TERRY TICKLE, TENOR SAX Terry Tickle is the leader of Swing City and a life-long Big Ban fan. Before forming this band in 1990, Terry had been a flight instructor, a small business owner, and a teacher at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He began studying music at the age of 12 at Elon College where at that young age, he became a member of the college concert orchestra. He’s played for a number of other bands including the Jimmy Dorsey Band. CYNDI WHISNANT, VOCALIST Cyndi is part of the heart and soul of Swing City. Like Terry, she has had a life-long fascination with the music and the glamour of the Big Band Era. Cyndi began singing with the band shortly after the group was formed and she has used her skills in drama, journalism and advertising to promote the band and to develop their theatrical opportunities. Cyndi has written and produced several plays including a Christmas musical entitled “An Unlikely Angel” that have featured the band. JOE PROCOPIO, REEDS Joe Procopio is our musical director. A child music prodigy, Joe has a Masters in Performance from the Music Institute in Milan. He has been a member of the Boston Symphony, was Music Director for Frankie Lane and has been a top rated studio musician in New York. Joe performed with the Jimmy Dorsey Band playing the complicated Dorsey solos. He is also noted for his recordings of music for animals entitled “Pethoven”. DAVE ALBERT, DRUMS Dave Albert is a graduate of the music department at East Carolina University. He has played drums with the Buddy Rich Band as well as performing with the Johnny Carson Tonight Show Orchestra. Dave is currently a High School Band Director and is nationally recognized for his dedication to musical pedigogy. BEN SHAW, TRUMPET Ben Shaw played with Terry on his first rehearsal in 1989 and has played with him ever since. A member for many years of the “Fabulous Shaker” band, Ben has also played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band and has his own business designing and manufactoring trumpet mouthpieces. TOMMY SMITH, TROMBONE Tommy Smith has been a leading trombonist with many groups since his studies at Berkeley School of Music. For many years, he was trombonist with the great Pete Fountain Band in New Orleans and is a retired Band Director. TOM ERDEMANN, PIANO Tom Erdemann is a professor of music at Elon College where he directs several musical ensembles and is the author of two music textbooks as well as numerous articles in professional journals. Tom is accomplished at both keyboard and trumpet. TOM WHISNANT, VOCALIST/PERCUSSION It’s no accident that Tom Whisnant is a member of Swing City. Not only is he a talented vocalist, drummer, and soundman, he is also married to Cyndi, our lead vocalist. Tom is also a drummer and vocalist with a rock band but can swing with the best of them. RUDY BAKER, BASS Rudy Baker is a graduate in music from Elon College where he studied with Tom Erdemann. His previous experience with Big Band is with the Guy Lombardo Band.