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| Vol. 17, No. 6 | Oct. 9, 1997 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 6 | Oct. 9, 1997 |
Open to the public, as well as students and alumni, the concert is one of the many activities planned for Homecoming Weekend, including a carnival, pep rally, alumni reception, a run/walk, sports events, special exhibitions, college and reunion tailgates and the annual Goal Post Party, not to mention the premier event: the Fightin' Blue Hens football battle with the College of William and Mary.
Jill Quale and John Wilson, popular morning disc jockeys from WSTW, will serve as masters of ceremonies for the show.
KC and the Sunshine Band is one of the most recognizable names from the disco craze of the '70s. The band's memorable hits include "Get Down Tonight" and "That's The Way (I Like It)." Other number one singles "Boogie Shoes," and "I'm Your Boogie Man" still stand as milestones of the disco age.
KC, otherwise known as Harry Wayne Casey, garnered a total of nine Grammy nominations, winning three of them, including two for his work on the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack.
The group's records sold 75 million copies, keeping it on a winning streak that lasted into the '80s. Back then, the band was the most successful promulgator of the boisterous, tropical funky dance music known as the Miami Sound. With funky, warm and vibrant tones, the brass-oriented disco flavor that composed the backbone of KC and the Sunshine Band incorporated many sounds while developing a style all its own.
The Marvelettes also hold an important place in music history-as the group that caused Motown to change its focus from pure blues to the smoothly orchestrated harmonic sound for which it became famous.
The Marvelettes' first album, "Please Mr. Postman," was one of the first to transcend racial lines, hitting the pop charts and selling 3 million records in a crossover market. Their sound led to Motown concentrating on similar groups like the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops and other groups with the new Motown sound. It was a sound that would totally dominate music charts for four years until the Beatles hit the music scene.
During the band's reign at the top of the charts, the Marvelettes had more than a dozen hits, eight of which went top 10, including "Don't Mess With Bill," "Beechwood 4-5789," "When You're Young and in Love," and "My Baby Must Be a Magician."
At times, the group has had more than three singers, but the originators were Wanda Rogers, Gladys Horton and Katherine Shaffner. In the early years of the group, family ties forced all three to leave at various times, although Rogers and Horton still make special guest appearances with the group today. Carefully chosen and highly talented replacements kept the act at the top of the charts, even when personnel changed.
Today, the Marvelettes present a spectacular show that includes the big hits interspersed with versions of some great standards.
The group's highly polished, choreographed and humorous act is a real crowd pleaser.
Tickets for the concert, sponsored by PNC Bank, are $14 in advance, $13 for groups of 10 or more and $16 the day of the concert. For ticket information, call UD1-HENS or send e-mail to AlumNet@mvs.udel.edu.
For more information on Homecoming Weekend, contact the Office of Alumni and University Relations at 831-2341 or via e-mail at AlumNet@mvs.udel.edu or visit the homecoming web site at www.udel.edu/alumni.
-Beth Thomas
