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Recommendations and Press
What people
are saying about Sweet Water
Junction Band
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Nov
2009 Issue
Brevard
Live Entertainment Magazine
Written by: Heike Clarke
SWEET WATER
JUNCTION BAND
This is a true
Thanksgiving story. The Sweet Water
Junction Band presents three
generation of family tradition.
Grandfather Porter McDowell started
this band in Indiana, and it became
a part of American music history...
Page
11
... All Aboard!
This train takes you through the
family history of Porter McDowell
from Patesville Kentucky, who left
home in 1931 during the Great
Depression, worked his way through
Seattle, Chicago, Illinois and ended
up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There he
called for his family to move up
from Kentucky to this “prosperous”
industrial city, which they did.
They left their home behind but took
along the music they grew up with,
and it became a family
tradition!.........
( most of
this article which includes the
history of the band has been omitted
for this posting but can be read on
the internet at www.brevardlive.com)
...........This band has great
vocals and harmonies, excellent
musical talent and are a barrel of
fun. - Soon you will be dancing too!
Brevard Live Magazine
927 E. New Haven Ave
Melbourne, Florida 32902
Phone: (321) 956-9207
info@brevardlive.com
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July 30, 2009 Written by: Mike Nunez
Florida Today Newspaper TGIF section
7-piece band brings sweet sound to Brevard
Shake, Rattle & Know: Sweet Water Junction Band,
an impressive ensemble
The Sweet Water Junction Band may just now be making a splash on the local music scene, but the band has been an important part of A music history for more than 60 years. The band started in Kentucky with Porter McDowell in 1949. Playing hard and making a name for himself, Porter introduced his son David to the world of music, and the foundation for the Sweet Water Junction Band was set.
Today, the band includes Sheldon McDowell (drums), Chase McDowell (fiddle/mandolin/guitar/lead vocals) Dave McDowell (rhythm guitar/bass vocals), Shaun McDowell (bass guitar/lead vocals), Reshana McDowell McGatha (percussion/lead vocals), Tim McGatha (lead guitar), Tasha McDowell Wadsworth (piano/lead vocals) Jason Wadsworth (stage tech), Chandy McDowell Reichert (lighting) and Jerry Reichert (sound). Together they form an impressive ensemble, full of character and with a massive arsenal of harmonies. I spoke with Sherry McDowell, Dave’s wife and mother of the McDowell clan, about the band, family dynamic and the history of the band. So let’s Shake, Rattle & Know: Sweet Water Junction Band. SRK: It is tough to keep all the members in a three- or four-member group happy. How do you keep a seven-piece band in check? McDowell: It is very tough, and being that we are all family, it can be even tougher. One thing that makes it easier for us than other bands is the fact that we have a bond that goes far beyond the music alone. The dad (Dave) makes the final decisions. Everyone gives great creative input, and their opinions are valued, but at the end of the day, one person has the last say. You don’t get that in a lot of bands, and I think everyone needs one person to turn to in order to make the decisions you may not otherwise make as a group.
SRK: Has Brevard been receptive to country music, or is it challenging to find an audience?McDowell: Brevard hasn’t been as receptive as we would like. Being that we are in a beach community, there is a lot of genres of music that are more popular here than country music. It isn’t as if we are rejected anywhere we go, it’s just the community isn’t as receptive as in other areas.
SRK: The band is all connected in some way. Can you tell me the relationships within the band?
McDowell: The band originally started in 1949 with David’s father (Porter McDowell). Our three sons (Sheldon, Shaun and Chase) are in the band, our daughter Tasha, (who) just had a baby, is in the band, as well as our other daughter Reshana. Our daughter Chandy handles lighting. Our son-in-law Tim plays guitar. Another son-in-law, Jerry, helps on sound and son-in-law Jason Wadsworth is a stage tech.
SRK: And other than being Mom, what role do you play in the band?
McDowell: My role has been sound support, but I’m retiring from that role and handing it over to our son-in-law. I do all the bookings, promotions, Web site, set-up and footwork for the band. I get a say in how the final product looks on stage and the atmosphere of the show. We started our publishing company (Golden Star Music) in 1983 and our production company (HIS Productions Inc.) in 1997, so I serve in a variety of capacities within the band. SRK: Up until recently, you primarily were a cover band, but you’ve started writing original music. What inspired the switch?
McDowell: We haven’t really switched; we are still a cover band. We only perform a couple of originals now. We realize we have a lot of talent inside this band that is being stifled by only doing other peoples’ music. Behind the scenes, we are doing our own thing and will introduce more originals slowly. We have a couple projects in the works that will feature all original music. We will take things one song at a time.
SRK: Who are some of the other local bands you follow when not playing yourself?McDowell: We are always doing something with the family, so we don’t have a lot of time to check out other bands. When we do, we follow The Last Chance Band, Steve Thorpe, Showdown and a few others.
SRK: With a band as large as yours, how do you balance everyone’s schedule?
McDowell: We always practice once a week. If we aren’t performing a show, we still do family stuff together. Everyone loves the music so much that it isn’t difficult to keep people dedicated and keeping with a schedule. Sometimes we may have to change a day or shuffle things around a little, but that’s rarely a problem.
For more information on this family group visit them on the web www.sweetwaterjunctionband.com
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City
of Parkland
Parks
and Recreation
Every year I try to book one
country band for my Annual
Concerts in the Park
sponsored
by JM Lexus. During the 2009
season I booked the Sweet Water
Junction band and they did a
great job! They are truly a
family band and all work
together great! The band was
very professional and sounded
great! The sound
and lighting
was top notch and I am looking
forward to booking them again
this year.
As a Special Events
Coordinator I book bands and
have found this band to be one
of the most professional bands I
have booked. I look forward to
booking Sweet Water
Junction for
my annual Country Concert and
Chili Cook-off.. Thank you!
Colleen O'Dea, CPRP
,
Special Events
Coordinator
City
of Parkland
10561
Trails End, Parkland, FL 33067
(954)
757-4120
(954)
341-5161- fax
www.cityofparkland.org
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Wedding Belles -
Event and
Wedding
Planners
We are
wedding
and
event
planners and
have been
impressed
with Sweet
Water
Junction
Band as a
terrific
source of
entertainment
each time we
have hired
them.
Whether the
guests
enjoyed just
listening to
their foot stompin',
hand clappin'
music
or
actually got
out on the
dance floor
and moved to
their high
energy
music...everyone
had a great
time! We
have heard
nothing but
praise from
guests and
the party's
hosts
about
this very
talented and
professional
band.
We can
wholeheartedly
recommend
Sweet Water
Junction
Band for
your
entertainment.
760 Verbenia Drive, Satellite Beach, FL 32937, office/fax: 321.773.2772 Cell: 321.698.9825 Website: www.weddingbelles.8m.com
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Grills Seafood
Deck & Tiki Bar
Grills Seafood
Deck and Tiki
Bar would like
to acknowledge
the quality of
performance
and
sound when The
Sweet Water
Junction Band
plays at our
establishment.
Their level
of
professionalism is what any venue would ask for from a band.
They always bring a nice
crowd and keep the people here. I would
also like to
add, that if you
have given any
thought
to
hiring The Sweet
Water Junction
Band for your
venue, you will
not be
disappointed.
Sincerely,
Jason Minor
Grills Seafood
Deck & Tiki Bar
, Port
Canaveral, Fl
(321)-868-2226
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Billy Rigg : A Fabulous Band
Two months ago I saw a Fabulous Band called "SWEET WATER JUNCTION BAND".
I haven't been able to stop telling my friends about this band, because they're
just that
good. Anytime I get goose bumps and the hair stands up on my arms, hearing a song
or a band,
it or they, have gone to No. 1. Well, I get that same feeling with SWEET
WATER JUNCTION BAND. This band could
win any nomination category in the BMAs
( BREVARD LIVE MUSIC AWARDS) especially, ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, "with
no problem", they're that good and that talented. They're an "all family band", and multi-
talented.
Once this band gets known, they will be very, very popular and hard to book
because everyone will want them at their venue. I've listened and watched live music in
Brevard since 1968 and every so often a Band comes along that
is just very unique
and very special. This Band is just that; a very special Band. You can see their websites
on www.spacecoastlive.com , www.sweetwaterjunctionband.com and www.myspace.com/sweetwaterjunctionband
I truly hope you will go and see them when booked in your area because this band is
simply remarkable!
Written By: Billy Rigg 321-259-6560
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Haines City Parks & Recreation
The Sweet Water Junction Band put on a great show at Lake Eva Park in Haines
City. Their vocalists are
excellent and can sing just about any song you would like
to hear. Not to mention the amazing fiddle playing, on The Devil Went
Down to
Georgia. I recommend having this band for your next function. Thank you,
Tommy Cassel, Rental Facility Manager
Haines City Parks & Recreation , 863-421-3700 ext 5988
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Written by: Tammy Roberts Hometown News
Sweet Water Junction Band Boasts Country Sound
Local Country Band Sweet Water Junction Band, gives new meaning to the
phrase "family affair".
With a history dating back to the late 1940's, the nine-member
band has developed a sound that only a true family could produce.
Raised on
country music, Indiana native, David McDowell followed in his father's footsteps and
created the Sweet Water Junction Band in
1979, a high energy country and southern
rock group, which he lead alongside two other musicians. During its run, Mr.
McDowell's wife,
Sherry, ran the band's lighting and sound operations. Eight years
later, the McDowell's decided to pack up and move to the Space
Coast, where they
spent the next few years raising eight children - all of whom developed a flair for
music. In 1995, the entire family
started off on a seven year music tour, singing
and playing their own brand of Southern Gospel music. They performed at hundreds
of churches,
festivals and concert halls throughout the entire country, performing
alongside some of the most popular names in the Gospel music industry.
In
2002 the family returned home to Brevard where - between Titusville and Palm Bay -
they all reside today. In between all of the weddings, children
and grandchildren, the
band formed once again - this time going back to Mr. McDowell's country roots.
Sweet Water Junction Band is still led
by Mr. McDowell, who plays rhythm guitar
and shares vocals with each member of the band. Joining him is eldest son,
Shaun McDowell on vocal and bass guitar, daughter Tasha (McDowell) Wadsworth
on vocal and keyboard, son Sheldon McDowell on Drums, son Chase McDowell on
vocal, fiddle, mandolin and lead guitar, daughter Reshana (McDowell) McGatha on
vocal and various percussion and Tim McGatha - Reshana's husband - on lead guitar.
Other members of the McDowell Family still play a role
behind the scenes of the band.
Daughters Chandy and Chelsey McDowell run lighting for the group, while Chandy's
husband, Jerry Reichert, is in charge of
sound. "It's definitely a family affair,"
said Mrs. McDowell, who retired in January after serving 31 years as the band's sound
manager. "It's been a journey since the beginning." Because of its strong family ties,
the band brings something unique to the
table, to which most audiences can relate to,
Mrs. McDowell said. "They still have their little fights like most families do, but there's
this
charisma between them that really shows in their music."
She said. "I've always
dreamed of having a close-knit family and I got so much more than that." Sweet Water
Junction Band has written several
original songs in it's career, but is known for covering
more than 90 popular country and southern rock hits. The band is known for its energetic
performances and crowd-pleasing tunes. The members of the Sweet Water Junction
Band said they are looking forward to performing at this year's
Strawberry Festival
March 9. "We love playing festivals because there is always such a wide-variety of
people who come out to watch the show".
Mrs. McDowell said "There's a lot of fun
that comes along with it." For information about Sweet Water Junction Band,
visit www.sweetwaterjunctionband.com.
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Written by: CMH LOCAL FAMILY FULL OF MUSICAL HISTORY
I have seen many musical groups rise and fall over the last thirty three years of my
career. I am always looking for
something special that goes beyond the normal
standard with regard to talent, presentation, and attitude from any artist or a band I
encounter.
When done right, music has a magic breaking the barriers of language
and culture. It has the potential to heal or destroy your day, week, or even
your life
if you allow it to. Because of this love I have for music I make it a point to write about
anything special when it shows up. This letter
is about one very special musical family.
The Sweet Water Junction Band is loaded with history and culture. The band consists
exclusively of all family members starting with the father and includes five of his
children and one son in law he affectionately refers to as
Billy Bob. These “children”
range from 22 to 30+ years of age and are an extremely talented group of adults.
There are two other family members,
the mother and another daughter which work
behind the scenes providing technical assistance for the group. What you get when
you see and hear this
group, is over one hundred years of combined experience
producing a tight blend of instrumentation and vocals. The year 1995 through 2001
this family traveled the nation with their own music, and released several songs to
the radio
industry. Those releases charted in such areas as the European Christian
Country Charts along with hitting the top 10 in segments of the Georgia and Tennessee
radio markets. Currently performing Classic Country, Modern Country, and Southern
Rock in the state of Florida, they hope to once again expand their
performance area.
They have recently released three songs to the market, It All Comes Back To Me,
Cardboard Box and Beverly’s Hill. These three songs
display the group’s versatility
as the first two are Modern Country style while Beverly’s Hill is a folk / Bluegrass ballad.
This band has awesome style, vocals, and a hard driving attitude that will keep you on
the edge of your seat and amazed. If you get
a chance to check this band out you won’t
regret it.
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To Contact Sweet Water Junction
Band
please click on the contact us button on the top right
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