In the 1970s, Cleveland was, with New York and London, a key formative breeding ground for the Punk movement.
Pre-WWII big band favorites often played private parties in high society Lakewood and Rocky River at private parties on the grand estates along the lake and all the major Big Band leaders made stops at Pier Dance Hall at Geneva On-The-Lake, the Palace Theatre, and ballrooms in downtown Cleveland en route from New York to Chicago.
A lot of notable jazz and big band musicians were born in Cleveland. Recently departed songwriter Sammy Kaye grew up in the western suburb of Rocky River; Jazz trumpeter and big band leader Ray Anthony went to John Adams High School. He got kicked out of the school band for goofing off (i.e. improvising), went on to play with bands like Jimmy Dorsey and Glen Miller when they came to town and eventually got discovered somehow and well, the rest is history. He came from a very musical family and his father taught all the kids how to play (different instruments?).
Cleveland Swings! is an organization for swing dancing and music enthusiasts in Cleveland. Offers dance instruction and events.
Ernie Krivda and his Fat Tuesday Big Band plays at the Savannah in Westlake every Tuesday night.
a history of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra
In 1923, Guy had his breathrough -- he got an agent in Cleveland who booked him at the El Club where he was first billed as Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians. They next had a one-week gig in Akron, then went to London.
Bios: short, early history, long, longer