On Friday, Oct. 28, the walls of Lovett Auditorium will resonate with sounds of the big band era during the second annual Swingin’ Memories Homecoming Dance featuring the award-winning Murray State University Jazz Orchestra. This year, the event moves to the stage of historic Lovett Auditorium. The stage will be set up for dancing as it would have been during the days of the swing bands with the band at one end, an open dance floor and a ring of tables and chairs around the perimeter.
Directed by Dr. Todd E. Hill, the Murray State University Jazz Orchestra will feature swing tunes from the 1930s and 40s, as well as some later hits up through the 1960s. The Murray State University Jazz Band will perform a set as well, providing continuous music from 8:30 to 10:30 pm.
"This is such a terrific opportunity for these student musicians," stated Hill, a long-time professional bandleader who has been playing at dances for 35 years. "They get to experience playing for dancers, and the basis of all jazz is that it should have a danceable beat, so what better way to feel the give-and-take that motion brings to the music?"
For those not familiar with social dancing, Ashley and Pam Thurman of Paducah will lead a class for basic steps at 7:30 pm on the stage.
Tunes will be featured that were used by many of the Murray State dance bands from the period, including those led by Billy Shelton, Len Foster, Jim Fern, Leroy Offerman, Bill Crosswy and the Phi Mu Alpha Men of Note bands. Dancers and listeners alike are welcome. There is no admission fee, but a $5 student donation and $10 adult donation are suggested. All funds go to the jazz program at Murray State.
The Murray State University homecoming site, murraystate.edu/homecoming, contains a full list of weekend events and reunion schedules.
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Swingin' Memories Homecoming Dance at MSU Friday
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