The WCJC Band will present "The Andrews Sisters" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Horton Foote Theatre on the Wharton Campus. From left are trumpet players Ethan Weinberg of Danevang and Steven Gonzales, also of Danevang.
WHARTON, TEXAS – The Wharton County Junior College Band will step back in history for its upcoming concert, The Andrews Sisters.
Scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Horton Foote Theatre in the Duson-Hansen Fine Arts Building on the Wharton Campus, The Andrews Sisters will feature the fast-paced, harmonious rhythms of the World War II singing sensations, The Andrews Sisters. The concert is open to the public and admission is free.
Perhaps best known for their 1941 hit, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” The Andrews Sisters crafted a unique blend of vocal harmony and up-tempo accompaniment that for many listeners came to define that particular period in history.
WCJC Band Director Joe Waldrop chose the music for its entertaining quality as well as its relevance to American military veterans.
“Normally the band holds a veterans concert every two years and since the Andrews Sisters were very big supporters of the military, it was easy to use their music as a way to honor our soldiers,” Waldrop said.
Since vocal harmonies are such a large part of the group’s music, Waldrop had to get creative in order to duplicate the sound. He decided to employ the vocal talents of three women: Dixie Waldrop (Waldrop’s wife), WCJC Instructor of Drama Jami Hughes and former WCJC Choir member Lindsey Reeves.
Providing accompaniment to the singers was a growth experience for many of the band’s players.
“Playing with live singers is something new to the jazz band and we have been learning how to support them instead of being the main act,” Waldrop said.
The style of music is primarily boogie-woogie, a fast-paced, high-energy style made popular during the World War II period.
“All but two of the songs are very upbeat and fast, and, hopefully, will get the audience’s pulse racing,” Waldrop said. “If you know boogie-woogie you are in for a treat. And if you don’t, you will probably rate it high on your musical scale.”
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