City Beat: Swayyvo puts city, his own talent on display

Barry Courter

Cool things continue to happen in the local music scene. For one, the new movie "Loving" about the Loving v. Virginia U.S. Supreme Court case, which invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage, will feature the track "For Your Precious Love."

The song was a hit for The Impressions in 1958 and was written by brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks, both from Chattanooga, and Jerry Butler.

* Also, young local artist Swayyvo has recorded a really cool video of a saxophone instrumental he wrote called "Altar Call." The video was shot with a drone by Anthony Ducket of AD Dinero Films. It features Swayyvo performing solo on the roof of the Tennessee Aquarium. Knoxville's Golden Styles provides backing on piano.

Swayyvo says he wanted to show off his city with the project.

"When people think of Chattanooga, they always think of the aquarium and the bridge, so this was the perfect way to put a face with the city," he says.

"It's beautiful, as you can see, and I was seeing a lot of drone shots, but they were not targeting the artist.

Swayyvo credits Ian Tejeda of the local online radio application Underground with conceiving the idea.

* If you're interested in learning more about the talented folks who work in music around here, Heather Leigh Holt has created a podcast that focuses on doing just that. Holt has completed 11 episodes for the podcast, now in its second season, which you can find at openmicspotlight.podbean.com.

The shows include conversation and live performances when appropriate. She's done shows with Danimal Pinson, Lon Eldridge, Drakeford, Mike McDade, Ryan Oyer, Nick Lutsko, Stratton Tingle and Mike Dougher, who talked about his history of booking acts at first the Sandbar, then Rhythm & Brews and Revelry Room.

Few people have done more to bring quality music to town than Dougher over the years.

* Finally, former Chattanooga Theatre Centre Executive Director George Quick posted on his Facebook page that he is the new managing director of the Sharon Playhouse in Sharon, Conn. Quick stepped down from his CTC position in July, citing personal reasons.

Kim Jackson has been interim executive director at the CTC and will continue in that role until a search committee finds a permanent replacement.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.