Music on the Green: Woody Hite Big Band & Shirley Nanette

The Woody Hite Big Band, a Portland tradition for over 60 years, recreates the Big Band Sounds of the most spectacular era in the history of American Popular Music.  Featuring Jazz Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore, and a line-up of Portland’s finest jazz musicians, the Woody Hite Big Band will thrill you with the original arrangements of the greatest bands of all time, plus new contemporary arrangements of classic jazz standards.

The Woody Hite Band originated in Sherwood, with brothers Don & Woody Hite who grew up there. Woody Hite began the band in the early 30’s when big bands were evolving from the Dixieland jazz and fox trot orchestras into the swinging dance bands of the Swing Era. It wasn’t until 1942 that the band broke up because some of the members had joined the Armed Services to help in the war efforts.

In 1971 Don Hite and Ray Spurgeon were approached about putting the band back together to play for a 30 year class reunion of the Washington High School Class of 1941. It was quite a task to reassemble as many of the original musicians as possible, but the task was well worth the effort. The band became popular once again, and Don Hite continued to join the band on stage every summer while in Sherwood until he passed away in early 2009.

The band now features a new generation of Portland’s finest professional jazz soloists, backed up by a tight, swinging ensemble. Covering a wide range of styles from classic Big Band era tunes to modern Jazz Orchestra features, the Woody Hite Band always delivers an exciting and entertaining musical experience!

Sit back and enjoy an evening of entertainment that spans the gauntlet from the music of America’s greatest generation to the sounds of today, and rediscover why this music continues to thrill audiences everywhere.

Date: Wednesday, August 17th
Start Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: Stella Olsen Park

FOOD, BEER AND WINE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONSITE!