Wayne Johnson’s Little Big Band - Small Band, BIG Talent!
By: Joy Bergman The magic of big band music is back, thanks to Tampa Bay’s new local big band, the “Wayne Johnson’s Little Big Band!” Now you can relive the excitement with classics like “Bubbles in Wine,” the band’s opening theme, or sing along to unforgettable hits like “New York, New York.” Grab a partner for the famous Liechtensteiner and Beer Barrel Polkas and fall in love all over again with ballads like “Let me Call you Sweetheart,” and “I love you Truly.” No matter your age or your favorite song or dance, you’ll find yourself swept away by the enchantment of the 1920s-40s music being kept
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alive by the band’s eight talented musicians and vocalists. Wayne Johnson’s Little Big Band was founded by leader Wayne Johnson, a gifted multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with over 25 years of big band experience. When Wayne was just a young boy in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, he was inspired by his three musically talented uncles and their band called the Doleysh Brothers. As part of the big band music era, which is said to have peaked in the 1930s through the end of WWII, the Doleysh Brothers were very successful in the Wisconsin/Midwestern area for 20 years. After Wayne was bit by the music bug
himself, he began focusing on performing and even touring with local bands in high school. Not long afterwards, his uncles retired from the group, leaving the up-and-coming performer to take over the band, which he later dubbed, “The Wayne Johnson Orchestra.” After more than twentyfive successful years of running the band, Wayne retired and moved to Florida with his wife Nancy. However, it wasn’t long before Nancy talked Wayne back into the music scene, and the idea for a new big band was born...After five years of searching for the right band members, Wayne finally found each one through local advertisement, including through our
very own magazine. With members aged 17 to 78 and everywhere in between, the “little big band” is now complete, and is looking forward to sharing their talents and unique sound with the Tampa Bay area. Wayne and his righthand man, David Hubbard, are both accomplished trumpet and clarinet players, alto saxophonists, and vocalists in the band. Full-time musician Wayne Pearson plays the Baritone Saxophone, as well as the Alto Saxophone and the Clarinet. Debbie Louise is a gifted vocalist in the group, while Gary Mobbs, the band’s drummer, thrills with his singing and drumming skills. Charlene Connelly is the band’s signature
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