His parents knew they had an entertainer when the stork showed up with a mic hanging out of it's mouth. Since day one, Sean has found himself at ease in front of crowds, both entertaining and mastering ceremonies. He grew up in a small midwestern town during the mid 1950s when people still said hello to each other on the streets and didn't lock their homes at night. Sean enjoyed hosting a variety of events over his early years, from local talent shows, ice cream socials and bingo to larger, national events like American Bandstand, the Emmys and American Legion's Annual Fundraiser. His long awaited breakthrough finally happened in 1959 when he hosted The Ed Sullivan Show during a freak accident that hospitalized Ed for a week. A natural to the game, he filled Ed's spot and kept audiences tuned in. Sean then went on to host larger world events such as the Olympics, the World Cup and Battle Of The Network Stars. However, during the peace movement of the 1960s his heart drifted to playing music, leaving the budding entertainer with a dilemma: pursue his lifelong dream to be the best emcee in history or tour the world with an up and coming rock band known as The Beatles.

Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five are a septet dedicated to playing dance tunes from the golden age of small group swing, specializing in rare tunes and swingin' music that is fabulous to dance to.

Campus Five is one of the tightest, hottest dance bands in the country and we are proud to welcome them to Camp Jitterbug 2008! Last year, we had Jonathan Stout playing at CJ and he was a huge hit. It will be great having Jonathan here with his own band inspiring the dance floor!

Solomon Douglas is a jazz pianist and bandleader, whose various bands have played at more than fifty exchanges, camps, workshops, and other dance events in North America, Asia, and Australia in the past seven years. His experience as a swing dancer and dance instructor gives him an understanding unique among musicians of the music that swing dancers and blues dancers like to dance to!

The Solomon Douglas Swingtet is a ten-piece dance band whose repertoire is rooted in that of the Basie band (One O’Clock Jump, Jive at Five, Splanky, Shorty George, Shiny Stockings) and that of the Ellington band (Cottontail, “C” Jam Blues, Mood Indigo, Take The “A” Train), with other big-band standards and classic jazz tunes thrown in as well.

We are excited to have the Solomon Douglas Swingtet back for their 3rd year at CJ. They are always a big hit with a wonderful full sound that brings great energy for all the dancers.

**Photo by Jeremy Stell-Smith

Travis began DJing in Seattle in 2002 and has since become a Seattle favorite. While he focuses his attention on the music styles of the 1920's, '30s, and '40s, he is able to present a wide range of styles and tempos from a slow blues to a fast floor-burner. Nationally Travis has been a featured DJ at the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, the All Balboa Weekend, the Mid-Western Balboa Swing Festival, and, of course, Camp Jitterbug!!

We are excited to have Travis back as our competition and head dj for Camp Jitterbug. The music is what inspires our competitors and brings the energy needed to make the competitions at Camp Jitterbug incredible. We are honored to have him back this year!

Bringing dance audiences a ric mixture of jazz old and new, classic and lesser-known, the thing which defines Kelly's taste in music is an intense affinity for the deep soul of the jazz and blues tradition. She is an enthusiastic collector of rare albums (including a recently-developed love of collecting dirt-old 78’s) and loves bringing fresh music to her audiences. For years Kelly has been DJ'ing for the most demanding dance audiences throughout North America including those at Showdown, The Rhythmic Arts Festival and on radio. She also DJ’s in her hometown of Seattle where she is an ardent promoter of the spirit and history of jazz and jazz dance. Oh yeah, and she can play a mean kazoo and spoons solo.

Freddie is always hot and anxious to play that savage rhythm until all the cats join in. Spreadin' rhythm around wherever he plays, Freedie will make you shake the blues away. He's brought lindy hoppers delight at every tub from Seattle to Houston, including Camp Jitterbug, Seattle Lindy Exchange, Seattle Bal-Swing Festival, Southwest Lindyfest, as well as all the local Seattle dance floors. He's so very diga diga doo by nature, but has been known to let it get sweet and hot until your sister kate shouts "Ochi!" four or five times. If he could be with you just one hour at late night, he'll be sure to be tappin' the commodore till you go viper mad!

Peter has an incredible soul music selection. Last year, he brought great energy to the Soulful Social and we are so excited to have him back again this year.

Traveling all the way from London, Jamie has been a wonderful addition to Camp Jitterbug. He is the 2007 Camp Jitterbug Spirit of Lindy Hop Award winner, a fabulous dancer and DJ. We are excited to have him back behind the booth at After Hours.

Maybe he's best known as the onetime partner to rapper-turned-superstar-actor Will "The Fresh Prince" Smith. Whether working homespun magic on mega-hits like "Parents Just Don't Understand," Smith's TV series and even a production credit on Smith's current Big Willie Style, DJ Falty personifies suburban homeboy cool - a musical style that's funky and chilled. But what's often overlooked about Falty is that he was one of rap's most influential spinners from waaay back; a DJ quicker than lightning who could scratch that itch, find a sonically pure (but sweetly reminiscent) moment and knock the bottom out of a breakbeat quicker than you could say "Grandmaster Flash at the wheels of steel."

Mark Kihara has been one of Seattle's favorite djs for many years. He's also been one of the main djs for Herrang Dance Camp. Last year in Herrang he was served as the camp's dj coordinator. Mark's also spun at Russia's Moscow Swing Dance Camp, Midwestern Balboa Swing Festival, and various lindy exchanges.

Jo Ann is a fabulous DJ that started in Hawaii in 2003 and is now a favorite in Seattle. Her DJ credits include the Hawaii Exchange, Northwest Balboa Fest, Seattle Bal-Fest, All Balboa Weekend, Camp Jitterbug and is a regular DJ at Sonny Newman's and the Century Ballroom. Having a passion for music that "swings", Jo Ann could be heard playing many of the classics such as Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie.

We are always excited to have her in the DJ booth inspiring the dancers!

Jonathan Stout and Hillary Alexander are both accomplished DJ's and we are so excited to have them in the line-up. Hillary also runs Camp Hollywood and the National Jitterbug Championships in Los Angeles. Check it out at camphollywood.net

Bringing dance audiences a ric mixture of jazz old and new, classic and lesser-known, the thing which defines Kelly's taste in music is an intense affinity for the deep soul of the jazz and blues tradition. She is an enthusiastic collector of rare albums (including a recently-developed love of collecting dirt-old 78’s) and loves bringing fresh music to her audiences. For years Kelly has been DJ'ing for the most demanding dance audiences throughout North America including those at Showdown, The Rhythmic Arts Festival and on radio. She also DJ’s in her hometown of Seattle where she is an ardent promoter of the spirit and history of jazz and jazz dance. Oh yeah, and she can play a mean kazoo and spoons solo.

He would make the music if he could, but for now Matt is content simply spinning the songs that keep him on the floor. He DJs in Seattle at regular venues and special events, including competitions, CJ, and the Seattle Exchange.

Brenda has been Dj'ing since 2003 and is a house DJ at the Century Ballroom in Seattle.
She has spun at both national and international events over the years. Brenda loves all kinds of swing music and Seattle is the perfect place to spin variety. She recently is collecting more New Orleans based bands and can't wait to share her new music at Camp Jitterbug!