The Buckinghams in Concert

On this final day of 2022, we’d like to take a moment to address all of you who are here on our musical journey across the country and over the seas as we travel on cruises. Our world has been changing constantly this year, and as a result, we have seen what happens when we all join together in song, and in appreciation of the music that brings us together. The Buckinghams are now celebrating what will be our 58th year as a group. Thanks to quality songs by James Holvay, Gary Beisbier, Lloyd Price, Cannonball Adderly, and lyricists Johnny “Guitar” Watson, and Larry “Bad Boy” Williams, as well as the late Marty Grebb, our fellow bandmember, and talented producers including Dan Belloc, Carl Bonafede, James William Guercio, Jimmy “The Wiz” Wisner, as well as talented arrangers, label promo teams, and relentless devotion to our craft, The Buckinghams continue to be heard on terrestrial radio, we’re streaming on your favorite devices, and many times when you speak to Alexa, Siri, or Google...

Thanks to Concert Coordinator, Susan Rakis, Buckinghams' fans have some great photos of behind the scenes at their rehearsal for the latest Cornerstones of Rock show last month on November 26, 2022. Performers included The Ides of March, The New Colony Six, and The Cryan’ Shames, The Buckinghams and, representing the longtime lead singer of the Shadows of Knight, Jimy Sohns, was “Dirty Dan” Buck. Special to the band for this concert was The Buckinghams' drummer Tommy Scheckel, who played with the band from 1985-2010 before joining Paul Revere and the Raiders for many years. Soundcheck photos by Susan: And special thanks also to Jeannie Mikota, the "Sunset Princess" of The Ides of March, we have some terrific performance photos as well: The popularity of the Cornerstones of Rock Shows has skyrocketed since its 2015 debut . Originally envisioned as a larger collective of Chicago-area bands “one more time,” this original concept is as much the b...

It’s after Thanksgiving. You’ve enjoyed the festivities, the football, and maybe got in some Black Friday shopping deals. Before you go back to work on CyberMonday, you might just need a shot of inspiration. Here it is. Check out the newest effort from two of Chicago’s favorite singers who are also songwriters in their rare moments off from performing. Dave, you know from Hi Infidelity, the tribute band that makes you think you’re in the arena with Journey, Styx, and Foreigner when you hear Dave Mikulskis belt out the best of the 80s power ballads. He’s been voted Best Male Vocalist six times in the SuburbaNites annual “Best of the Burbs” readers poll. Carl, you know well from The Buckinghams, as they have been iconic there since 1965. But, because he’s been behind the microphone so long singing up front, you might forget that he was also a premier Chicago guitarist since the 1960s. This song gave him a chance to play his beloved Paul Reed Smith guitar , a custom brand als...

Chicago music lovers and classic rock devotees mourn the loss of Jimy Sohns, who passed away today at 5:10 p.m. this evening, following a recent stroke. The loss of Jimy, whose performances of classic favorite songs remained 100% as strong as when he first performed them in the 1960s, is still hard to believe. [Photo: Ides of March video screenshot] At age 75, the showman was not only the lead singer of the Shadows of Knight; he was a longtime favorite key player in the preeminent ensemble best known as Chicago’s Cornerstones of Rock. There’s no question that in the 1960s, two national capitals ruled record releases when major labels held court—New York and Los Angeles. Yet, by the mid-1960s, Chicago became an unofficial “third coast,” producing a core group of bands beloved in teen clubs and sock hops first, who eventually made their way to guest appearances on national TV shows as their songs emerged on national charts. The Buckinghams, The Ides of March, The New Colony...

On Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, The Buckinghams are pleased to return for their fourth year of performing for fans of the best generation in music at the Belfry Theatre. As anyone who lives or vacations in the Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin knows, one of the best venues to enjoy the best days of summer, is the Belfry Theatre. It’s an historic and delightful theatre with perfect acoustics where every seat is “the best seat in the house.” Located at 3601 State Road 67 in Williams Bay, WI, it’s only a bit over an hour’s drive from Chicago to get there. The theatre has great acoustics and sometimes you’ll even find people dancing in the aisles as they go back to the best days sunshine pop music. Although Carl and Nick have been on the road for most of the month with The Happy Together Tour and going from town to town, these two dates include the full band, including the Buckinghorns, joining them. It promises to be two great nights of singalong...

Are you ready for the most fun in live music? The concert tour of your teenage years returns, and Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna are delighted to announce they'll be performing on 44 of the more than 50 concerts that will take place nationwide this year! Beginning on June 1, The Buckinghams re-join the summer adventures of the rolling extravaganza better known as the Happy Together Tour 2022! Performing their biggest hits of the 1960s and 1970s, The Turtles, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Association, The Buckinghams, The Vogues and The Cowsills return for the Happy Together Tour 2022. Combined, these musicians are responsible for at least 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes. The first Happy Together Tour, produced by Howard Silverman and David Fishof, took place in 1984, and The Buckinghams joined in 1985 for the second HTT, sponsored by Members Only. In 1985 that year the tour was named in the Top 10 highest grossing tours in the United States. After a...

May 1st is an easy date to remember for any fans of The Buckinghams—it’s Nick Fortuna’s Birthday! Last night on 77WABC Radio, during Cousin Brucie’s Saturday Night Rock ‘n’ Roll Party, he was interviewing Carl Giammarese and they were discussing how Carl and Nick had been friends for 60 years now, going all the way back to high school. So, Carl wished Nick a very Happy Birthday coast-to-coast and Cousin Brucie wished "Cousin Nick" a great birthday as well. So, this birthday celebration began a little early this year. A very thoughtful gesture from Cousin Brucie, who's long been an advocate for the music of The Buckinghams. So, we thought it would be fun to look at Nick’s pictures over the years. He is just like fine Italian wine—just gets better with age! Here’s a photo by photo professional Kerry Quinn of the RI Blogger from The Buckinghams’ most recent concert (with The Box Tops) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island at the Stadium Theatre : and another action photo sh...