About The Band

Hiring the Band We want to make it as easy for you to hire or "book" the band as possible. Part of the mission of this Big Band is to show everyone how exciting and spectacular the sights and sounds of a Big Band can be. Call us today at (843) 280-2300 and we will quote you a reasonable and economical rate.

Dr. Dick Conrad plays
Begin the Beguine.

Need to know more? The following sections, if read carefully, will give you all you need to know to use our group. There are plenty of suggestions for using us at weddings, festivals, concerts and more. If you have any other questions you may leave us a voice message at (843) 280-2300. You may call anytime, 24 hours a day.

Who is The Andrew Thielen Big Band? About the best live band you will ever hear. This Big Band is made up of the finest musicians and singers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. We play the greatest songs of yesterday and today all with the tremendously powerful sound of three trumpets, three trombones, five saxophones, piano, bass and drums. Plus we carry a minimum of two but sometimes use three or four singers. The bandleader is a world class drummer. Just wait until you hear him play.

What are some of the song titles we will hear? All the songs you know and love from every era, which makes this a perfect band for all ages. We play everything from Old Time Rock & Roll, I Will Survive and I Love Beach Music to In The Mood and RESPECT . Here are just a few of the titles of songs we play from older to newer:

• 40's melodies: In The Mood, Begin The Beguine, Sing, Sing, Sing, American Patrol, Chattanooga Choo Choo, String of Pearls, Dream
• 50's tunes: Mack The Knife, When I Fall In Love, Rock Around The Clock, It's My Party , Splish Splash,
• 60's songs: Mustang Sally, In The Midnight Hour, Twistin The Night Away, It's Not Unusual, Twist & Shout, You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You, Proud Mary, Tequilla, I Feel Good, Help Yourself, You've Lost That Lovin Feelin
• 70's favorites: We are Family, The Way We Were, Knock On Wood, Old Time Rock & Roll, Takin Care of Business, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Do You Love Me, Free Bird, Vehicle, Best of My Love
• 80's hits: I Will Survive, Evergreen, It Had To Be You, Unchain My Heart, I Love The Nightlife, Last Dance, NY NY , Shake Your Booty, Thats The Way I Like It, Get Down Tonight, Let's Groove Tonight, Time of My Life
• 90's to today: Livin La Vida Loca, Don't Know Why, Jump, Jive & Wail, Get The Party Started, Game of Love  
• Motown: Get Ready, Respect, Livin In America, Dancin In The Streets, Chain Of Fools, Natural Woman, Higher & Higher
• Shag Songs: Build Me Up Buttercup, I Love Beach Music, Is It True What They Say About Dixie? How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By, This Will Be An Everlasting Love  & more
• Christmas Favorites: I'll Be Home For Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, White Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland
• Specialty: Waltz's, Irish Tunes, Polkas, Rhumbas, Auld Lang Syne and more.

Are other Big Bands the same? No. The Andrew Thielen Big Band plays new songs and fresh, new arrangements of old songs. This Big Band plays almost every weekend throughout the year. We are a commercial show and dance band. We have done shows at the world famous House of Blues and at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. Many of our musicians and singers are full time professional players. The other performers in our band are highly talented musicians who could play music full time but may have chosen another regular vocation. We spend thousands of dollars each year on our music, equipment, wardrobe and our talented players to keep it hip!

Do you have a smaller version of the group or would seven or eight musicians sound the same? No. A smaller group is usually called a combo. These type of groups are more often than not some horn players who are put together for one gig here and there, hit or miss. This is like throwing a cast together from 7 different musicals and asking them to put on a 3 hour play. One actor knows a few of his special songs, another can sing a few tunes from his musical and some one else from the chorus line might be able to hum and kick a leg now and then, but nothing is rehearsed or well organized. Combos usually try to play some songs they think they know together off the top of their heads, (they are even called 'head' charts) and pretty soon every song starts sounding alike.

Then there is the problem of sound. A combo more often than not has no singers and they may have one microphone to pass around, but then again maybe not. Yikes! Here is a good concept to go by. A professional football team needs 11 players on the gridiron to run well executed plays. A professional baseball team needs 9 perfectly placed players to properly manage the diamond and outfield. A professional Big Band needs a total of at least 14 musicians that consists of 5 saxophones, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, piano, bass and drums to make great music.