MINIDOKA SWING BAND



PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW MINIDOKA SWING BAND WEBSITE AT WWW.MINIDOKASWINGBAND.COM

Members of the Portland-based Minidoka Swing Band, formed in September 2007, as a tribute to Japanese Americans interned during World War II and to highlight the music popular in the Internment Camps. Affiliation: the Porland Japanese American Citizens League (JACL).

"We dedicate our band to our founder and creator, Robbie Tsuboi, 1949-2010, and who inspired us to continue being the Minidoka Swing Band!"

Monday, May 17, 2010

Pacific Citizen Online Story

Christine McFadden, a student at Stanford University, wrote this article as a special to the magazine Pacific Citizen.  Christine is from Portland, OR and a former member of Unite People, a Portland JACL Youth Group.   Thank you Christine!  

Sunday, May 9, 2010


Minidoka Swing Band Roberta (Robbie) Tsuboi 1949-2010:


The Minidoka Swing Band has lost their band creator. It was her insight to form a band as a tribute to the WWII Japanese Internees and the music they listened to during their internment years. She was our inspiration and leader. She involved her Unite People JACL Youth Group and invited them to join the band as band members and dancers to travel on a Pilgrimage to the Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho in 2008 as a way to remember what their parents, grandparents and other family members had to endure.  We shall never forget her leadership, her energy and her insight. She was as beautiful on the inside and she was on the outside. She fought a brave 8 month battle with cancer, but lost that battle to move to a better place. Thank you Robbie for all you have done to make this place we live in a better world for everyone.


Friday, May 7, 2010

KING TV5 Evening Magazine Online Story

The Minidoka Swing Band was interviewed by Seattle's "Evening Magazine" reporter Saint Bryan.  View his story on this tribute band.

ONE Street Party , Sept. 2009

ONE Street Party , Sept. 2009
Dancing to the music of the Minidoka Swing Band

ONE Street Party, Sept. 2009

ONE Street Party, Sept. 2009

ONE Street Part, Sept. 2009

ONE Street Part, Sept. 2009

ONE Street Party, Sept. 2009

ONE Street Party, Sept. 2009
Our vocalists, Nola Bogle & Shig Sakamoto

Buddhist Convention 2009

Buddhist Convention 2009
The band

Buddhist Convention 2009

Buddhist Convention 2009
Dancing to the Minidoka Swing Band

Buddhists Convention 2009

Buddhists Convention 2009
Todd & Elaine dance as well as play their instruments.