The Band

Mary Sigalas started singing while growing up in Orange County, California. She wasn't far from Disneyland and its influence, so she attributes her utter cheesy-ness to being part of a youth performance group that turned out at least one Mousekateer. Musical theater, getting her music degree in college, endless bands and performances through the years mark her as a musical "lifer." The last nearly 25 years she's been dedicated to the genre of jazz and its impact on society.

Mary credits her old-Hollywood style and performance sensibilities to influence from her mother who performed in LA and Hollywood in her youth.

Sigalas' guitar-playing grandfather on her father's side was the ring-leader in that side of the large, mostly Italian, family - though he himself was Greek. She grew up going to family parties with her grandpa and uncles playing as the band. Mary sang a song or two - the hook! Music, laughter and dancing with young and old was a celebration of life! This vibe has been her favorite throughout the years. It's no wonder that this collaborative and nostalgic type of jazz she enjoys with the Hot Hotty-Hots leaves audiences feeling transported to another time.

Dan plays double bass in Mary and the Hot Hotty-Hots. He started playing bass later in life than many—learning electric bass guitar in his twenties, double bass in his thirties, and starting with swing jazz and klezmer in his forties. He still plays all these genres—indie rock, klezmer, jazz, folk—and more and is still learning!

Many many years after high school, Dan picked up the trombone and tried playing again. First, some rock ‘n’ roll,  and now he’s hooked on early jazz. Playing in Mary & the Hot Hotty-Hots has been a welcomed challenge, and he loves trying something new every gig.

Mark, originally from Long Island, moved to the Athens area in 2000.  Primarily a rock drummer of the garage band variety, he began playing in Victor Charlie shortly after arriving in Athens and since then has been honored to play with many excellent musicians in various styles.  A lover of jazz, Mark is particularly thrilled to play behind Mary with the Hot Hotty-Hots.  You can also see him around town playing the music of Radiohead with (Nice Dream), southern rock and blues with Deep Roots, Soul and R&B with Royal Blue, and Irish music with Repent @ Leisure. 

Josh Klein graduated from UGA in 2018 with a degree in trumpet performance and quickly jumped into the vibrant Athens and Atlanta music scenes. His playing spans many genres — including classical, jazz, pop, americana, and more — as he explores the trumpet's role in a wide variety of settings. When he's not playing the horn, Josh performs kirtan, a style of Indian call-and-response music, with his wife where he sings and plays the traditional drum called mridanga.

Ben began playing at age 10 and was drawn to jazz music almost immediately. His influences are Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Pete Fountain, Benny Goodman.

Ben has played gigs all over the Atlanta area, the Carolinas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Canada.

He also enjoys throwing steel tip darts and playing sand volleyball.