Pat Brenan of Neptune has been attending every Planotone concert for thirty years, dressed as Kenny and his guys do. Paul Goldfinger photo 9/7/13. Ocean Grove, NJ. Great Auditorium.
By Paul Goldfinger, who wrote the Book of Love, and Editor of Blogfinger.net
2013: The official count for last night’s Doo Wops concert was 2,700, but it sure looked like more than that—downstairs practically all seats occupied, and the balcony seats about 1/3 full. The crowd was wide awake, alive and well. We lost count of the standing O’s, whistles, shouts and applause.
Each of the three performing groups thanked the audience for helping to keep a musical era alive—an era of nostalgic, romantic and understandable music. This was music that you could dance slow with, under low twinkling lights in gyms decorated with crepe paper.
That music, in OG last night, clearly was attracting some people who were born after the actual Doo Wop times of 1950’s going into the ’60’s when it helped form the basis for rock and roll.
The Beatles found inspiration in performers including Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Drifters and many others.
Last night, the show opened with the Duprees–not my idea of a Doo Wop act now, but they are polished performers. The Duprees have had many hits during their 50 year history (1962-2012) and they do put on a musically excellent show, and they are an example of a traditional group that has modernized their act. Unfortunately the loudness of their presentation sometimes made the music a bit muddy. The personnel of this group has changed many times over the years. The current group are all fine singers.
The Duprees are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a new album. (2012), and I did like their rendition last night of the Bobby Darin hit “Beyond the Sea” from that album.
THE DUPREES, from their 50th anniversary album with “Behind the Sea.”
When the CMA decided to end secular performances in the GA, we were already seeing modernizing of the doowop music. Some groups brought in female voices to replace wobbly falsettos of the old timers, many of whom were ready for a bed at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.
And, the CMA has recently re-done their sound system—-thank goodness.
KENNY VANCE has had a long career dating back to the fifties. He is now 79 years old and was a yearly favorite in the Great Auditorium. But he has modernized his performances as evidenced by his album. (2017) Lost and Found—Archives volume I. His version of “Tears on My Pillow” shows how this music can be made alive again, and he has a volume II as well. I wish he could be seen live again in Ocean Grove.
—Paul Goldfinger, Music Editor @Blogfinger.net