CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Cindy McElroy will be performing with the Wooten Brothers on Saturday at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center for their big Jazz in June fundraiser event.

McElroy has over 40 years of singing experience under her belt, for the last several years with the Beagles, a mainstay in the Clarksville music scene. The Wooten Brothers consists of Nashville musicians Regi and Joseph Wooten, known for their work with The Gap Band and The Steve Miller Band.

Cindy McElroy and The Beagles

“I’ve been singing since I was probably 4 years old,” McElroy told Clarksville Now. She has performed everywhere from churches to gala dances, especially with her brother Ivan’s band, The Beagles.

“My brother has always performed, and I had the blessing of being able to jump in and perform with him,” McElroy said. “We were all brothers and sisters and extended family performing as The Beagles.”

The Beagles started as a bluegrass garage band but later rebranded to rock.

The Beagles had been performing regularly since 1992 until McElroy’s sister, whose husband was part of the band, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died seven years ago.

“I always thought my sister had a great voice; she could do harmony,” McElroy said. “She really was the wind beneath our wings because she was the encourager.”

Since Heidi got sick, The Beagles stopped performing as frequently. McElroy said she and some of the other members took a page out of her sister’s book and all became encouragers to one another, and The Beagles still perform annually.

“Once (the band) went another way, and everyone was kind of doing other things, I just wanted to keep the music going,” McElroy said. “God has opened up so many opportunities to perform, and now this.”

The Wooten Brothers

McElroy told Clarksville Now that getting the Wooten Brothers involved happened in part thanks to Daniel Walker, a local musician. “He invited the Wooten Brothers years ago to Clarksville to play for a fundraising event at Manna Cafe,” McElroy said.

When Frank Lott, the director of the Customs House Museum, asked McElroy to play at their Jazz in June event, she said something overtook her.

“I was thinking about the event and the money they were trying to raise,” McElroy said. “I just blurted out ‘The Wooten Brothers, we need to get the Wooten Brothers to perform.'”

McElroy reached out to Walker, and he was able to confirm them for the event.

Joseph Wooten, who has been touring with The Steve Miller Band, told Clarksville Now that anything Walker has been involved in, he trusts that it’s for a good cause.

“This is a time where people generally often don’t think about each other enough, and good music brings people together,” Wooten said. “Music and philanthropic work go together because they both have the same goal of bringing people together and make the world better, that’s why I play music.”

About Jazz in June

The money raised from Jazz in June will support the museum’s mission.

Tickets are still available for the event, which will be Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at the museum. They are $50 and include food, drinks and dancing.

They are available at the Customs House tickets website.