I have been blessed beyond my wildest imagination with the opportunity to present my music heroes to fans of my own generation.  But it shows just how powerful the music really is when generations before and after celebrating the music with us!

As a high schooler in the classic rock era of the late 70s, there was nothing like jamming to the tunes of Led Zeppelin, UFO, Jethro Tull, FOGHAT and RUSH as seven of us crammed into my friend’s Monte Carlo going home after school every day.  The seatbelts were cut out of the car for more “comfort,” so we all fit.

I sold concert T-Shirts out of my locker at Weber High School in Chicago.  We had to wear collared shirts and ties at the all-male school.  But that didn’t stop me from wearing my CHICAGO concert shirt over my plaid flannel, my dad’s oversized-knotted tie and corduroy pants.  The priests hated it, but AC/DC prevailed in math class.

But the other music form that got my attention was the funk, R&B sounds of the day.  I was a rare male high school student at the time for I liked to dance.  I got to be friendly with our cheerleaders and pom pom girls.  I was the guy that had a blast at the sock hops and school dances.  I had a career-high attendance of 19 proms, sophomore dances and turn-abouts (if you know, you know).  The jocks scored the touchdowns, but I scored on the dance floor.

Aside from the Reverend Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”, Parliament’s “Flashlight” and Heatwave’s “Always and Forever”, I gotta say my favorite group of that “style” was, The Stylistics.

I first started working with them in the late 80s while I was doing concerts at Maywood Park Racetrack.  I thought the Philadelphia group was out of my reach at the time, but my convincing of the racetrack’s owners that this would be a great group for a Saturday night after-the-races concert made the dream a reality.

The show was amazing, and every note of “Betcha By Golly Wow”, “Rockin’ Roll Baby”, “You Are Everything” and other hit after hit after hit resonated as the crowd hung on to every lyric.

Another blessing that has come to me has been the unique relationships I have fostered over my forty-plus years in the biz.  These working relationships have become true friendships of mutual respect and trust.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

A few years back, a true superstar both on and off the stage moved into St. Charles, with his lovely and equally renowned celeb-wife.  Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy put our town on the international map, and they actually told me that having the Arcada Theatre in town was one of the factors that put them over the edge to move there.

They secretly attended many shows, celebrated birthdays and anniversaries by us and many times just hung out and enjoyed the live music.  But when Donnie learned that The Stylistics were coming, he went from super-star to super-fan.

“When we were working on our songwriting and our choreography in our basements,” Donnie informed me, “The Stylistics was the group on our boom box!”

He and Jenny romantically danced in my private box as The Stylistics blasted out those smooth jams on The Arcada stage.  After the show, I took them backstage to meet the guys, and Donnie was overcome with excitement.  It was really cool to witness this wholesome exchange of mutual respect.

So the following year after I scheduled The Stylistics to come back, I let Donnie know.  He asked, “Do you think the guys would let me sing a song with them?”  I replied, “If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t even bring it to them.  But they have so much respect for you, I will definitely try to make it happen.”

Of course, they were all into it.  So plans began to unfold.  But Donnie being Donnie, he always takes things to another galaxy.

The show began as usual.  Everyone standing, swaying and singing along to “People Make The World Go ‘Round” and “I’m Stone in Love With You”.

Then one of the group’s founders stepped forward and began to speak about this group they were huge fans of.  “We can remember walking out of the studio, and they were walking in to work on their first album,” Herb Murrell said.  The crowd had no idea who he was talking about.

Was it “New Edition”?  Boyz II Men”?

Herb then excitedly introduced Donnie Wahlberg; the crowd went nuts.  But as I said, Donnie goes big-or goes home.  Who followed him out there?  The ENTIRE New Kids on the Block group!

Now I know what it sounded like when the Beatles hit the Ed Sullivan stage in 1964.  Epic.

To see both generations of music-makers hug on stage was a career moment for me.  Again, the level of mutual respect and admiration was something that will resonate with me forever. 

Then, all fourteen professionals on stage (the band and the combined nine vocalists) broke out into the classic, “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”  I don’t think I had ever witnessed an audience in sheer disbelief as I had that night.

The New Kids on the Block were selling out arenas, with thousands of screaming fans at every rare show.  But that night, the 900-seat Arcada Theatre got to hold her 90-year-old head high.

I get asked all the time what my favorite band or show has been.  I have had many over the years.  But when it comes to unexpected things just falling into place perfectly to create a memory that folks to this day still cannot believe happened, the night of October 8, 2016, in St. Charles, Illinois is at the forefront.

So the next time you are at a show at The Arcada or Des Plaines Theatres, be prepared.  You never know what may happen.  We have a huge Cher tribute coming, and I heard Cher is one of Taylor Swift’s idols.

Hmmmm….

The Stylistics return to The Des Plaines Theatre September 13.  Log onto oshows.com for tickets.