The Buckinghams in Concert

Kent Kotal, Chicago music lover and originator of the blog "Forgotten Hits," features Christmas music from Chicago bands in his daily blog. Today's post, available at: Forgotten Hits: More Christmas Music Excerpted here... And I was very happy to receive this note from another one of Chicago's legendary bands, The Buckinghams: Hi Kent, From "The Joy Of Of Christmas," I would like to feature the Buckinghams Christmas song "Have A Little Faith." It is a song of faith and hope and the promise that things will get better. I would like to dedicate it to all our fine men and women that are making the ultimate sacrifice by putting their lives on the line serving us in Iraq and Afghanistan with the hope and faith that they will soon be rejoined with there families ... our prayers are with them. Kent, your readers can also download the track by going to www.thebuckinghams.com/20081110 Have a blessed Christmas. Carl Giammarese Thanks, Carl. In fact, The Buck...

On Friday 11 December 2009 at 9:00 pm, The Buckinghams return to the Northern Lights Theatre of the Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee. The Chicago group has played this venue several times in the past few years. The Northern Lights Theatre is a two-tiered venue with booth and table seating on the first floor, traditional theatre seating on the second floor. Crowds can enjoy the 60s music they know and appreciate and relive the music of that generation performed by The Buckinghams. Northern Lights Theater 1721 West Canal Street Milwaukee, WI 53233 Ticket info: (414) 847-7400 Show starts at 9 pm.

Chicago's favorite videographer, known by just one name, McCrackin, has posted two new YouTube videos taken at the 2009 edition of the annual Dick Biondi Toy Drive, where WLS was broadcasting live to raise money and get new toys donated for UCAN. The community really responded and they were able to raise substantial dollars and now have toys to make Christmas brighter for so many Chicagoland children, who would otherwise be thinking Santa forgot them this year. Carl dedicated his song, "Have a Little Faith" to all the men and women serving our armed forces, who have to be away from their loved ones during the holiday season. This song is from "The Joy of Christmas" CD by The Buckinghams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSZ3DVP2iDE Here is the holiday duet of Dick Biondi, who joked that people had offered him $60 NOT to sing, singing with Carl Giammarese on "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibnWZtHsKpY Also on YouTube h...

Pictured from their 2006 Oldies Cruise show, members of The Buckinghams and The Original Comets, including founding bass player, Marshall Lytle. Buckinghams members pictured here include Carl Giammarese, Nick Fortuna, Bob Abrams, and Bruce Soboroff. A nice surprise to read Marshall Lytle's new book talks of being part of some fun oldies ocean cruises in his role as original bass player for Bill Haley and the Comets. In Lytle's new book, "Still Rockin' Around the Clock: My Life in Rock N' Roll's First Super Group, Bill Haley and the Comets, Lytle notes: "The first cruise we did was in 2004 with Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Buckinghams, and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap-great organizations, and these people just did wonderful work. In 2005, we did the show with Paul Revere, the Raiders (again), Gary Lewis and the Playboys, and Peggy March. In 2006, the Buckinghams returned and Blood, Sweat and Tears appeared." (pp. 164-165). Lytle's book, coaut...

In the noted "Swingin' Showbiz Saga," by David Letterman's sidekick and leader of the CBS Orchestra, Paul Shaffer, music of The Buckinghams is mentioned twice in "We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives." The 2009 book is published by Flying Dolphin Press and is coauthored by Paul Shaffer and David Ritz. Page 67 notes that after high school graduation, Paul Shaffer listened to WLS radio in Chicago all the way from his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. In Chapter 26, "Divided Soul," Shaffer speaks of his dilemma in having been asked to be musical director for the upcoming Blues Brothers movie, but the overlapping request from Gilda Radner to write songs with her and coproduce her album on a record deal she'd just been signed to develop. Shaffer's work on The Blues Brothers Movie project was substantial enough to the point where, in Shaffer's own words (pp. 185-186) "As the script started shaping up, it became clear that...

The annual Christmas toy drive held by WLS Radio and favorite DJ Dick Biondi goes on all day today, November 27th, until 10 pm at the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale. Carl Giammarese will be stopping by around 12 noon in the Sears court area. One of the toy drive's sponsors, The NECA & IBEW, made a very generous $5,000 cash donation to provide children's toys. Other sponsors include Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates attorneys, and Fisher-Price. If you can't get to the Stratford Mall in person, tune in to www.947trueoldies.com and listen online. Stay tuned to 94.7 for announcements of additional toy drive locations during the holiday season.

The Buckinghams Christmas Show - LIVE MUSIC - Saturday - November 28 8:00 PM $35/$32 BAC Members Buy 1 ticket to The Buckinghams on Black Friday between 6-9pm and get the 2nd Free! (only at Box office or at 773-445-3838) Get in the spirit this year with Holiday favorites from the Buckinghams! For the past two and a half decades, THE BUCKINGHAMS have successfully toured the nation with their signature pop music featuring founding members Carl Giammarese (lead vocals) and Nick Fortuna (bass and vocals). Their show is filled with harmony, spontaneity, humor, and a musical strength that appeals to not only their loyal fans, but forges new links with younger generations as well. THE BUCKINGHAMS deliver a spectacular live show that includes their Billboard Top 40 hits, and a mix of audience’s sizzling favorites from the pop & rock charts of the 1960’s and early 1970’s. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BUCKINGHAMS! http://www.thebuckinghams.com The Buckinghams Christmas Show Beverly Arts Ce...