Joe Nardone presents An Evening of Cruisin’ Favorites at the FM Kirby Center on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 7 P.M. Headlining the show is Jay and the Americans. JAY AND THE AMERICANS, started by four teenage boys in Sandy Yaguda’s basement in 1961, is one of the lasting success stories in Rock “N Roll history. Few bands have ever reached the musical heights of JAY AND THE AMERICANS. From 1962-1971, this group charted an amazing FIVE “BILLBOARD TOP 10” hits and TWELVE “TOP 20” hit records.
Comprised of founding member Sandy Yaguda (aka Sandy Deanne), original member Marty Kupersmith
(aka Marty Sanders), Darren Dowler (former lead singer of Paul Revere and The Raiders} plus the addition of the astounding lead vocals of Jay Reineke and the backing of the fantastic USA band, they faithfully recreate the authentic sound of their greatest hit songs.
JAY AND THE AMERICANS first recording was “TONIGHT” (from the musical “WEST SIDE STORY”), but their breakout hit was “SHE CRIED”. Their next chart hit was “ONLY IN AMERICA “, which they followed with hit songs ‘”COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER” and “CARA MIA”, which hit the “BILLBOARD TOP 10” during the height of the “British Invasion”. On February 11, 1964, JAY AND THE AMERICANS opened for “THE BEATLES” on their first live concert appearance in The United States. JAY AND THE AMERICANS also performed in concert with “THE ROLLING STONES”.
The hits continued with the group holding the distinct honor of recording of Neil Diamond’s hit song
“SUNDAY AND ME” and their recording of “CRYING” pays homage to the legendary ROY ORBISON, with whom they toured. The group’s version of “SOME ENCHANTED EVENING” holds the record for most copies ever sold of this musical masterpiece. The group continued their music in the late 60’s with “THIS MAGIC MOMENT”, a “TOP 10” hit, and into the early 70’s with the beautiful “WALKIN’ IN THE RAIN”. These songs are featured in JAY AND THE AMERICANS’ show, along with stories of the artists and writers who influenced this 60’s super group.
In 2002, JAY AND THE AMERICANS were inducted into the VOCAL GROUP HALL OF FAME, placing them among the greatest vocal groups in Rock and Roll history.
Coheadlining the show is The Lovin’ Spoonful. The Lovin Spoonful were America’s answer to the Beatles! The band, led by primary songwriter, John Sebastian, Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Zal Yanovsky, exploded onto the charts sending their first 7 singles soaring onto Billboard’s tip-10 charts virtually overnight. The Spoonful formed in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1965 at the Night Owl Café’ and signed to Kama Sutra Records. They appeared on every major TV show of the era: The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullabaloo and Shindig! Their first single, “Do You Believe in Magic,” flew to the top of the charts and was followed by an unprecedented string of hits including: “Daydream,” “Younger Girl,” “Summer in the City,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” “Darling Be Home Soon,” “Jug band Music,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Lovin’ You,” “Didn’t Want to Have to Do it,” “Rain on the Roof,” “Six O’clock,” “Nashville Cats,” “Coconut Grove,” and “She’s Still a Mystery (to Me).”
The band was so influential that such music legends like Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson cited them as forces of inspiration as did so many others. Paul McCartney cited “Daydream” as his inspiration for “Good Day Sunshine” and even John Lennon called them “tunesmiths!”
Today the Lovin Spoonful tours with founding member, Steve Boone, Jeff Alan Ross (Badfinger, Peter Asher), Bill Cinque (Neil Diamond), longtime drummer Mike Arturi and Rob Bonfiglio (The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson Band, Wilson Phillips). He is Carnie Wilson’s husband and Brian Wilson’s son-in-law. Together they faithfully celebrate the rich, good-time catalog of hits that made The Lovin Spoonful one of the world’s most beloved groups to emerge from the ‘60s. The Lovin Spoonful was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
About THE HOLLIES GREATEST HITS Starring TERRY SYLVESTER: Terry Sylvester is one of five people from Liverpool, England who have been inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He grew up with the other four…John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Terry started his Rock n’ Roll career as a teenager with a band called The Escorts. He then joined The Swinging Blue Jeans who had a huge hit with Hippy Hippy Shake.
In 1968, The Hollies called and asked Terry to join them when Graham Nash left the group. While with The Hollies, Terry co-wrote and was part of many Top 10 hits including: “Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)”, “He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother)”, “Sorry Suzanne” and “The Air That I Breathe”.
In 1981, Terry left The Hollies to start a successful solo career. He and The Hollies were inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Terry currently tours North America and Europe, performing many great songs and telling stories of his career.
Leave a Reply