Whether you're looking for full length swing swing dance shows, practice playlists, some CDs for your car, or looking for information on getting started as a DJ, we've got you covered!

Spotify Playlists

Youtube Playlists

Interested in DJing?

Kemper's put together a great list of CD suggestions for you to kick start your DJ library with a variety of music without spending a lot of money starting out. And Aliceann's collected a bunch of information to help you get started. If you're interested in DJing for the KSDA on Wednesdays, shoot one of us a message! We give you lots of guidance and feedback before setting you free alone and pay DJs for their sets to help offset your music costs.
CD Recommendations:  Building a music library
Things You Need to Have/Know
Software
  • MusicBee - free, possibly Windows only, extremely customizable, equalizer, winamp plug-in
  • Winamp - free, Windows/Mac, customizable but also very basic, good second software for previewing
  • Mixxx - free/open source, Windows/Mac/Android, does editing, integration with turntables
  • iTunes - free, Windows/Mac, must keep updated if you have an iPod, possibly if you have a Mac, lot's of tagging features and pretty simple if you have a standard hardware setup, will only output to main sound card so can't be used to preview
    • I actually really dislike the search functions and queue setup for the new versions of iTunes.  Instead I use iTunes 10.7 from 2012 and I still love it. One day I'll update to MusicBee or DJ Pro, but I've been saying that for literal years. Hit me up if you want the executable to try out iTunes 10.7 for yourself.
  • Cog/Foobar - super basic, can't actually find anything on Cog online
  • DJ Pro - Free & Paid versions, Windows/Mac, plugins to other software, hardware & turntable integration, layout customization, audio processing & editing
  • Traktor Pro - $150, Windows/Mac (but harder on Mac), multiple layouts, editing, hardware integration
  • Virtual DJ - free & paid versions, Windows/Mac, works with variety of set ups and integrations, sync library to cloud, editing
Hardware
  • External Sound Card - sometimes parts of your computer just decides to stop functioning and sometimes this is either your headphone jack or your actual sound card. Keep an extra in your bag that can plug into your USB port for emergencies. I keep one in my diaper bag and one in my backpack and one in my car.
  • Music Backup - whether you have an external hard drive, or a desktop, or a cloud account, regularly back up your music! You'll be sad if you lose it all (or all your bpms).

If you want to be able to preview your music you'll need:
  • Headphones
  • External audio card
  • A second music software, or one of the fancier ones that will play to two outputs at once
  • Most software you can select your output device. EXCEPT iTunes. So you'll select your computer default to whatever you want iTunes to play to, and then change the output option for your other program.
Info

Musicians You Should Know

This is not an all-encompassing list, but it is a great place to get started!
Swing Era Musicians
  • Artie Shaw
  • Benny Goodman
  • Ben Webster
  • Cab Calloway
  • Charlie Barnet
  • Charlie Christian
  • Chick Webb
  • Coleman Hawkins
  • Count Basie
  • Dizzy Gillespie
  • Duke Ellington
  • Earl Hines
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Erskine Hawkins
  • Fletcher Henderson
  • Gene Krupa
  • Harry James
  • Illinois Jacquet
  • Jimmie Lunceford
  • Johnny Hodges
  • Lionel Hampton
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Lester Young
  • Nat King Cole
  • Roy Eldridge
  • Sidney Bechet
  • Slim Gaillard
  • Teddy Wilson
  • Tommy Dorsey
  • Will Bradley
Modern Swing Bands
Adjacent Era Musicians
  • Bessy Smith
  • Benny Moten
  • Big Maybelle
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Fats Waller
  • Jelly Roll Morton
  • Kid Ory
  • International Sweethearts of Rhythm
  • Lil Hardin Armstrong
  • Louis Jordan
  • Louis Prima
  • Ma Rainey
  • Mary Lou Williams
  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe
  • Wingy Manone
  • Wynonie Harris

Recorded Shows

concerts
Event Live Streams
DJ Parties
  • David & Kim Juke Joint Soul Party 1 part a and b; and 2 part a, b, and c.
Variety Shows
  • Cal Bal Friday, Saturday, Sunday 
  • The Great Baltimore Telethon Part 1 and Part 2 
  • The Jump Hounds 
  • Happy Hour, Live! from the Mobtown Living Room session 1, session 2, Meschiya Lake 
  • Salon Speakeasy
    • Jan 23rd w/ Jonathan Stout, Baby Soda, Dan Levinson, Gaby Cook
    • Jan 9th w/ Bobby White & Jessica Miltenberger, Harvest Moon Hoppers
    • Dec 5th w/ Dennis Lichtman, Evita Arce, LaTasha Barnes, Hot Toddies
    • Oct 24th w/ Jazz Haus, Gordon Webster
    • Oct 10th w/ Dan Levinson, Bobby White & Jessica Miltenberger
    • Aug 15th w/ Hot Toddies, Gordon Webster, LaTasha Barnes
    • Aug 1st w/ Jonathan Stout, Hot Toddies, Baby Soda
    • May 23rd w/ Paul Consentino, Charles Turner, Evita Arce, Moth Poetic Circus
    • May 9th w/ Hot Toddies, Nathan Bugh & Gaby Cook, Caleb Teicher
    • May 2nd w/ Jonathan Stout, Mickey Fortanasce, Bobby White, Jessica Miltenberger, Chad Mills
  • Rhythm Relief Swingtacular Variety Show 
  • "The Rent Party"
Blues Concerts
About Us
The Talleys are passionate about sharing their love of vintage swing- & jazz-era social dancing with the Knoxville community.
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