Sweet Georgia Sound
photo by Sonya Dupree Howard
Danny Shirley and Confederate Railroad, Bob Stagner and the late Dennis Palmer with Shaking Ray Levi Society, Mike LaRoche & Sweet Georgia Sound, and Dennis Haskins are the latest inductees into the Chattanooga Music Hall Of Fame for 2014-2015.
Danny Shirley and Confederate Railroad have been performing since 1987. The band has had numerous charted hits, including Queen Of Memphis, Trashy Women, and Daddy Was Never The Cadillac Kind. What the charts and awards do not show is just how nice these guys really are. Danny and the band have are always up for a good cause. I can’t count how many times Danny Shirley has appeared in a benefit for a local musician. The band spawned some excellent and successful musicians over the years, as well. Cody McCarver and Jimmy Dormire come to mind right off the bat. Chris McDaniel started a successful ministry after 15 years with “the Railroad”. For more information about them, just click http://www.confederaterailroad.net.
In 1986, Dennis Palmer and Bob Stagner formed the Shaking Ray Levi Society. Over the next 4 decades, Shaking Ray brought a series of eclectic musical acts to the Tennessee Valley. Their reputation in the music industry has remained stellar. Dennis Palmer passed away on February 15, 2013, but his legacy will live on. Shaking Ray continues to produce top shows in the area, including shows at Riverbend. (2016 is no exception, as Shaking Ray Levi Society has shows in the works for this year’s Riverbend)
For more about the organization, click http://www.shakingray.com/news.shtml.
The 90’s, 2000’s, and 2010’s have seen Sweet Georgia Sound grow into one of Chattanooga’s premier big bands. Mike LaRoche conducts and manages the band, which features about 20 of Chattanooga’s finest musicians. In addition, two of the best vocalists from the Scenic City, Melanie Willetts and Greg Glover, combine with the band to do a wonderful job on many standards. With no sign of slowing down, Sweet Georgia Sound should be entertaining fans for years to come. More info can be found at http://www.sweetgeorgiasound.info.
On rare occasion, the Chattanooga Music Hall of Fame chooses to induct a person who has had a significant impact on Chattanooga but not necessarily for playing music. Dennis Haskins is this year’s choice for that award. While he may be best known as Mr. Belding, the principal on the television show Saved By The Bell, many know him as a shrewd manager of one of Chattanooga’s best known and most popular groups – Overland Express.
My friend and Chattanoogan.com photographer Mark A. Herndon is preparing a bio on Dennis Haskins and has been kind enough to share some of his research with me. Here are a few highlights from Dennis’ music history in Chattanooga –
• Dennis Haskins Presents:
Blood, Sweat, and Tears - Memorial Auditorium
Ike and Tina Turner - UTC
The Spinners - UTC
The James Gang - Memorial Auditorium
Leon Russell - Engel Stadium
• Overland Express (Artist Manager)
• Canyon Band (Artist Manager)
• Tracy Sesler and Diane Scannell (manager)
• Cheyenne (Knoxville band) Artist Manager
• Humour – booking agent
• Concerts in the Park - Engel Stadium
Battle of the Bands @ National Guard Armory
These 2014-15 inductees join Jimmy Tawater, Overland Express, Roger Alan Wade, Dennis Massengale, Bill Brewer, The Beaters, Ronnie Dickens, Tim Starnes, The Malemen Band, The Dismembered Tennesseans, and Jerre Haskew as members of the Chattanooga Music Hall of Fame. Dennis Haskins joins Mike Dougher and Dixie Fuller as recipient of a Chattanooga Music Hall Of Fame Director’s Award.
Bob Payne is the entertainment editor for the Chattanoogan.com and talent/production assistant at Friends Of The Festival. Email Bob Payne at davrik@aol.com or www.facebook.com/davrik2000.