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The
Waynesville Wildcats
A classic jazz
band that plays the best popular jazz of the 20's, 30's, 40's
and 50's - with an occasional surprise thrown into the mix.
Their current surprise is up & coming vocalist Natalie
Taylor dishing sizzling torch songs from the microphone, and
special guest musician Mark Stevenson walking a soulful upright
bass.
Featuring Mary
Grace Lodico on keyboard, Bob Russell on guitar, Alan McRae on
drums, and Bill "Doc" Stecher on synth , this classic
jazz quartet can transport you back in time via the romantic
music of the Age of Ladies & Gentlemen - a classier &
more civilized era when couples "dressed to the
nine's" for an elegant evening out on the town. Lots of slow
dancing, some swing and an occasional Latin number will get
everyone onto the dance floor at some point during a
performance, and your ears will appreciate their "easy
listening" style that won't drown out your dinner
conversation.
Bookings Wanted:
The Wildcats are looking for classy venues to play their easy
listening classic jazz music and romantic ballads.
Call Alan McRae at 828-226-0136 for booking info.
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Mary Grace Lodico I
have played the piano by ear since I was a very young child. Although I
also took lessons, I find my ear my most helpful guide. I played the
piano for senior games and won at both the local and state levels.
Mary Grace keeps the whole band on track with
her sensitive keyboard accompaniment, and her years in a barbershop quartet
have prepared her well for working with a gifted singer like Natalie Taylor.
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Bob Russell Many
of you have heard Bob playing bluegrass around town with different groups,
and, apparently, he also left his mark down on the bayou playing in a Cajun
band many years ago. Jazz is a new genre for him, but he is learning the jazz
style of playing very quickly, and we are all very impressed with how fast he
is adapting. We expect more leads & more solos from Bob as he masters the
material, and we think he will soon leave his mark in the jazz world as well.
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Alan McRae
I "rediscovered" the joy of playing
music after breathing in the spirit of the Smoky Mountains for a few years. It
started with playing drums around a campfire during drum circles, progressed
to playing the Bodhran in a terrific Celtic Band called Celtic Knot, and now
I'm blessed to be playing some of the sweetest old jazz standards in the genre
with some wonderful people who really want to make music together. Thank you
God!
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Bill "Doc" Stecher Piano
lessons from age four to twelve; guitar since age 14; vibraharp in high
school, organ along the way, electric bass as an adult—all these because
music is as natural to me as the air we breathe. Thank goodness I have an ear,
since I’m terrible at sight-reading! Although I love the classics— listen
to them all day long—I don’t dare try to play them because
it’s hard not to improvise! I’ve
been into jazz, swing, Latin, “popular,” and Christian music in many
venues for almost 70 years. Finding the like-minded talented musicians of the
Waynesville Wildcats has been a wonderful joy!
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Natalie Taylor - a talented, natural
vocalist, Natalie can breathe new life into these old jazz standards with her
passionate lyrical interpretations and magnetic stage presence. Keep an eye on
this beautiful lady - we think she'll be a fast rising star in the music
world.
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Sample MP3 demo recordings - click to
play or download:
Places we have played:
Awards:
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The Waynesville Wildcats won the
2008 North Carolina Senior Games
Silver Arts Competition for
Haywood County, and we will be
representing Haywood County at the
State Finals in Raleigh. |
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