Published in the June 22, 2016 edition

R&R 2000 BIG BAND members provide dance music from the 1940s to men and women who come to the Lynnfield Senior Center on the second Tuesday of every month. (Gail Lowe Photo)

R&R 2000 BIG BAND members provide dance music from the 1940s to men and women who come to the Lynnfield Senior Center on the second Tuesday of every month. (Gail Lowe Photo)

By GAIL LOWE

LYNNFIELD — On the second Tuesday of every month, 17 musicians of the R&R 2000 Big Band arrive at the Lynnfield Senior Center at about 9:15 a.m. with their trumpets, saxophones, trombones and a few other instruments.

While the musicians are tuning up, senior citizens from Lynnfield, Reading, Saugus, Lynn and other nearby cities and towns are finding their friends, pouring themselves a cup of coffee and eyeing the crowd in search of someone to dance with.

PAULA HARRIMAN AND JOE MARKOWSKI took a spin around the dance floor during a recent Tuesday morning Big Band Dance held at the Senior Center while R&R 2000 performed music from the 1940s. (Gail Lowe Photo)

PAULA HARRIMAN AND JOE MARKOWSKI took a spin around the dance floor during a recent Tuesday morning Big Band Dance held at the Senior Center while R&R 2000 performed music from the 1940s. (Gail Lowe Photo)

That’s what it’s all about on this second Tuesday of the month — seniors dancing to the music Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Glenn Miller immortalized in the 1940s.

Founder of R&R 2000 Mario Carrabba, who also plays lead alto sax, pointed out one of his trumpeters — Frank Higgins — who is about to turn 100 years old in another few months.

“He drives himself around every day and is ‘instrumental’ to the quality of the band,” said Carrabba, clearly impressed with Higgins’ ability not only to play in his band but get around on his own.

The Big Band sound is popular not only with seniors but with the younger set, too. Lindy-hop groups gather all over the Greater Boston area to have fun while burning the rug, not to mention calories.

In fact, the people on the dance floor at the Lynnfield Senior Center are, for the most part, slim and trim, likely due to the fact that they keep moving.

R&R 2000 starts its Tuesday morning repertoire with ballads like “There, I’ve Said It Again,” said Carrabba. Then the tempo quickens a bit with songs like “Bei Mir Bitsu Shein.” After about 90 minutes of music, the band ends with a fast number such as Tommy Dorsey’s “Opus One.” But in between, the rhythm can range from Latin to waltz and polka to Hully Gully.

THE LADIES at the Lynnfield Senior Center are asking, “Where are all the single men? We want to dance!” (Gail Lowe Photo)

THE LADIES at the Lynnfield Senior Center are asking, “Where are all the single men? We want to dance!” (Gail Lowe Photo)

Saugus resident Joe Markowski, soon to be 89, loves to dance and is a master of them all – line dance, jitterbug, waltz – and on Tuesday, June 14 he spotted Paula Harriman, a great-grandmother also from Saugus, sitting on the sidelines. But she wasn’t sitting for long. When Joe asked Paula to dance, she was up on her feet in a matter of seconds.

“Joe’s a good guy,” said Paula, who also enjoys bowling and other activities. “He gives all the single ladies a chance to get on the dance floor.”

Another group of women seated at a table at the back of the room wanted to know where all the single men are.

“We need more men to dance with,” said one who requested anonymity. “Joe gives us hope that they’re out there.”

Carrabba praised the senior center’s Director, Linda Naccara, for her assistance and generosity.

“There’s a 50–50 raffle before the dance,” he said. “Half goes to the winner and she gives the other half to the band. Not all centers do that. We really appreciate it because sheet music and other supplies can be expensive. Linda has treated us like kings and queens for 10 years.”

Band members include Bob Gove, Fred Hammond, Roger Wonson, Ken Savory and Carrabba on saxophone; Marcia Gove, Ben Sherman and Carl Erickson on trombone; Gil Norwood, Frank Higgins, Fred Young and John Barbieri on trumpet; Don Pendleton on guitar and Mel D’Amico on drums.

Other members of the group include Jeannine Lynch, Dan Murphy and Pierre Lemmeaux.

Before the seniors departed for lunch, Carrabba announced that there will be no Big Band dancing for the month of July, but the dances will resume in August.

The Lynnfield Senior Center is located at 525 Salem St. There is no charge to attend the dance. As on other days, lunch ($2 for residents, $3 for non-residents) is served after the dance ends. For more information or lunch reservations, call 781-598-1078.