History
The George Winter Band, started in 1963, has versatile music geared toward their audience. For 40 years, founder of the band George Winter, has not only been a conscience musician, but an active participant on the other side of the stage. In 1993, George founded the Tuscaloosa Ballroom Dance Club and the following year helped start the Birmingham Chapter of the United States Amateur Ballroom Dance Association.
In his endeavors, George felt many things needed to take place to make a successful band. “When I used to take my wife dancing, I would watch how couples, one by one, would walk off the dance floor in disgust while the band stalled.” George said.
George’s mission was to increase the number of songs played in the three-hour period than what most bands were putting out. Being a ballroom dancer at Fred Astaire in Tuscaloosa, George is fully aware of how long a song should be, the tempo as well as a good proportion of different dance music. Most dance studios begin basic lessons with six styles. These include the fox trot, swing, waltz, rumba, cha cha and tango. According to George many bands feel their own speed is fine for most songs and casual bands play them that way. George claims his band is different and forces every song they play into the appropriate style and speed.“Since I am a trained ballroom dancer, I know what is danceable, so I produce it.” George said.
Along with producing music, George also produces programs ahead of time so the audience knows what songs are coming up, how to prepare for them and to know which ones they are interested in dancing to and which ones they want to sit out. George feels this helps the flow of the program because there is no arguing over what will be played next, no shuffling papers for music, less down time between numbers and an overall positive affect on the audience.
Most of the band members have music degrees, as does George who graduated from The University of Alabama School of Music. With this experience George is able to write most of the charts the band plays. This gives the band the ability to have a good harmony and be able to venture away from the standard sheet music.
“Because of George’s vast knowledge of the music, it gives us the opportunity to be really artistic,” said Steve Duncan, trumpet player for the band, “He is very organized
and knows exactly what the audience wants.”
The band consists of 10 interchanging members. George can be seen on keyboard with bass and drum machine, 4 horn players on trumpet, 2 saxophones and 2 trombones and most all players on vocals at some point. The George Winter Band also comes in the form of a solo band, providing a full satisfying dance band sound.
With his state-of-the-art equipment, The George Winter Band is able to compensate with the possibility of sticky keys on horns or tired drummers. George feels like the band has so much to offer that people will never want to hire a deejay again. From songs like “Twelfth Street Rage” to “Louie Louie” and “New York New York”, the sounds of the George Winter Band are available to the public for dances and social gatherings of all kinds.