Bucks Set to Play 2 Concerts in Hershey Park, Pennsylvania, Saturday, May 1st

From York Newspapers' Blog, The Flip Side:


The Buckinghams, Jordin Sparks open Hersheypark
By
Erin McCracken
posted on April 27, 2010 9:57 AM

Hersheypark opens its gates for its 103rd season this weekend. Join the celebration from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Ride coasters and check out "TAP: The Show" in the Park's Music Box Theatre.

Travel back to the '60s with American rock band The Buckinghams. They perform at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Hersheypark Amphitheatre. "American Idol" season six winner Jordin Sparks performs at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday...Seating for ampitheatre shows is first-come, first-serve. Admission is included with Hersheypark tickets. Click here for ticket details.

McCracken's Story at: http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside/2010/04/the-buckinghams-jordin-sparks.html




"One sure sign of summer’s arrival is the opening of Hersheypark. You’ll hear the roar of the roller coasters — and screams that accompany them — during the grand opening Saturday and Sunday.

The park will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Hours of operation will vary through May 19, when the park will be open daily. All of the park’s rides will be in operation this weekend with the exception of The Boardwalk at Hersheypark. It’s too chilly for water rides. So plan on bringing those swimsuits starting May 29.

Hersheypark has 11 roller coasters, more than 20 kiddie rides, live daily entertainment, games, foods and shops. Admission includes entrance to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park. The 11-acre walk-through zoo with 200 animals is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

This weekend, the entertainment in the park’s amphitheater includes American rock group The Buckinghams 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and season six “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $52.95 for adults, $31.95 for ages 3-8 and seniors, $20.95 for seniors age 70 and free to children 2 and under."

Park admission includes free concert.
Original story by Sue Gleiter link at:
http://blog.pennlive.com/go/2010/04/hersheypark_kicks_off_summer_s.html



Today's Lancaster Online Entertainment Column featured a story by Jon Ferguson on the concert this weekend in Hershey Park, PA in the Intelligencer newspaper:

he Buckinghams, a Chicago band that hit it big in 1967 with the single "Kind of a Drag," led the way for horn-driven rock bands like, fittingly, Chicago, and Blood Sweat & Tears.

That's not surprising since the Buckinghams -- which will perform Saturday at the Hersheypark Amphitheater in the amusement park -- had producer James William Guercio in its corner.

"He (Guercio) was a great producer and a great musician," says Carl Giammarese of the Buckinghams, "and we had a lot to do with introducing him to some friends of ours who in 1968 had a band called the Big Thing. He signed them and they became Chicago."

Guercio went on to produce Chicago, helping that band on its way to a long, hit-laden career.

"If you listen to our last album with (Guercio)," says Giammarese, "Chicago's first album is a continuation. It's not so much the same type of songs but the same type of arrangement.

Ferguson's story continues at http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/252478

Sue Gleiter's story in The Patriot-News (pennlive.com) notes:
"Hersheypark Kicks off Summer Season with Grand Opening Weekend"

Concert details from:


The Buckinghams live
Thursday, April 29, 2010 11:58 AM By CPBJ Staff
CPBJ Staff Close

Saturday: Hersheypark Ampitheatre, Derry Township

The Buckinghams arrived on the music scene in 1966, gaining wide popularity with the hit single “Kind of Drag.”

Some of the band’s other hits include “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Don’t You Care” and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.”

The Chicago-born group broke up in 1970. It reformed in 1980 and has been touring ever since.

For more information, call 717-534-3900 or visit hersheypark.com.

York Weekend Online Reports:

Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland open
2010 April 28
by York Weekend

Are you ready for roller coasters, whirling gut-busters, boardwalk games and as much bad-for-you food as you can fit on a stick? Two regional amusement parks start their summer fun Saturday, May 1.


Hersheypark

Hersheypark opens its 103rd season with special performances by The Buckinghams and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.

The park, at 100 W. Hersheypark Drive in Hershey, will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 1, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 2.

The Buckinghams will perform at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and Sparks will perform at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Both of the shows will be in the Hersheypark Amphitheatre, where admission is free with regular park admission and seating is first come, first served.

One-day tickets at Hersheypark are $52.95 for ages 9-54, $31.95 for ages 55-69 and 3-8, $20.95 for ages 70 and up, and free for children 2 and under. A variety of other packages are available.
Original story at: http://ydblogz.com/yorkweekend/2010/04/28/hersheypark-dutch-wonderland-open/

The Buckinghams Set to Play Havana, Illinois, Spring Fling This Weekend

From a story in the Pekin Daily Times by Tara Mattimoe, The Buckinghams are to be the featured attraction for the Spring Fling Saturday, April 24th in Havana, IL. The event is presented by the Havana Chamber of Commerce, with primary sponsor Havana National Bank, and includes an antique and custom car show.

Mattimoe's story notes:

"The event’s main attraction lies in the featured band, The Buckinghams, said Chamber of Commerce board member, and Havana’s Economic Development Coordinator, Terry Svob.
“The chamber has never put on an event with someone of this stature,” Svob said of the band. Getting The Buckinghams into Havana is quite a coup for the community, he said, and the group will hopefully bring in a sizable crowd — particularly from the baby boomers both in and out of town."

...

"Hippie Radio out of Peoria and Cool Radio out of Springfield will both conduct live feeds during the afternoon, Svob said. There will be food and snack booths available during the car show and concert, and The Buckinghams will have a souvenir booth as well."

Full story at: http://www.pekintimes.com/news/x863091317/Havana-chamber-of-commerce-ushers-in-spring-with-concert-and-car-show


The concert begins at 6 pm. Concert tickets are now on sale at the Havana City Hall, the Mason County Democrat, County Market, Bleem’s Chiropractic, Heaven Scent, all Capitol Music locations, some Casey’s General Stores, online at www.etix.com, or by calling 309-543-3528.

The Buckinghams Featured at Punta Gorda Block Party

The Buckinghams will perform as the headline entertainment for the 24th annual Punta Gorda Block Party, Saturday, April 17th, in Punta Gorda, Florida. The annual Block Party Days event attracts close to 40,000 people each year, and The Buckinghams take the Retta Esplanade Stage at 6:30 pm.

Today's Sarasota, Florida, Herald Tribune features a story by Chris Gerbasi on the event here:
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100417/ARTICLE/4171043/2055/NEWS?Title=Punta-Gorda-Block-Party-today

noting:

"The Block Party, which typically draws about 40,000 people, includes food booths from local restaurants, arts and crafts, and a children's area. The party is the latest in a string of events, including a wine and jazz festival, a college baseball tournament, the annual air show and other music shows, that have brought thousands of people into the area this year."

Next weekend, The Buckinghams are in concert in Havana, Illinois.

The Buckinghams' First Album Named "One of the 40 Best Music Albums by Chicago Artists"

In the April edition of Chicago Magazine (www.chicagomag.com) readers will note in Jeff Ruby's article that The Buckinghams' "Kind of a Drag" comes in at #39 of the top 40 of 'any' Chicago records. We're not talking about 'of the 1960s' but instead, of any time period. As the first page of the article shows, The Buckinghams' album debut on Chicago's USA Records label was selected to be included among contemporaries including Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, The Staple Singers, The DJ Fast Eddie, Screeching Weasel, the inimitable Howlin' Wolf, The Chi-Lites, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

The digital version of Ruby's article can be reviewed online Chicago Magazine and explores the questions "What counts as a Chicago record"? and "What does 'greatest' mean"? This distinction was first noted by Johnnie Putman of the WGN Radio "Steve and Johnnie Show", whose keen eye saw it first. The story is in time for the magazine's 40th anniversary, appropriate to rank the 40 best albums 'ever' by Chicago artists.

Robert Feder Reports "Who Was There" at Bob Sirott's Interview with Dick Biondi and Herb Kent

Veteran Chicago journalist Robert Feder had a nice item this morning in his Vocalo blog about how the crowd gathered to hear the Bob Sirott's interview with radio DJ legends Dick Biondi and Herb Kent filled the auditorium and then "overflowed into three satellite rooms" this weekend.

Excerpt follows:

# Hundreds of fans packed the Columbia College auditorium and overflowed into three satellite rooms Saturday when Bob Sirott interviewed Chicago radio’s greatest living legends, Dick Biondi and Herb Kent, onstage together for the first time. What made a great night even more unforgettable was the presence of many local music legends in the audience to pay tribute to Biondi and Kent. They included Gene “Duke of Earl” Chandler, Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites, Ronnie Rice of the New Colony Six, Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna of the Buckinghams, Jim Peterik of The Ides Of March and Survivor, Fred Glickstein of the Flock, and Al Lathan of Four Days and a Night. Among radio luminaries in the crowd were Greg Brown, Connie Szerszen, Stan Lawrence, Marv Dyson, Michael Damsky, Michael LaCrosse and Sirott’s wife, Marianne Murciano. Even Ronnie “Woo Woo” Wickers was there.

Quoted from http://blogs.vocalo.org/feder/2010/04/tweet-all-about-it-suppelsa%E2%80%99s-crowning-achievement/20194

The Buckinghams' Friends Together for Interview Tonight; Bob Sirott Hosts Dick Biondi and Herb Kent Interview, April 10th, at Columbia College Chicago

SPECIAL EVENT SET FOR TONIGHT

As Dave Hoekstra reported in today's Chicago Sun-Times newspaper, well-known journalist Bob Sirott will host a special evening, conversation-style tonight at Columbia College Chicago.

Hoekstra notes "Herb Kent the Kool Gent" and Dick (the Wild I-Tralian) Biondi are members of The Chicago Radio Hall of Fame.



The event is free and open to the public. The interview will be taking place at 7:30 pm in Columbia's Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th floor.




For the full story check out http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/hoekstra/2150208,CST-FTR-radio10.article

Bob Sirott promises an evening that will be the most interesting history lesson ever taught about five decades of Chicago radio and two of its most beloved DJs.


From Christmas 2009,the UCan Food Drive hosted by Dick Biondi. Here, Carl enjoys annual holiday appearances with Dick for True Oldies 94.7's community endeavors.



[Image credits: Dick Biondi's photo by Fred Winston, originally posted on Robert Feder's blog 9.1.09 and Herb Kent's from the HistoryMakers Video Oral History Interview with Herb Kent (www.thehistorymakers.com); Photo of Dick Biondi and Carl Giammarese from YouTube video filmed by Ed McCracken. Photo of Bob Sirott from cpsalumni.org alumni journalists and media personalities site.]