The American Legion in White Plains, NY is 100 years old! Let's have a party!
Better yet ... MAKE IT A CONCERT!! Bring in SEVEN performing acts, have it hosted by a local radio DJ, and (most importantly?) let Shelley know about it.
The
White Plains, NY Community Center has gone through many recent
make-overs. When I first came to a concert here (maybe 8 years ago), it
was a glorified gymnasium with a make-shift stage at one end. I don't
even remember a stage curtain. When covid hit, it was transformed into a
medical facility. Now it has been renovated into a proper auditorium
with full staging, lights and sound equipment.
An
entire community has come together in various ways to bring this to
fruition. I was super impressed with their line-up and could not wait to
see how it unfolded.
The
people in the Center, from security to box office to officials, are all
very helpful and particularly welcoming tonight. People are mingling
together in the audience, Military Veterans in uniforms or red, white,
and blue are smiling proudly and in the air is the very present scent of
KETCHUP. There is a Nathan's Restaurant in the Center. But come on! For
New York, the smell of ketchup exudes red, white, blue and freedom.
Dennis
Nardone of WVOX is the host and the show begins with a solo of The Star
Spangled Banner. Officials are introduced and have their say. Then we
begin the fun opening with a band called The Just Nuts Band. (I can't
wait for you to hear about the other players of tonight's show ... however,
all in good time people!)
The
Just Nuts Band hails from the Bronx, NY and includes tonight's host on
bongo drums. It is a fun start with cover songs and dancing in front of
the audience seating.
1. The Wanderer
2. My First, My Last, My Everything
3. Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel
4. Good Lovin'
As
I watch them perform, I realize that they are the ones I saw walking
around the audience, greeting people, shaking hands and hugging. They
have a following in the area or there was a large Bronx representation
watching tonight.
The CODA
Band comes out and they will be the backing music for most of the acts
tonight. I have seen them in many New York area concerts, and they just
get better with time. The musicians are a revolving group, depending on
concert needs. They have their own booking website.
The
second group is called The Chiclettes, a local girl vocal group who
perform singly or as backing vocals for others. They do both tonight. In
red-tone sequin dresses they give a tribute to the amazing women of
rock n' roll by performing some of these women's greatest hits.
1. Jump - Pointer Sisters
2. Freeway of Love - Aretha Franklin
3. Walk on By - Dionne Warwick
4. I Say A Little Prayer - Dionne and Aretha
5. Then Came You - Dionne and The Spinners
6. Proud Mary - Tina Turner
Sarah,
Susan and Deanna have strong voices with blended harmonies. Each takes
the lead, as the music warrants. They are connected with The CODA Band
and appear often together.
There
is a sudden POP as the stage crew sets up for the next performer.
While
the crew removes the offending amplifier, Dennis Nardone gets a bit
wordy with his cover-up dialogue, so this "person" keeps popping on
stage, waving, shrugging his shoulders, and trying to get Dennis to stop
talking and let him start his set. WHO IS THIS MAN IN BLACK WITH
STRIKING GRAY HAIR? The audience knows him and starts telling our host,
"Tony is ready!" "Tony is waiting!" Oh yes! He is! There is no DAWN
here, but we truly have TONY ORLANDO!
Fresh
from Mohegan Sun, Tony Orlando and his band plunged into the military
feel of the show with a story about 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole
Oak Tree'. I will shorten it for you.
Tony appeared
on a Bob Hope Armed Forces Show when they were playing not only for
military men and women, but also for the recently released Viet Nam
Prisoners of War. Hope reminded him of what these prisoners had gone
through and how much the show would mean to them. He sang 'Tie A Yellow
Ribbon,' which had only been released for a month and was shocked that
the entire audience was singing it with him ... INCLUDING THE PRISONERS OF
WAR. All except for one man who had his head bowed and was standing
still and not moving at all. Tony asked Bob Hope afterward if he had
somehow offended the man. He felt terrible about it. Hope said, "Why
don't you go ask him?" Tony did and the man replied, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I
love the song, but my shoulders were pulled out of their sockets when
they tortured me, and I cannot move my arms. I was looking down at my
feet because I was moving my big toe to the beat as that is one part of
me I can still control. My name is John McCain." John McCain continued
to tell Tony that all military personnel knew his song. It was special
to every person and their mothers as it starts with, "I'm coming home.
I've done my time."
Goose
bumps! From that point on, all proceeds from the song 'Tie a Yellow
Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree' were given to armed forces charities. It
has now totaled almost 200 million dollars. Tony could have walked off
the stage at this point, and everyone would have thought he gave a great
performance, but of course he then proceeded to sing and indeed gave a
truly great performance.
1. Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree
2. Candida
3. Knock Three Times
4. Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose
5. You Can Call Me Al
6. September
7. Black Magic Woman
8. Baby Grand
9. Coming to America
The
first four songs are self-explanatory. Tony uses Captain, his 18 year
old bass player/back-up vocals as a foil to ask him what he was taught
about Tony Orlando and Dawn. Even though Captain's father is a guitar
player in Tony's band, he claims he had never even heard of them before
he joined the band. Feeling dejected, Tony asks if he knows ANY bands
from the 70s and he replies, "I really like Paul Simon!" Hence they do a
grand rendition, with Captain singing as well of 'You Can Call Me Al'.
What is Captain's next favorite? Earth, Wind, and Fire-hence adding in
'September.' Tony likes Santana, so they do 'Black Magic Woman.' During
these last three songs, the band goes wild with Tony, using drumsticks
on stools, stage floors, scatting, guitar riff solos, and piano
runaways. One has to calm down and catch their breath so 'Baby Grand,' a
Billy Joel song, sung by Tony's brother and pianist, David, is a good
melodic choice. The final song, 'Coming to America,' is a perfect Neil
Diamond song choice for this event and has the stage and audience singing
tributes INDIVIDUALLY, to veterans from World War II (yes, there was
one), Korean Conflict, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, War in Iraq.
Afghanistan/Iraqi War. We had Veterans from each and as they stood, we
sang, "You put your life on the line for America. We want to thank
you."
One more thing before intermission ...
To all Viet Nam Veterans: WELCOME HOME!
The first act was TWO HOURS LONG! Incredible!
(Part Two tomorrow, exclusively in Forgotten Hits!)
