Celebrating Living - Every Song Counts!

During our Patriotic Concerts, I often talk about my Dad, who was a POW in Germany for 3 months (losing 75 lbs!). I once asked him why he loved watching "Hogan's Heroes" on TV every night. I assumed he just liked how they made fun of the German officers and guards. I'm sure he enjoyed that, but that wasn't his answer. Instead, he said, "The thing I was most proud of in the camp was that they couldn't take away our sense of humor". In other words, it was a show of defiance. Even in the worst situations, they were proud to be Americans, and refused to give in, and he relived that every time he watched that show.

Now, I have never been in a similar situation, and wouldn't ever try to make any comparison which might imply that something I do is even close to being a POW!! But, I do love that attitude! And, I like to think that I carry some of that same attitude into my experiences with the AZ Swing Kings. (Yeah, it's a stretch, but stay with me here...)

When we take the stage, I like to think that we are celebrating "Living". Every song counts. There are no "Fillers" or "Throwaways". Each song demands excellence, fun, intensity, and hopefully, communication with our audience. That performance time demands everything we have, as we "Celebrate Living" together with our audience and seek to make the "Concert Experience" a magic time. This is when we "refuse to be broken", and where we insist on reaching for something greater. while having a ton of fun on the way. And we ask our audience to be a part of it! Together, we make each performance unique and new. That is "Celebrating Living" the AZ Swing Kings Way!

OK, that is one huge leap from a POW camp, but it sure is an American spirit, if you ask me! Come "make it happen" with us!

Still Swingin',

Jim Lee