Doo-wop legends hosting mega concert

CERRITOS - "The Best of Doo-Wop," an ensemble show featuring acts such as Chris Montez, Brian Hyland and The Duprees, will play the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 18.Tickets range from $30-$75, although the $75, $65 and $50 seats are sold out. The Duprees had a series of hits records in the early '60s, injecting new life into classic love songs such as the Top 40 hits "Have You Heard," "My Own True Love," "Why Don't You Believe Me" and "You Belong to Me," which was an overnight sensation. Embraced for its pre-rock pop standards rich with New Jersey street-corner harmony, The Duprees were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. Jimmy Gallagher & The Passions rocked the doo-wop world with the million-selling single "Just to Be With You," "Gloria," "I Only Want You," "This Is My Love" and "Made for Lovers." The group has appeared at major venues, including Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Nassau Coliseum and the Paramount Theatre. Greatly influenced by Latin-flavored music, Chris Montez charmed fans and critics with "Let's Dance," which soared to number four on the Billboard Hot 11 charts. One of the leading rockers in the Los Angeles Latino community after the tragic death of Ritchie Valens, Montez delivered the hits "Some Kinda Fun," "Call Me" and "There Will Never Be Another You." Montez has toured with Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, The Platters and Smokey Robinson. When she was 14, Kathy Young was discovered in the audience of an L.A. teen dance program headed by deejay and game show host Wink Martindale. Weeks later, she made a permanent mark on the music industry with the No. 1 song "A Thousand Stars," which achieved Gold-record status. Young followed with the singles "Honest I Do," "Happy Birthday Blues" and "Magic Is the Night," which all landed on music charts. The young songstress toured North America with an array of music legends, including Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley, Connie Francis, Ray Charles and Neil Sedaka. The evening's lineup also includes Brian Hyland, who climbed to the top of the Billboard charts with the novelty song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini." He followed up with more hits, including "Sealed With a Kiss," "Ginny Come Lately" and "Gypsy Woman." Concert time is 8 p.m. For tickets, go online to cerritoscenter.com or call (562) 467-8818.

********** Published: Dec. 12, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 35