The Villages Swing Band is a not-for-profit organization.  All of the musicians are Villages residents and most are members of the Villages Concert Band.

The group was founded  in 2003 by DeLeon Wilson.  As the name implies, the band features music from the Swing/Big Band Era which began in the mid 1930’s and lasted into the early 1950’s.  It was a period in which the popularity of Jazz eclipsed all other types of music in the U.S.  The advent of Swing abandoned smaller groups like trios and quartets in favor of much larger groups of fifteen or more members.  Some of the popular bands at that time were Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Charlie Spivak, Count Basie and Stan Kenton.

In reality, Swing encompasses many genres of music, including Jazz, ballads, Latin American, Blues and novelty tunes.  Although many styles of music fall into the Swing category, the common and defining characteristic is a heavy emphasis on free-flowing syncopated rhythm.

The band plays three dances and two concerts each year and is available for a limited number of additional bookings.  To obtain information on availability and pricing, contact DeLeon Wilson at (352) 753-0601.

Swing Band Personnel List

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