CD Release Party with Wholly Cats Swing Club

Wholly Cats Swing Club celebrates their CD release with a live performance on the Plaza stage and a swing dance lesson between sets!
The Wholly Cats Swing Club are Tucson’s ambassadors of the Great Swing Era, specializing in the music of the Benny Goodman Sextet featuring America’s first Guitar Hero, Charlie Christian. They have quickly gained a following as Tucson’s premier Swing Band and have been performing at several dance and jazz venues in the area while helping give rise to the live local dance scene.

The band was formed by Marc Rosen and Tony Spear, whose mutual love of these artists sparked an idea for a dance band with multi-generational appeal. In addition to the songs of Goodman and Christian, their repertoire includes popular hits by Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong, Louie Prima and even contemporary artists like Tom Waits and Imelda May.

Marc attended the University of Illinois College of Music and performs on clarinet and tenor saxophone.

Tony is a lifelong guitarist and has most recently studied the music of Charlie Christian under world-renowned guitar virtuoso and instructor, Frank Vignola.

Drummer Zach White is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Music, with a graduate degree in Percussion, and works with the band and music departments of several local high schools.

Julie Buck performs on lead vocals. Although a relative newcomer to Tucson, Julie has quickly established a fine reputation as a jazz, blues and rock vocalist and has performed with numerous musical projects in the area.