Great Big Band to perform Tuesday in free concert/dance

The "Great Big Band," based in Perry, Oklahoma, will play a free concert/dance program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Hutchins Memorial Auditorium.

The performance will showcase many of the Big Band era leaders and their music from the 1930s, ’40s and early ’50s. Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Les Brown and Woody Herman, among others, will be some of the bands’ featured leaders.

Other "Swing" sounds that will be featured are ballads, waltzes and vocals.

The band’s vocalist, Sheila Uhlman, also will sing several selections from the band’s vast library. Performers in the Great Big Band are local and area performers. Many have played since the band started in 2004.

Five of the musicians are graduates from Ponca City High School. It will be an entertaining evening and the band is looking forwar to the performance.

Many of the performers are former students of the director, Bill Rotter. He is a retired educator of 44 years in schools in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. His bands were award-winning organizations in marching, concert and jazz. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bandmaster Association Hall of Fame.

Members come from many professions: teachers, Charles Machine Works employees, a banker, medical personnel, a university employee and several retirees.

Some of the band’s favorite selections are "I’m in the Mood," "Leap Frog," "Sing, Sing, Sing," "I’m Getting Sentimental Over You," "Sentimental Journey," "Little Brown Jug," "Wood Choppers Ball," "Intermission Riff," and "Night Train."