Meet the Band

John Michael Schweri

Jim Fitzgerald

Rick Lee

Ned Coleman

John Michael Schweri was born in Summertown Tennessee and started playing music in the Lewis County school band at nine years old in 1985 on percussion and specifically xylophone. After moving to Nashville in 1990, he began drum lessons at Forks Drum Closet and Pro Percussion, and guitar lessons at the Bluebird Café. John has played in several bands in college and percussion ensembles and enjoys playing blues guitar and drum set all styles and all African and Latin percussion. John’s favorite influences in music are blues rock and jazz. John is proud to be a part of Downtown Sound.

David Thibideaux

Bill Copeland

Rhonda Styer

Jim started playing clarinet in the Columbia High School Band and alto sax in the Columbia High School Dance Band in the ’50’s. After graduating from CHS in 1955, he played tenor sax with several small combos, and in 1958 he played alto sax with the Tennessee Tech Troubadours for one quarter. After graduating from Tenn Tech in 1960 and completing military service in 1963, Jim played tenor sax with the Sliders, Moonlighters, and later the New Moonlighters which he led until 1976 when he moved to Tullahoma. He played tenor sax with the First Baptist Church Orchestra in Tullahoma from about 2011-2016 and has played tenor sax and clarinet with the South Jackson Street Band for several years. He joined the Downtown Sound Swing Band in July 2024.

Roger Woods

David Thibodeaux plays guitar, trombone, and mellophone in Down Town Sound. David enjoyed a 25-year career in music editing, arranging, and transcribing, freelancing for such publishing houses as Universal Music, Time/Warner, Provident, Word Music, BMG, and many others. He holds a bachelor's degree in music from Nicholls State University and a law degree from Belmont University. He has taught music at all levels. David currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and as the worship leader at Calvary Baptist Church in Shelbyville. A native of south Louisiana, David has lived in Middle Tennessee with his lovely wife, Toni, for nearly 30 years. David and Toni have 5 lovely children and 5 precious grandchildren.

Rick Lee has bewen playing trumpet since elementary aschool. He has a Bachelor's degree in music education and Master's degree in music conducting. He has played professionally in several bands and has many years of conducting various groups. Rick also plays drums, percussion, keyboard and enjoys singing and songwriting.As a single guy, he could probably be coaxed onto the dance floor with an invitation from a pretty woman.

Rhonda is an original member of Downtown Sound. She is a native of Wayne County, Tennessee and grew up singing and playing piano in church. She currently plays piano for Calvary Church in Shelbyville. She has previously played with other bands, most recently with the all female group Band of Pearls. She has also performed in gospel vocal groups. She also plays guitar, violin and mandolin. Rhonda has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration / Accounting. She is a Group Leader fo Quilts of Valor Foundation making quilts for veterans. She loves playing and singing swing music.

Bill is also an original member of Downtown Sound. He is a retired attorney, having served as Assistant District Attorney for the 12th Judicial District in Tennessee for 20 years. He was introduced to swing music at an early age through listening to his mother playing swing and big band music on the piano. He played guitar with a folk group from high school through college and until recently attended a yearly reunion with those musicians and childhood friends for around 50 years. It was in preparing for a folk music reunion that Bill decided to get a bass fiddle and loved it so much he's never put it down. He studied string bass with fiddle legend Jim Wood for about 10 years and a short while with Nashville musician Justin Branum. Bill also played bass with Horse Mountain String Band and for a couple of years with Tennessee Fiddle Orchestra. He also took voice with Inge Wood, a very patient and accomplished musician. He also plays guitar and tenor banjo.

Please note: all members may not appear at all performances due to conflicts or other music commitments. Occasionally the band will have a guest performer.