Our headline artist is the legendary Ben E. King accompanied by his band. Mr. King has enjoyed a long recording and performing career that began as a youngster in Harlem. He sang lead for one of America's most beloved groups, The Drifters, when they hit the top of the pop charts in 1959. "There Goes My Baby," which he co-wrote, "Save The Last Dance For Me," currently a hit covered by Michael Buble, "Dance With Me, " and "This Magic Moment" were among the groups most successful hits and are widely credited as having a profound influence on the soul music of the sixties. After leaving The Drifters for a solo career in 1961, his first single "Spanish Harlem" was a top ten hit. His best known - and signature song - is "Stand By Me," a timeless classic which remains today one of the pop era's most recognizable songs.
Singer, songwriter and international star, Mr. King still tours the United States, Europe and the Far East extensively. His recent collaborations with regional symphony orchestras, as well as his forays into Jazz and Blues recordings are testament to his versatility. He is, indeed, no stranger to us, having headlined many of our successful Town Day and Juke Box Saturday Night events as well as being the featured performer at such well known venues as Harborlights (Bank of America Pavilion), City Hall Plaza, Symphony Hall and the Hatch Shell on the esplanade.
Besides his busy schedule, he is chairman and CEO of the "Ben E. King Stand by Me Foundation" which helps to generate funds to provide scholarships for deserving college bound students. In addition, it assists various civic organizations in his home state of New Jersey in their missions to improve the quality of life of the people they serve. These organizations provide service in such areas as poverty, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy and domestic violence.
We are privileged indeed to welcome back Ben E. King and to proudly present this remarkable man and his band for the Tenth time. He is an icon of Pop Music’s Golden Age Elite, our friend and ambassador of good will, and our featured performer.
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Our special guest artists for Juke Box Saturday Night ’06 are from the Chicago area. “The Headliners,” comprised one of the most successful and popular bands during the 1970s in the Midwest. As “Dr. Bop and The Headliners” the band played virtually every major venue in the Big 10 College circuit, as well as state fairs, summerfests and arenas. A testament to the size of their following was their September 1974 appearance at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin when “The Eagles” were their opening act! At the height of their popularity, they played a six night run at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles, and they also recorded a live album during one of their many engagements at Lucifer’s, then Boston’s most popular nightclub. Over the years the band played bills with countless touring recording artists, and in the 1980s they were the choice of Britain’s Royal Family and Prince Charles to twice play the “Polo Ball’ in Chicago. Mixing humor with their high-energy retro 50’s rock-n-roll repertoire, the band has earned their reputation as one of the best party bands ever of their genre. They have been listed in the Who’s Who as one of the definitive rock-n-roll bands in the United States.
Sadly, Dr. Bop passed away early last year. But, his spirit lives on in his many multi-talented band mates who still perform as “Count Bop and the Headliners” at reunion concerts, private functions and special events. Among the talented performers in the troupe playing Juke Box Saturday Night ’06 are the three heralded lead singers during the band’s existence: Al Craven, “The White Raven,” Ena McLaughlin, “Ena Anka,” and Ned Engelhart, Jr., “The Feret de Monte Cristo.” We are privileged to have these wonderful entertainers together with the rest of “The Headliners” on our stage at Juke Box Saturday Night ’06.
