Seattle area reed man, arranger and bandleader John Holte was born on December 10, 1943 in Massachusetts. He was one of the leaders of the west coast swing band revival of the 1970s.

Over the years John Holte formed and led several bands in the Pacific Northwest including The New Deal Rhythm Band (pictured), Swingland Express, The John Holte Swing Band and Radio Rhythm Orchestra. The New Deal Rhythm Band was formed in in 1972 and played regularly at the District Tavern on Roosevelt Avenue in Seattle’s University District. The NDRB appeared in a film about jazz violinist Joe Venuti. The band’s first female vocalist was Cheryl Bentyne, who left the group in 1979 to join Manhattan Transfer.

After turning over leadership of the NDRB to Jerry Ranger, Holte formed Swingland Express which included Seattle jazz mainstay Ronnie Pierce. That band played a regular Monday night gig at the G Note Tavern on 85th Street as well as gigging regularly throughout the region. Swingland Express broke up in 1980.

Holte’s next enterprise was the John Holte Swing Band that performed regularly at the University Towers Hotel and the Old Ballard Firehouse. They were also heard at the Bite of Seattle and Bumbershoot. John Holte’s final ensemble was The Radio Rhythm Orchestra which he created in the late 1980s. Even though Holte passed away in 2003, the band still performs and plays many of Holte’s arrangements under the leadership of bass player Pete Leinonen.

Here is a link to a video of a performance by the John Holte Swing Band playing at the Tacoma, Washington Sheraton Hotel on New Year’s Eve 1984:

"NEW YEAR'S EVE"