The Buckinghams in Concert

I have been meaning to write a message and now I'm finally getting around to it. On behalf of Nick and I, I want to thank everyone who came out to see us on the Happy Together Tour making it even more successful than last years tour. We had a great lineup this year which included our good friends The Grass Roots, The Association, Mark Lindsay, and of course Mark and Howard, The Turtles. Of course we couldn't do it without a fabulous band behind us and a wonderful crew. To our tour producer Ron Hausfeld thank you. This fabulous year continues for The Buckinghams, so we look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming dates. Thank you, Carl Giammarese Cross posted on Facebook here .

Jennifer Coffman, Minneapolis Arts Examiner, wrote a preview for The Happy Together Tour's 2011 visit to the Minnesota State Fair. "You can hear a lot of great music at the Minnesota State Fair, but only one concert this year will showcase many famous bands of the '60s and '70s together in one show. The Happy Together Tour makes its way to the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on August 29 at 8:00 p.m. For the ticket price of $18, you can see The Turtles with Flo & Eddie, The Association, The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams, and former lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders, Mark Lindsay." For the rest of Jennifer's story, click here .

Mark Volman, left, and Howard Kaylan (The Turtles) don't check their senses of humor at the door when they enter. (Lora Evans (www.thephotolady.smugmug.com) used by permission) Dusty Hanvey (left) of The Grass Roots and Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams enjoy a break backstage. (Courtesy of Mark Dawson, used by permission) From Left, John Montagna, Mark Dawson (Grass Roots), and Nick Fortuna (The Buckinghams) backstage. (Courtesy of Mark Dawson, used by permission) So Happy Together, 5 Classic Rock Bands Share Music, Memories All Summer Long (Photo by Lora Evans *thephotolady.smugmug.com), used by permission.

For classic rock concertgoers, there's no better time than summer to enjoy music performed in festivals, arenas, and concert halls across the country. Families often plan their vacations around music they want to hear and shows they want to attend. The 26th Anniversary Happy Together Tour is in full swing again, providing multiple opportunities for music lovers to catch their favorite classic artists in concert. Tonight, vacationers and residents of Springfield, Missouri will gather at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds to welcome the five bands comprising The Happy Together Tour, celebrating 26 years since the series debut. In concert are The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, The Association, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere & the Raiders), and The Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddie. Remember the 1969 classic movie, "If it's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium"? That's pretty much what the Happy Together Tour is like this year. Since it's Wednesday, it is

For classic rock concertgoers, there's no better time than summer to enjoy music performed in festivals, arenas, and concert halls across the country. Families often plan their vacations around music they want to hear and shows they want to attend. The 26th Anniversary Happy Together Tour is in full swing again, providing multiple opportunities for music lovers to catch their favorite classic artists in concert. Recognize these guys? No, it's not Lady Gaga's roadies: It's Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, aka Flo and Eddie, aka The Turtles. This year's tour began July 8th in Westbury, NY, and toured across Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, back to Pennsylvania, Florida, and Georgia. So, after three straight weeks of shows, the tour broke for a week's rest. That rest was short-lived for Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna because The Buckinghams traveled, with their full band, to Ocean City, NJ and then to Pensacola, FL for a private

From Bradenton, FL,Classic Rock Music Examiner Ray Shasho's review of the Happy Together Tour 2011 "The Buckinghams were a genuine crowd pleaser illuminating the audience with their opening hit tune “Don’t You Care,” just the first of a long string of hits from 1967. They followed their set with “Mercy Mercy Me,” “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song),” “Expressway to Your Heart,” (A cover tune by The Soul Survivors sung soulfully by Fortuna) “Susan,” and then their finale #1 hit single “Kind of a Drag.”..." Ray has a nice photo slideshow with 17 pictures to accompany his full review of the concert. To read all of Ray's review, click here .

Philadelphia Rock Music Examiner Jordan Blum reviewed the Happy Together Tour 2011 appearance at the Keswick Theatre. "The Buckinghams’ Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna opened the show with a great energy and some funny exchanges," noted Blum. To read Jordan's full review of the show including The Buckinghams, The Turtles, Mark Lindsay, The Association and the Grass Roots, click here , Jordan Blum, Philadelphia Rock Music Examiner

On Wednesday, May 18th, at 8 pm, Chicagoland fans are going to have an opportunity to spend an intimate evening "up close and personal" with The Buckinghams. A special event will take place at 8 pm in the Montrose Room of the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare Hotel. Located at 5300 N. River Road in Rosemont, The Buckinghams will perform as part of the hotel's "Up Close @ Montrose" concert series. Songs from The Buckinghams' most recent DVD/CD, coincidentally titled "Up Close", will be performed, along with favorite 60s classics for audiences to enjoy. Carl and Nick will debut some new classic rock songs, and Bruce Soboroff (keys/vocals), Dave Zane (guitars/vocals), and Rocky Penn (drums/vocals) will add new songs, all the hits, and other guaranteed favorites that audiences count on hearing. Seating is limited for this very special event, so you're encouraged to order tickets today. Click here to order tickets: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale

September 4th, The Buckinghams are pleased to be participating in the 33rd Annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg, WVa. The event is the 33rd annual festival and will take place at 340 West Main Street, in downtown Clarksburg, as always. This event will be a great vacation destination idea for the Labor Day 2011 weekend. Future posts will share more info on where to stay and event details, Sept. 2-4th. Web site link for more information is: http://www.wvihf.com/ Click here to hear a little music to get you ready for a fantastic festival! http://www.wvihf.com/Amici%20-%20Tarentella.mp3 This is a community-wide major event with many sponsors already committed to its success. A partial list includes: * Antero Resources Appalachian Corporation * Budweiser * Buffing Studios * Citynet * City of Clarksburg * City of Shinnston * Clarksburg Enterprise Rental Car * Clarksburg Exponent Telegram * Clarksburg Nursing & Rehab. Center

From a Jan. 5, 2009 article in the Illinois Entertainer magazine, Jim Holvay's "Kind of a Drag" receives top song honors as made a signature tune of The Buckinghams: Songs 1-10 Illinois Entertainer picks the 25 greatest songs in Chicago history, continued below: "Hearing how much Magic 104.3 used to blast this song from my mom’s Chevy Citation while on garage-sale rounds, one gets an appreciation of what 1967 was like for Chicago and The Buckinghams. What we know today as the “Chicago horn sound” was astonishingly new when “Kind Of A Drag” landed, and the song seemed to encapsulate every sound from their ensuing album: stately pop, garage rock, blue-eyed soul, British invasion. True, Chicago (the band) had already formed at this point, but “Kind Of A Drag” contained a lot of ideas they’d pillage." Full story link at: http://illinoisentertainer.com/2009/01/songs-1-to-10/comment-page-1/

For several weeks, Chicago-based blogger Kent Kotal has been exploring, with readers and contributors to his list, the concept of what, exactly, is an Oldie? The refreshing consensus is basically...what it means to you personally. The Buckinghams are a unique musical entity because to so many across the country, they are a national pop act who topped the charts. Yet, to anyone from Chicago, they are still considered a 'local' sensation who did well outside of town. Nevertheless, however you perceive The Buckinghams or their music of the 1960s, here's an excerpt from Kent's wrap-up post today: "Just because it's old ... Doesn't mean it's an "oldie"!!! That seems to be the general consensus of our recent "What Is An Oldie?" Poll. In fact, when tabulating and analyzing all of the responses we received, it seems that the majority of the oldies music fans out there seem to think that "The Oldies Era" ends at about 1975 ... or ri

Last Minute Weekend Plans? TONIGHT'S SHOW IN OHIO **Reminder in this morning's Youngstown newspaper online, " The Vindicator ", www.vindy.com Today’s entertainment picks: The Buckinghams, 8 p.m.: Hey baby, they’re playing our song. Stambaugh Auditorium , 1000 Fifth Ave., Youngstown; 330-743-2717. CHICAGOLAND FANS GET WISH FOR HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR APPEARANCES THIS YEAR Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna return as the Buckinghams join The Turtles, Mark Lindsay, Grass Roots, and The Association in concert for the Happy Together Tour. Last year's tour played in 24 cities, but missed coming through Chicago. This year, they'll be in two great locations for area fans: the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL, an annual favorite for The Buckinghams to perform, and the Effingham Performance Center in Effingham, IL. Happy Together Tour at the Genesee Theatre, Sat. Aug. 6 in Waukegan, IL Tickets go on sale tomorrow, March 19th via Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com , at 10 am, f

John Benson interviewed Carl Giammarese recently about The Buckinghams' concert this Friday, March 18th in Youngstown. The concert is sponsored by the Monday Musical Club there, that has more than 100 years of great history in bringing memorable music to the Stambaugh Auditorium. Story begins: Somewhat out of breath but apparently in great shape is how The Buckinghams’ Carl Giammarese sounded when a recent phone call found him at a Chicago-area gym putting some time in on the step-machine. “You know us old rockers — we have to stay in shape,” Giammarese said, laughing. Invariably, the guitarist is getting ready for another walk down memory lane with fans when the group comes to Youngstown on Friday for a show at Stambaugh Auditorium. Full story online at: http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/mar/17/the-buckinghams-these-rock-8217n8217-rol/

Tickets are on sale now for the Happy Together Tour to stop in Asbury Park, NJ, on Saturday, July 16th, and the evening promises great music from The Buckinghams, The Turtles, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders), The Grass Roots, and this year, The Association will join them. Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna look forward to returning to Asbury Park for another great concert experience with the great fans from New Jersey and New York at the Paramount Theatre. Act early to purchase limited VIP Meet and Greet, premium seat tickets while they last. When you're in the aea, dining is available in the Langostina Lounge, Stella Marina Bar & Restaurant, Tim McLoone's Supper Club, and the Aqua Bar and Restaurant. On Sale: Now Ticket Prices: $29-$79 ($99 VIP Meet and Greet, Premium Seat Packages) Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, Phone Charge at 800-745- 3000, Outlets including select Walmart locations, The Stone Pony Box Office 732-502-0600 and The P

When The Buckinghams toured the country on their first Happy Together Tour, they were part of one the year's Top 10 Most Popular Tours, according to Pollstar , which keeps track of concert attendance and ticket sales. The Happy Together Tour '85-'86 was produced by Howard Silverman and David Fischoff, and the tour was sponsored by Members Only, quite popular at the time. Steve heard The Buckinghams and the Happy Together Tour at the Hulman Center, in Terra Haute, Indiana. Steve graciously shared photos from several pages of his Souvenir Tour Booklet for others to enjoy on Chicagosveryown Buckinghams' Facebook page. Reproduced here with his permission. Top photo-Encore with everyone on stage. Bottom photo--(L to R: Tour co-producer, Howard Silverman, today of Paradise Artists, Carl Giammarese, Rob Grill(Grass Roots), Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman(The Turtles), 3 reps from Members Only, Tour co-producer, David Fischoff. About Members Only, Tour Sponsor. About The Buckingh

It was nice to see blogger MusicofourHeart's post today about the concert date in Wallingford, CT, with the Happy Together Tour. On Saturday, July 9th, Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna will join The Turtles, The Grass Roots, Mark Lindsay (former lead singer of Paul Revere and the Raiders) and the Association for the 2011 return in the "25th Anniversary Plus 1" national tour. Audience response last year wsa tremendous and everyone who came to the shows had a great evening of music. Journalist Musicofourheart writes: "I was thinking about The Buckinghams this morning. Their song, “Kind of a Drag” popped into my head so I cruised over to YouTube to watch a video of them playing their #1 hit from 1967." The Buckinghams will also return to Connecticut for a Christmas Show on Sunday, December 18th at the beautiful Infinity Hall, where they've played before. It's great to have such loyal friends of their music in Connecticut. Buckinghams' fans are serious m

From the Reynolds Performance Hall's blog re The Buckinghams and Blood, Sweat & Tears in Concert: "One thing that most human beings have in common is the tendency to revisit our youth in memory. Old pictures, favorite restaurants, the house we grew up in…all can be welcome remembrances of times long past that we still treasure today. Music is also a way to remember, and especially being able to see some of our favorite musicians still going strong after many years. So we (along with the audience) were delighted to be able to watch The Buckinghams and Blood, Sweat, and Tears do what they’ve been doing well for decades now: play GREAT music."... Full blog post can be found here. http://ucareynolds.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/the-buckinghams-blood-sweat-and-tears/ All photos courtesy of Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway, Arkansas.

Conway, Arkansas is a beautiful town to visit, with great Southern hospitality shown to us by the staff at the Reynolds Performance Hall. These are a few of their photos taken at the concert and we appreciate their sharing with us. The band and the audience at the Reynolds Performance Hall in Conway, AR. (L to R) Carl Giammarese, Bruce Soboroff, Nick Fortuna, Dave Zane (L to R) Dave Zane, Bruce Soboroff, Nick Fortuna The view from the balcony, The Buckinghams on stage. (L to R) Bruce Soboroff and Rocky Penn. Rocky Penn, drummer/vocalist, and a great drum kit. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Zane in the foreground. (L to R) Carl Giammarese, Nick Fortuna, and Dave Zane. View from the balcony, photo 1. View from the balcony, photo 2. Thanks again to the Reynolds Performance Hall for sharing these pictures. Find Reynolds Hall on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ucareynolds?ref=ts