After a career as a librarian, Punta Gorda’s Zarita Dixon, 72, no longer speaks in hushed tones — she belts out vocals with a big band behind her.
Dixon sings with the Suncoast Swing Band, which performed Aug. 13 at Waterside Place for the community’s monthly entertainment series, Sights + Sounds.
While Dixon comes from a musical family and always sang in church, she hadn’t performed with a big band before joining Suncoast Swing over four years ago.
“It’s a dream come true,” she said. “They play the music I grew up with.”
Conductor Lynn Cleary said the band plays music from the 1940s through the 1980s.
When the band played “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang, Cleary brought the microphone into the crowd. She pulled 4-year-old Reagan Sibley up on stage to play the maracas and encouraged everyone to dance.
Most people stayed in their seats, but not sitting still. Their feet were uncontrollably tapping.
The next Sights and Sounds is scheduled for Sept. 19 when the Sailor Circus Academy will be performing circus acts.
Punta Gorda's Zarita Dixon sings with the Suncoast Swing Band.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The crowd claps along with the band.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Sarasota's Helen Miller and Carolyn Slaback have been friends for 70 years. Darlene Bullock and Lou Ann Miller, Helen Miller's daughter, are visiting from Pennsylvania.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Conductor Lynn Cleary invites 4-year-old Reagan Sibley on stage to play maracas with the band.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton's Carter Sibley is a proud dad. Here, he's taking a video of 4-year-old Reagan as she plays the maracas on stage, but he was also waving his arms over his head and dancing along with her from the crowd.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Over 50 people gather in front of the pavilion at Waterside Place to listen to the Suncoast Swing Band Aug. 13.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Conductor Lynn Cleary heads into the crowd to find some backup singers.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's Brenda Maraman sings along to "Celebration" by Kool & the Gang.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Lakewood Ranch's Matt and Denise McDougall attend Sights + Sounds at Waterside Place for the first time Aug. 13.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Waterside Place's Laura Thomaidis dances with her 2-year-old daughter Isabella and 3-year-old son Levi.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Suncoast Swing Band covers music from the 1940s through the 1980s.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
The Suncoast Swing Band is the entertainment at Waterside Place Aug. 13.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
