By Gretchen Wing

Special to the Weekly

“Uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it. Uh-huh, uh-huh, that’s the way.” Feel that groove? You will. On Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., Super Wide Groove will play its annual dance party, and Lopez Center will rock.

Unlike most bands, Super Wide Groove was a name before it was a group. As founder Bill Johnson tells it, “A friend of mine observed the slotted paneling on the side of a barn and commented, ‘That is really a super, wide groove.’ I thought, ‘What a great name for a band!’”  After securing the domain name and creating a website and a poster, Bill went in search of musical talent to fulfill his vision of a soul, funk and motown cover band. He found it in vocalists Kenny Ferrugiaro, Susie Teague, and Nick Teague; Colin Doherty on bass, Beth Geever at the keyboards, and Todd Goldsmith on percussion and vocals. Bill fills out the band on guitar and vocals.  The group operates in an environment of openness, egos left at the door. Everyone in the band contributes to the musical selections and arrangements.

The band’s groove is as super powerful as it is wide. At last year’s dance party, numbers like KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Get Down Tonight” and James Brown’s “I Feel Good” had the entire center boogying. Slow songs like Smokey Robinson’s “Ooh Baby Baby” allowed folks to catch their breath, but the feet never stopped moving. Says Bill, “I started the band to share the music that I and a zillion Baby Boomers grew up listening to.”  The crowd’s reaction last year bears this out: most songs were recognized from the opening lick, and greeted like old friends.

Besides the seven core members, Super Wide Groove shares the stage on several songs with temporary members who participate in specific rehearsals.  This year’s lineup includes singers Dylan Weber and

this author Gretchen Wing, Mark Doelman and Gary Alexander on sax, and Jaime Cordova on percussion. Dylan captures the joy and challenge of participation: “Singing Stevie Wonder is like free diving down 30 feet, then attempting to sing soulfully all the way back to the surface.”

Super Wide Groove’s singers deepen that groove with groovy dance moves of their own.

Susie Teague says, “Every rehearsal is a blast—we’re like a family, all of us laughing and joking together. Knowing that we’re creating this music to share with our beloved community for a fun dance night makes it all the better!”

Bill Johnson has an extra reason to “celebrate good times” this year, as he turns 60 just a couple of weeks before the concert.  Is it “Just [His] Imagination” that this music is irresistible?

Come find out for yourself.  Despite their love for the band, the busy members can only manage one performance a year. So if you miss Sept. 27, you will have to wait a whole calendar year to “Get Down Tonight”!