Town Band To Perform Favorites Spanning 1870 To 1920 At Meeting
By STEVE STRICKLAND
Join the Chattooga County Historical Society at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14 as history is brought to life by the volunteer musicians who make up The Town Band—a new variation of the perennial favorite 8th Regiment Band, Georgia Volunteer Infantry, under the direction of Dr. Casey Thomas.
The program will be held in the historic Summerville Depot, and will feature musicians dressed in typical costumes that would have been seen on bandstands in small town squares and parks from the years following the Civil War through the 1920s. Gene McGinnis, Historical Society president, said, “This group always puts on a fantastic program. You will definitely enjoy hearing their town band selections.”
The excellent group has been featured on Good Morning America, on NPR, in movies and has made numerous appearances at the Great American Brass Band Festival. Tens of thousands of their recordings have sold since their founding in 1986. The 8th is regarded as one of the finest musical ensembles of its type in the United States. Chattoogans Jerry Pollard, Jeb Martin and Howard Hubler are members of the group.
Pollard commented further on the group’s experience, “Even though the 8th is comprised of somewhat local talent, it is an internationally recognized ensemble. We have been hired by the national park service to perform concerts all over the country. We have been honored to perform at the Georgia Music Educators Conference and national brass band festivals.” They have several music CDs available for purchase.
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From Reconstruction
To Prohibition
Long known as the finest example of a Civil War brass band, the group could be seen across the country performing in both Union and Confederate garb as the situation required. They have recently expanded their audiences by embracing an expanded repertoire that includes a vast array of favorite numbers dating from the 1870s all the way up to the beginning of the roaring ‘20s.
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Historical Society program chair Reba Phillips Welch reiterated, “All are cordially invited to join us for this program. The music will be familiar favorites, and the group is filled with talented musicians.”
Meetings of the Chattooga County Historical Society are free and open to the public. Membership is comprised of almost 300 families, both from inside and outside the county. Family memberships in the organization are $20 per year and include a quarterly publication—and all are welcome to join. Contact the Society at P.O. Box 626, Summerville or via email at chattoogahistory@outlook.com.