The Class Act Band

By Laura Marshall

Staff Writer

Dig through the garage for your most comfortable lawn chair and rummage through the closet for your favorite pair of dancing shoes. They’ll come in handy Friday during the first installment of the Moonlight & music Concert Series at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse.

"It’s Gwinnett’s free version of Chastain," said Sandy Shaull, recreation leader at the courthouse on the Lawrenceville square.

Between 850 and 1,000 individuals are expected to show up at 8 p.m. Friday to hear the Class Act Band kick off the series beneath the gazebo on the courthouse lawn.

"We’re a true variety band," said Jim Boehm of Lawrenceville. He and his wife, Judy, started the group five years ago. "We play everything."

Boehm is a bass guitarist, and his spouse is the pianist for the eight-member ensemble, which includes a guitarist, drummer, saxophonist, trumpeter, trombonist, and male and female vocalists. The group’s musical repertoire includes beach, rhythm and blues, Broadway, rock, jazz, disco, country and more.

"We cover a variety to appease the audience

Members from their era of music," Boehm said. "We play a song or two they can relate to, sing to or dance to. We hit all the tunes from all the decades and eras to have really good crowd appeal."

Community members may recognize the Class Act Band as the group which has performed for the past four years on Thanksgiving at the lighting of the tree at the historic courthouse. Its pianist has played for the Fox Theatre and the Atlanta Ballet.

Because of his connections with Atlanta musicians, Boehm helped suggest the other bands rounding out the Moonlight & Music Concert Series.

Concerts will be held, rain or shine, from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

"A diverse group of people attend, from babies to retirees," said recreation leader Shaull. "It’s very representative of Gwinnett County.

Boehm said adults like to bring their children out to hear the live music. "So many parents are wanting to get their children exposed to this," he said. "They maybe the next generation of musicians. If we don’t expose them, we may be missing out on a

whole lot more music in the future. This allow people to get culture and expose their children to these things to see if their children want to explore the possibility of music.

According to the musician, Lawrenceville is in the company of Roswell, Marietta, Wood-stock and Smyrna as one of several cities statewide utilizing town squares for free concerts. "It enhances the community spirit and is for the betterment of the community," Boehm said. "I’m so elated that it’s happening all over Georgia and Atlanta. Gwinnett is part of the summer trend going on all over."

Individuals are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, although tables for six may be reserved for $25.00 by calling the historic courthouse. Many patrons bring picnics, while others opt to buy barbecue, popcorn, snow cones, drinks and sandwiches on site.

Sponsored by the Associated and Federal Employees Credit Union, the fourth season of Moonlight & Music is a companion to the Brown Bag Concert Series, also free, which is held the second Friday of the month at noon from June through August.