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Dance the Night Away

These music events were held during the winter months at the Lakeland Center and featured an evening of dancing to a live band that specialized in music of the 30’s and 40’s. The dances were co-sponsored by WVFM, WEZY, and WONN and featured Central Florida orchestras of Jack Golly (pictured), Buddy Verdi, Paul Vesco, Tony Faro, Benny Boom Boom, and Abe Guard. Occasionally some big name entertainers would also appear on the bill, like vocalist Connie Haines and former bandleader and Glenn Miller alumnus Tex Beneke.

Representatives from the participating radio stations would be on hand to emcee the show and give away door prizes which were donated by Lakeland area merchants. In its earlier years, the dances would draw upward to a thousand people. However, by 2004 attendance had fallen dramatically and the Lakeland Center was no longer booking them.

Station History