We haven’t had a concert review from Shelley Sweet- Tufano in quite a while now … but we’ve got one for you today!!!
But first …
Thanks, Kent!
It was so nice to be mentioned in your end of year comments. I do not consider myself noteworthy in the success of your blog, but it certainly made me feel good to see my name in print.
And may I say that the unplanned year seems to be flowing together in incredible synchronicities ... it may be our best yet ...
I wish we did not have to pepper it with death notices, but at the same time, the remembrances and information posted is incredible reading. (Thank goodness the comments are posted on Sunday! During the week, it would hard to read them in one sitting.)
Shelley
Bowzer's Rock and Doo-Wop Concert
During the month of December, Bowzer hosted his December holiday concerts in Florida via virtual camera. After receiving back surgery on a "Frisbee" disc, he contracted a staff-infection and has been on the recovery end since that time. Did he make it to his annual Mohegan Sun January arena show? HOT DOG! YEAH, HE DID! Much to his doctor's dismay, he refused to forgo this event, even though he is working at 50% capacity. His doctor required just one set of directions: NO BLT!!! Hey, that is one of my favorite sandwiches! Oh wait! It stands for NO BENDING, LIFTING OR TWISTING. Only people I write about on this page would be given THAT prescription.
I am attending the concert with my DJ friend Ken Michaels and his family. Unexpectedly, Nat Weiss' stepson, Shaun, shows up at the doors with his wife. Conversation ensues and secrets discussed. I CAN tell you that Pete Best is coming over for three or four appearances in the Long Island area, but due to the unavailability of his band, will not perform at the shows. There will a Beatles cover band and then Pete will entertain with stories and talk.
Having worked with Bowzer's team in CT, on the Truth in Music Laws, I am asked for clarification on what determines the validity of certain groups. Without discussing each act separately, here is the basis ...
Truth in Music was NEVER meant to prohibit the performance of 50s and 60s material as an art form. Just the opposite! We want to keep the music going, but we want those who started the music to receive the performance fees and NOT a group of people who decided to make money off another's name. This was also taking work away from the original performers of these songs. There are legal exceptions to the performing rights. If a name was bequeathed by originals to others or if someone performed with the originals and wishes to continue after all others are gone, they can claim legal ownership. Notice, I say LEGAL. Let's see if looking at who appeared today helps clear things up.
Johnny Farina of Santo and Johnny was scheduled to open the show, but sadly, his wife passed away this week so a 28 year-old singer who took the stage as an 11 year-old in 2007 and asked Bowzer if he could sing a song with him ... Kid Kyle ... comes onstage and belts out 'Goody Goody'. He follows it up with 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' with help from Bowzer and one of his Stingrays. Dynamite packed into a small body.
Cleveland Still, at 88, is still performing with The Dubs. The lead singer, Leslie Anderson, has been working with Still for 39 years. In the 1980s, the Dubs split into two groups with Richard Blandon and Cleveland Still each forming their own 'Dubs'. Cleveland's group is the only one continuing to perform. With the help of Rocky and the Rollers, they recreate their three big hits:
Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely
Chapel of Dreams
Could This Be Magic
I recently saw a performance of Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish where Gene was helped out and performed sitting on a stool. So it is with Cleveland Still, so it will be with another, later in this show. The last concert Dick Richards of The Comets performed, I saw him go up a ramp with a walker. And then he sat at his drums and HOLY SMOLEY! the roof came off The Arena. For many, as long as we want them (and I truly do), they will get to the stage and they WILL make me smile.
As a 13 year-old she joined the group, The Crystals. At 15, she recorded for Phil Spector. And today ... I WANT HER OUTFIT! ... Gold and black satin with off-the-shoulder, one-sleeve, floating around her active frame, she moves from side to side on the stage as she relates stories and sings songs. I am talking about LaLa Brooks.
And Then He Kissed Me
Da Doo Ron Ron
Proud Mary
That is 'Proud Mary' Tina Turner style I'll have you know! Dancing, foot shifting, wild head and arm gestures create a moment of freedom where I wish they had not placed me in the first row of a balcony section as I wished to jump up and dance with her. In this case, any large movements on my part would have landed me on the cement floor below. Or with good fortune, on someone's lap. Fabulous, girl!
A 9/11 firefighter, Afghanistan Veteran and fabulous vocalist, Frank Pizarro was hand-picked by Herb Reed to replace Tony Williams as lead singer of his Platters. They bring tears to many eyes as they harmonize with three of the longest lasting Platters hits.
My Prayer
The Great Pretender
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
I am not sure Frank needed a mic, even in this 10,000 seat capacity arena. He was clear as a bell and strong, hitting me between the eyes in a side balcony.
Even at one of his lowest points in strength, Bowzer just has to play Chopin's Etude in E Major as a dedication to his mother, Bessie Baumann. He apologized for it not being up to his usual standard, but it was still a beautiful tribute. Thank you, Bowzer, for being one who never gives up.
We need to not only recognize Rock and Roll, but the Mexican California sound. Whereas Elvis Presley was the general King of Rock and Roll, Ritchie Valens was the King in the Hispanic Southern California neighborhoods. So, in runs (literally with guitar in tow), Chris Montez. It has been years since I have seen Chris and I am excited to see what he does today. Chris attended high school with The Beach Boys and, after having his name changed by his record company from Zeke to Chris, proceeded to rock the Hispanic input with his charm and personality. A man named Alpert (yes, Herb) was dissatisfied with keeping Chris locked into R&R and so encouraged him to sing a song called 'Call Me.' Thus Chris was able to float between love style ballads and harder hitting rock.
Let's Go
Call Me
La Bamba
The More I See You
Let's Dance
Per tradition, Chris raced off stage and around the side to join people in the audience dancing to his finale, 'Let's Dance'! He is pretty good, twirling women around and gliding from one to the other across the floor and back again to race back onstage. He finished 'Let's Dance' to enthusiastic roars from the still-dancing audience.
I always enjoy Jay Siegel and The Tokens. So many memories with their songs past and present. Less than a year ago, Bill Reid passed away and to know that they are here today means that they have a new bass singer. That singer's name is Gabriel Dassa, an orthopedic surgeon by trade. Not a bad idea to have on a Doo Wop Rock concert. Kurt (Frenchie) Yaghjian is there with Jay Siegel and they are ready to begin with The Tokens’ first hit: Tonight I Fell In Love. My favorite, and their newest hit I might add (1967) appears in the middle of their set: Portrait of My Love.
Here is their list.
Tonight I Fell In Love
I Will Always Love You
Portrait Of My Love
Medley: See You In September (The Happenings, produced by Jay Siegel) and One Fine Day (The Chiffons, produced by Jay Siegel)
The Lion Sleeps Tonight. AS RECORDED, IN THE KEY OF F.
The audience trades vocal parts with Jay and finishes off the high pitched wim-oh-wehs before they release Jay, Kurt and Gabe to the sanctity of the stage wings.
What!? Bowzer says "See you in 15 minutes." The first act has been two and a half hours! This year we are surpassing our three hour concert mark for sure.
15 MINUTES LATER
Fortunately, Bowzer is feeling fit enough to appear with The Stingrays, opening the second act. "The Kid" of Sha Na Na, Johnny Contardo, joins him and they start us up again on a whirlwind song cycle.
Blue Moon
Runaway
A Ballad from Grease
Unchained Melody - BUT hepped-up and using synchronized gestures to make it more difficult and extremely entertaining.
Hand Jive
I was able to hand jive from my seat even though I was unable to stand up as the floor crowd did. Without moving at all from side to side, Bowzer completed this last song with Johnny and The Stingrays. Despite medicinal side-effects, soreness and restraints on his movements, Bowzer not only made the show go on, but lead it successfully for a little over four hours!
In four months, Harold Winley will turn 90 years old. He is here today as the remaining leader of The Clovers. Everything I read about them hails them as exalted leaders of the R&B scene. Their hits are easily recognizable. We sing along to the first and third song easily, but the second song is acapella and strung though with harmonic tempos. As an audience, it is best for us to keep the peace by remaining silent.
Devil or Angel
Blue Velvet
Love Potion #9
The progression of 'Love Potion,' being performed from group to group, has kept it in the minds and hearts of so many. Even Rocky and The Rollers were frozen in silence during 'Blue Velvet.' Being able to harmonize and maintain the tonal qualities while holding on to these lengthy note strains is difficult ... at any age.
What!? NO Limbo Rock??!!
I heard this said after Chubby Checker's closing performance for the show. The fast tempo of the 13 songs that 'I am no longer Chubby' Chubby Checker used here would really not have allowed for the slower pace of 'The Limbo Rock.' Plus, we would have had people setting up their own limbo lines and calling in the medics could have finalized the show. He performed all songs running from one to the other in a dance party effect; not stopping between any and only talking when he had audience members taking the spotlight, dancing on stage. The word 'TWIST' appeared in at least half the songs. There was a tribute to Fats Domino, The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly and The Crickets, ending with two of his signature hits. As I said, there were 13 different songs that I could count, and I could not write fast enough to name them all. The pace was not quite warp speed, but certainly as much as lightning speed.
Here is what I can safely remember.
1.
2.
3.
4. All four were songs about the twist
5. I'm Walkin'
6. Blueberry Hill
7. Slow Twistin'
8. It's Pony Time
9. I Saw Her Standing There
10. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
11. Peggy Sue
12. Let's Do the Twist
13. Let's Twist Again
Chubby Checker brought his musicians, The Wildcats, to help him blast us out of our seats and comfort zones and into twisting the night away. He often performs in The Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun, but this was his first appearance in The Arena; which makes it his first time in Bowzer's show here. It takes a lot of stamina to be an audience member for Bowzer's production!
And now, it is time for 'Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight'! Thank you one and all.
One after-note: Next year's show is on Sunday, January 14th, and Kenny Vance will close the show. Kenny has just finished a documentary called: 'Heart & Soul,' which will air on February 14th.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
