The Doylestown Heat was formed in 2007 by a group of local musicians who were members of a jazz band affiliated with Delaware Valley College. Since the college band program took a break from late May to September, the jazz band had no opportunity to play during the heat of the summer. Filling this gap gave birth to The Doylestown Heat and the origin of its name.
The band initially performed at summer concerts held on the Bucks County Courthouse lawn each July. These concerts have been running continuously for the past 70 years sponsored by the Doylestown Lions Club. The Lions Club became the sponsors of The Doylestown Heat with the goal that the band would promote the Lions Club presence in the community and help the organization in its fund raising efforts for community service projects. All funds earned from The Doylestown Heat’s performances go directly to the Lions Club for this purpose.
The band is dedicated to offering the public a wide range of musical styles that lend themselves to the big band sound. In addition to the music of the big band era made famous by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, and others, the band plays tunes from the 20’s and 30’s, as well jazz, funk and fusion works from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond. The director of the band is David O’Neill, a music educator in the Colonial School District in Montgomery County.
The band’s members, all of them skilled musicians, come from Bucks and Montgomery counties and range in age from high school students to musical veterans. This mix of ages provides for a lively dynamic that is reflected in our music. What we all have in common is our love for music and the fun we have making it!