Mission Statement

CLGACMB, Inc. is a non-profit musical arts organization comprised of men and women dedicated to the promotion of the arts throughout the community, state and country. Membership in the performance ensembles of CLGACMB Inc. shall be opened to all individuals without regard to sex, race, creed, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, veteran status, color or musical ability. CLGACMB, Inc. is dedicated to the promotion of music as a medium of communication amongst the people, while improving the quality of artistry and musicianship of its members. By stimulating public interest in the unique art form of community band music in our culture, CLGACMB, Inc. strives for excellence while improving all lives through music, one note at a time.

why we chose 'blazing river'

The name of the band is a reference to a significant event in Greater Cleveland in 1969. On June 22, 1969, the Cuyahoga River caught fire. The polluted river had caught fire close to a dozen times before that dating back to 1868, but the fire in 1969 grabbed much media attention. It made Cleveland, the river, and Lake Erie a common punch line. Nicknames such as “Mistake on the Lake” were born from this event and it heightened awareness of environmental and pollution problems throughout the country. There was a positive effect to all of these events, though. Many credit the event as a catalyst for the environmental movement of the late 1960’s, as well as the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the Cuyahoga River is home to more than 40 species of fish. Beavers, blue herons, and bald eagles nest along the river’s banks.

We chose the name for the band, as the fire is something that is never forgotten about Cleveland. And like many Clevelanders, we felt a need to take back that term and make it positive. By referring to the river as “blazing”, we could easily remind people of the events of 1969, while also showing what a powerful event that was, and how much it changed the world we all live in. It was also much more fun than just calling ourselves the “Cleveland Freedom Band” or “Cleveland Pride Band”.

For more information on the Cuyahoga River Fire of 1969, please visit:
NY Times
Cleveland Plain Dealer

history

The Blazing River Freedom Band was formed in September 2003 (then named the Cleveland Lesbian Gay Allies Concert Marching Band) by Brandyn J. Metzko, a musical transplant from San Francisco. After months of recruiting to no avail, the band had decided to hang up its triangle in December of 2003. Fortunately, at the LGBA’s urging, the band resumed rehearsals in February 2004 and shortly began to grow.

In April of 2004, the CLGACMB played its first gig at the DiverCity Arts Show at Bounce Nightclub in Cleveland. The show was seen by hundreds of people from around the Cleveland area and word of mouth sparked much more interest within the community. Throughout the months of May and June in 2004, The CLGACMB continued to recruit new members, culminating with a performance in the Cleveland Pride Parade with their sister band from Cincinatti. This was the first time in Cleveland’s history that there was a band in the annual Pride Parade. Also in June of that year, five of the members of the CLGACMB joined the Queen City Rainbow Band to play Chicago Pride, marking the band’s first venture outside its home city. In July, the band joined the BASSically TREBLEmakers of Rochester, New York to play Rochester Pride. Membership continued to grow throughout the summer months. By September the band had twenty members. Four members of the band and one support member traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November 2004 for the annual LGBA Conference. It was a major performing experience for all involved-- the concert was conducted by the legendary Alfred Reed. December 2004 brought about a milestone for the CLGACMB. The first sit-down concert, which featured selections from the holiday season, was performed at the lovely Archwood United Church of Christ in Cleveland.

Throughout 2005, the CLGACMB continued to grow. The band performed three concerts that year, as well as performing at the Berea Animal Shelter Pet Parade. Members of the band also performed in pride parades in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Rochester. The band also found its current rehearsal and performance home, the Franklin Circle Christian Church.
October 2005 brought about another performance that the band would continue annually, the John T. Carey Memorial AIDS Walk. The band has provided entertainment for this event every year since 2005. In November 2005 the band became a full member of the LGBA and traveled to Palm Springs, California for the annual conference. Four concerts were performed in the 2005-2006 season as well as marching performances in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Rochester.

The CLGACMB hosted the LGBA in April 2006 for their Mid-Year Meetings and invited the LGBA board to perform in the spring gala concert, Stage and Silver Screen. The band also performed a holiday concert during the month of December, as well as various pride parades throughout the Midwest in June. Members of the group also ventured to Chicago to perform with LGBA at Gay Games 2006.
2007 brought many changes to the band. The group’s founding member and director moved to San Francisco. The remaining members of the band quickly regrouped, and the band hosted their first invitational event with member bands from the LGBA. In March, the band officially changed the name of the performing ensemble to the Blazing River Freedom Band. This was both to be more inclusive of everyone, as well as ease in name recognition. The LGBA was thrilled with the new name change, as the group’s prior name was the longest acronym in the organization.

In 2007, the band performed three concerts at FCCC in Cleveland. They also performed at pride parades in Cleveland, Columbus, Lansing, and Indianapolis. The band was also invited to play for the American Veterans for Equal Rights conference that was held in Cleveland that year. In October, six members of the BRFB traveled to St Louis for the LGBA annual conference.

In 2008, the band performed two concerts at FCCC, as well as at pride parades in Chicago, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. The band was invited to play in a summer concert series at Halloran Park in Cleveland to commemorate the opening of a new gazebo. Members of the BRFB traveled to NYC to march in the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade for the LGBA annual conference.

why lgbt bands?

Parades have become an integral part of Pride celebrations across the country. A parade needs music. Tommy Casarona, of the Blazing River Freedom Band states, “What’s a parade without a marching band?”

Gay marching bands have existed since 1978 when bands were formed in San Francisco, Houston, and Los Angeles. In September of 1982 the leaders of eight independent bands from across the United States met in Chicago and agreed to form the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America (LGBA). The original LGBA member bands were from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

As an LGBT community organization we can support our own community and enhance and entertain at events of other organizations, much in the way that the men’s and women’s choirs have long been a staple part of our gay culture.

Why should the band be gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender?
Gay bands help break down barriers between the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the larger community. Because adult bands are so much a part of mainstream American culture, and because we are visible as a lesbian, gay and bisexual organization, we reinforce the point that lesbians, gay men and bisexuals of both sexes should participate fully in American life and culture. Music knows no sexuality. It is universal to us all, a major component of our humanity. By sharing our music with the community at large, we reinforce the fact that our “lifestyle” is no different than anyone else’s.

Many members of the queer bands across the country have shared the feeling that the band, whether in school, or in the gay community, provided a sense of family and bonding. In school, band members may have been considered “geeks” or “sensitive creative types.” In addition, for closeted teens, the band may be a “place they could find refuge.” All the better reason to find a group, where as adults, gay musicians can continue to enjoy performing music, and at the same time enjoy the camaraderie of other gay people.

become a fan