News

Hello Cleveland! Hear Sweet Georgia Sound in Cleveland TN Saturday, April 30

Sweet Georgia Sound plays in Cleveland this Saturday, April 30 starting at 6:30 at Wesley Memorial UMC. Enjoy dancing, hors d’oeuvres and desserts as well as the best of the American Standards performed by Chattanooga’s Big Band. Melanie Willetts IS the one-and-only Big Band Singer at this event.

Doors open at 6, and the band starts swinging at 6:30. Childcare is provided for the event. Price is $15 a person. Register at Big Band Swing Night. The address is 3405 Peerless Rd NW, Cleveland, TN.

Dancing at the Chattanooga Market Opening Sunday
on April 24

The opening Sunday for the Chattanooga Market begins with big band music and dance. Sweet Georgia Sound begins at 12:30 and plays until 3:30. Admission is free.

The band will feature favorites of departed band leader Mike LaRoche as the band recognizes his 28 years leading Chattanooga’s Big Band.

More information on the Chattanooga Market calendar.

Chattanooga Market Opening - a tradition - Performance from 2014

Sweet Georgia Sound Mourns the Passing of Mike LaRoche

Mike LaRoche, band leader for Sweet Georgia Sound, passed on April 7. Mike was a Sweet Georgia Sound founding member, starting with the group over 28 years ago. He followed his passion for big band music as both performer and band leader.

For the past two decades, audiences saw Mike in the leadership role at band performances. That was a small portion of the devoted work Mike did. Unseen was hauling a sound system and stands, arranging substitutes, and handling administrative tasks. He accepted the challenge of getting musicians to play harmoniously (both with their instruments and in their interactions – an experience not unlike herding cats). He did this in support of his passion for bringing the sound of American Standards to the listeners and dancers in Chattanooga. Sweet Georgia Sound will continue that mission, in so doing providing the best memorial to Mike’s lifetime devotion to creating music.

Information about Arrangements

Michael ‘Mikestro’ LaRoche