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| Vol. 17, No. 35 | June 25, 1998 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 35 | June 25, 1998 |
The rockin' sounds of oldies but goodies Bobby Rydell, Lesley Gore and The Shangri-Las will be heard on Wednesday, July 8, with a Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Remember concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
From Rydell's classic "Volare" to Gore's tuneful stories in "It's My Party" and "Judy's Turn to Cry" to the wild ride of The Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack," audiences can rock and sing along with these megastars of the '60s. This classic show also appeals to members of the younger generation.
Tickets for the Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Remember show are from $6 to $10 if purchased in advance, and $8-$12 if purchased on the day of the show.
Rydell's career spans several decades and encompasses every area of the entertainment world. He's been a teen idol, starred in films like Bye Bye Birdie and plays like West Side Story and made numerous television appearances throughout the world.
His recording career has earned him 34 top-40 records, which puts him in the top five of all single artists from his era. His million-selling singles include "Volare," "Wild One" and "We Got Love." Other hits include "Swingin School," "Kissin' Time" and "Forget Him." Overall, he's sold a combined total of more than 25 million records.
Rydell also has a reputation as an outstanding drummer, an agile dancer and an entertainer with an unsurpassed gift for comedy. In addition to his solo act, Rydell tours throughout the year with Frankie Avalon and Fabian in a show entitled The Golden Boys. Now in its 13th year, The Golden Boys has been featured in the ABC Inaugural Special and the American Music Awards.
Gore burst on the music scene while a junior in high school with the hit song, "It's My Party." Since that grand beginning in 1963, she has had more than two dozen chart hits and sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. With hits like "Judy's Turn to Cry," "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows," "California Nights" and "You Don't Own Me," Gore helped create the soundtrack of the '60s.
Brooklyn-born Gore was discovered by Quincy Jones and signed to Mercury Records. With Jones' expert guidance, she learned the fundamentals of writing, arranging and recording music.
She picked up her performing techniques on The Ed Sullivan Show, and fans remember her appearance in the final episode of The Donna Reed Show and her portrayal of Catwoman's sidekick on Batman.
Gore still sings her hits "as if I heard them for the first time yesterday," but she also has expanded her career to include song writing.
She was nominated for an Academy Award for the hit song, "Out Here On My Own," one of the songs she wrote for the motion picture, Fame.
Additionally, she has written songs for Dusty Springfield, Patti Austen, Bernadette Peters and Irene Cara. Currently, she is developing an animated feature based on The Merchild by Robin Morgan.
Known as "the punkiest girl group of the '60s" The Shangri-Las was formed by four young women from Queens, N.Y. After the untimely death of one of the members, the group gained fame as a trio with its imitations of then-current hits.
The group came to the attention of record producer George (Shadow) Morton, who got them a contract with the Red Bird Label. Morton wrote and produced "Remember (Walkin' In the Sand)," a song that quickly rose to number five on the charts and gave the group a national following.
The follow-up song, "The Leader of the Pack," became an instant classic that went straight to number one and stayed there for weeks. Other hits include "Give Him a Great Big Kiss," "Out in the Streets" and "I Can Never Go Home Anymore."
Today the Shangri-Las tour the country on the concert and club circuit, performing at such places as Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall.
Most recently, the group performed with Joan Rivers in the main room at Trumpworld in Atlantic City.
Fans of country music will delight in the offerings of the Country Music Fest, scheduled for Thursday, July 9, when Ricochet, The Lynns, Matt King and The Thompson Brothers begin performing at 6 p.m.
Presented in cooperation with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, the Country Music Fest is sponsored by Comcast, Froggy 99.9 FM and Pepsi for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Tickets for the Country Music Fest are $10 to $15 in advance and $12 to $17.50 on the day of the show.
Winner of top new vocal group of the year awards from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Weekly Magazine, Ricochet is a band known for its soaring harmonies and soulful unity.
The band's self-titled first album made it the top-selling group in country music for 19 straight weeks and went gold. The second album, Blink of an Eye, promises to be equally successful.
Hits from the first album, produced by Columbia Records Nashville, include "What Do I Know?" "Daddy's Money" and "Love Is Stronger Than Pride." The group's current hot hit is "He Left A Lot To Be Desired."
Among the group's other honors are being named: Group of the Year by the readers' poll of Radio & Records, second Top New Country Artists by Billboard magazine and Most Valuable Performers for 1996 by Radio & Records.
The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Heath Wright, drummer/vocalist Jeff Bryant, bassist Greg Cook, keyboardist Eddie Kilgallon, steel guitarist Teddy Carr and Junior Bryant on fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
"They are, in my mind, the best band in country music today," says Mike Kraski of Sony Nashville. "I just don't see how it could get any better than to have that depth of talent, that kind of work ethic and that kind of personality and charm all in one mix of ingredients."
With the release of its newest album, Blame It on the Dog, The Thompson Brothers Band is shedding a new light on country music. Lead guitarist Andy Thompson, drummer Matt Thompson and bassist Mike Whitty put on a stage show that gets the adrenaline pumping.
Their first album, Cows on Main Street, was a success that had them playing arenas and in line-dance bars. Their newest single, "Back on the Farm," is an example of layered, four-part vocals reminiscent of such legendary groups as the Hollies.
The Lynns are proud of their legendary country lineage, but it has been sheer talent that has brought these twin daughters of Loretta Lynn to the forefront of the country music industry. Peggy and Patsy made up their minds to stand on their own artistic merits, and the two spent two years playing at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville, performing as "The Honk-A-Billies," never telling anyone who their mother was. Warner/Reprise records signed them to a record label without even knowing about their relationship to Loretta.
Their self-titled debut album, The Lynns, has songs written by the twins and has gained rave reviews. A reviewer for Billboard magazine recently wrote, "The Lynns are gifted songwriters and have lovely voices, as the beautiful harmonies on this record demonstrate. However, as good as this single sounds, it just does not do justice to this act's incredible live personality. Those who've seen them perform live know this is just the first taste of something very special."
Their most recent single, "Woman to Woman," was featured on the soundtrack of the Steven Seagal movie, Fire Down Below.
Matt King is a relative newcomer to the country music scene, but his story is already unfolding like a fairy tale. Following his instincts, and with a turn of what he calls "good luck," he found himself performing before a small but impressive audience that included executives of Atlantic Records.
It was "A Woman's Tears," King's latest single off his Five O'Clock Hero album, that immediately convinced Atlantic Records that they were listening to greatness.
Son of a North Carolina bluegrass musician and a gospel-pianist, King was 10 years old when he met bluegrass legend Bill Monroe and decided to become a big star like him. In his high school days, he played lead guitar in several rock bands, but other band members thought everything he sang came out with a country sound.
As music critic Robert K. Opermann says, "The understated eloquence of his debut album throws the spotlight where it belongs, on the simple dignity of great country songs performed by a great country singer."
There will be many familiar faces on stage Friday, July 10, when the Missoula Children's Theatre (MCT) presents The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen at the Lewes festival.
Approximately 60 local actors in grades K-12 will be part of the show, and more local youth will work as assistant directors and stagehands for performances scheduled at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It's all part of MCT's unique touring company that helps children develop life skills through participation in the performing arts.
The company will roll into southern Delaware on Monday, July 6, and hold auditions for aspiring thespians from 10 a.m.-noon, in the theatre of Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. No advance preparation is necessary and those auditioning should plan to spend the full two hours. Some of those cast will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following.
Rehearsals will be held in the theatre all week from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. until the performance on July 10. Among the roles to be cast locally are that of young Hans, the Players, the Villagers, the Misers, Ida and a bouquet of mischievous Flowers. MCT strives to teach lessons in art that can be carried over into life. In every MCT production, girls are equal to boys, the disabled become able, the shy experiment with bravery, the slow are rehearsed to perfection, the gifted become part of the whole.
The company's residency at the Summer Arts Festival is sponsored by Nicola Pizza in cooperation with the Sussex County Arts Council.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 on the day of the show, and free to children under the age of 12. For more information on the MCT residency, call Becky Craft at the Arts Council office, (302) 856-5421.
With fireworks to light up the night and music to light up your soul, the Delaware Symphony will present its annual Cape Concert at last night of the Summer Arts Festival on Saturday, July 11. The concert is sponsored by PNC Bank
Tenative program for the symphony includes everything from the Royal Fireworks Music to the "Fort Delaware March" to the music of Billy Joel, "Yesterday" by the Beatles and a medley from A Chorus Line.
The Delaware Symphony is the only fully professional orchestra in the state. Under the baton of Stephen Gunzenhauser since 1979, the symphony presents more than 50 concerts each season from October through May. Serving all of Delaware and surrounding areas, the symphony, which performs for some 50,000 persons a year, is classified as one of the top regional orchestras in the country.
Advance tickets for the Cape Concert are $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Tickets on the day of the concert are $14 for adults and $8 for children under 12. Patron seating is available by calling (302) 855-1620.
