of my first times performing like that,” Holland said. “I wasn't as much nervous as I was excited. I had a lot of people coming up to me and telling me that they didn't realize that I sang.”

Some of the best compliments came from Blue Angel performers that have been working on perfecting their craft for years.

“He told me that some of the people in the music fraternities on campus came up to him and congratulated him,” SMU men's basketball coach Todd Landrum said. “They were happy to have new people participate in the show and said that people like Lukas can help bridge the gap (between musicians and non-musicians).”

Cream Corn had planned to perform a song by Drake but switched at the last second to an original piece they call “She don't know.”

“I think that was one of the best parts — putting all of our thoughts together and writing that song with all the guys,” Holland said. “Everyone contributed.”

And while the band members are kicking themselves for not having started this new adventure sooner, they plan to make up for it by performing as much as they can before graduation in May.

“We're going to do the Battle of the Bands in February where we'll have to come up with a complete set,” Holland said. “And we're going to play at Gaslight. We might even try to get in and play at a local bar if we can.”

Holland says the group practices 2-3 times a week, which forces him to manage his time between classes, homework, basketball and the band.

And, while people close to him might not have known about the strength of his vocals chords, not many people are surprised he's having success in another avenue.

“Lukas has a variety of interests,” Landrum said. “He can talk music with me, history with Bob (Biebel) and NBA hoops with Kevin (Landrum). He's so talented and well-rounded — I'd love to have his future.”

Landrum said he went to watch Cream Corn perform at Blue Angel and that Holland reminded him of a young Prince. When he told that to his assistant coach Kevin Landrum, the younger Landrum disagreed and said he was definitely a younger version of Michael Jackson.

Holland isn't sure what his future has in store for him. The Social Science major may pursue a career in counseling, might go into coaching or may even continue to further his musical talents. But one thing he's sure of is that he's grateful for his time here at Saint Mary's.

“I'm having a great experience here,” said Holland, who along with his passions for basketball, dancing and singing, also took up playing the Ukulele two years ago. “When I first came (to Saint Mary's), I was worried about it being a small campus. But I've experienced a lot — I didn't have any idea I'd ever be in a band.”