By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The Sweetwater All-Star Band will be making its annual appearance in Decatur this Thursday as the Decatur Chamber’s Summer Concert Series continues following last week’s kickoff of the 13-week series.
It will mark the eighth time the all-stars have played the summer series on the Madison St. Plaza, having missed only the first series, in 2028.
The band, one of the most popular to play the plaza, will perform during a three-hour period, 6-9 p.m.
No admission is charged.
Food trucks and adult beverages by the Oasis Pub will be available.
The Fort Wayne-based Sweetwaters are a nine-piece rhythm and blues band lineup comprised of the following:
Lisa McDavid (vocals), Bob Bailey (vocals, guitar), Andrew Glasmacher (vocals, drums), Rolin Mains (vocals, keyboards), Ryan Tilby (bass) and the Sweetwater All Stars Horns; Brett Kelsey (trumpet), Jay Jehl (trombone), Matt Schuler (trumpet), with Sweetwater founder Chuck Surack on saxophone.
The band says they focus on classic R&B songs from Motown, Stax, Chess, and Atlantic artists.
All members of the band are employees of Sweetwater Sound, including company founder and CEO Surack.
The band will return to the plaza stage on Sept. 3 for the annual Senior Living Concert held by Adams Memorial Hospital.
‘LOCAL’ GUY: Kelsey, an original member of the band, is a local guy … sort of!
He was born and raised in Fort Wayne, but has numerous relatives in the Decatur area.
Brett’s mother, the late Thelma Noll Kelsey Alexander, was born in Pleasant Mills. She had 15 siblings!
His late father was Ned Kelsey. Marilyn Noll Young is his aunt and among cousins Brett says he can remember are Janelle Young, Keith Young, Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord, Elaine Rash, and Kip Massoth.
McDavid, meanwhile, is extremely popular in the Decatur area.
She was on the plaza stage last week, doing several numbers with Brian Harvey, a Decatur native who is lead singer for The Push, presenting the music of U2.
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