The Blazing River Freedom Band was formed in September of 2003, then known as the Cleveland Lesbian/Gay/Allies Concert/Marching Band. The band began playing many events throughout 2004, including the Cleveland Pride Parade, a sit down concert, traveling and joining other LGBA bands for their pride parades, as well as having members travel to LGBA’s annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, where the band was formally accepted as a member of the Lesbian Gay Band Association. The band officially changed its name to the Blazing River Freedom Band in March of 2007. This was both to be more inclusive of everyone, as well as ease in name recognition. The LGBA was thrilled with the new name, as the group’s prior name was the longest acronym in the organization.

The name of the band is a reference to a significant event in Greater Cleveland in 1969. On June 22, 1969, the Cuyahoga River caught fire. The polluted river had caught fire close to a dozen times before that dating back to 1868, but the fire in 1969 grabbed much media attention. It made Cleveland, the river and Lake Erie a common punch line. Nicknames such as “Mistake on the Lake” were born from this event and it heightened awareness of environmental and pollution problems throughout the country. There was a positive effect to all of these events, though. Many credit the event as a catalyst for the environmental movement of the late 1960s, as well as the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Today, the Cuyahoga River is home to more than 40 species of fish. Beavers, blue herons and bald eagles nest along the river’s banks.