The Buckinghams in Concert

Last evening, the Secret Agent Foundation hosted their annual tribute dinner at the lovely Victoria Beau Jolie restaurant in Schiller Park. Our friend Phil Vaughan, the group's founder, went to great lengths to make us all welcome and very honored to be there. Phil's brother, Tony, served as emcee and introduced a musical lineup of entertainment, including the wonderful band Hip-Noz, and music by Tony Ocean, Rick Lindy, Mark Inlow as "Roy Orbison", and Star David Brooks as "Jerry Lee Lewis" direct from Branson, MO. Music philanthropist Lester Trilla, who has been key in supporting the Northern Illinois University Steel Drum Band for more than 10 years, surely sets the pace for support youth and education. We had a wonderful evening from start to finish. It was an honor to be named their 2012 Man of the Year and be surrounded by so many people expressing love and best wishes. As I said last night, the focus of the evening, and rightly so, is the fund-...

Two years ago I received was surprised and honored to learn that I'd been named Man of the Year, by the Secret Agent Foundation in Chicago. This charity organization was started by Phil Vaughn of Nation Records, who produced our "Terra Firma" CD in 1998 when we first met him. The Foundation has one mission--to make sure musical instruments are available for free to children who can't afford to buy their own, but who want to play music. You might remember how long you had to wait or save up for your first guitar, or piano, or drums. This foundation also accepts donations of musical instruments, in addition to raising money to buy them. This year, I'm proud to announce that my music partner, Carl Giammarese, has been named the 2012 Man of the Year by the Secret Agent Foundation and they're holding their annual awards banquet in Chicago on Sunday, April 29th, at the Victoria Beau Jolie restaurant on Schiller Avenue. If you're a Chicago-area Buckinghams ...

We'd like to ask you to take a moment today to lift up in prayer the family of our longtime friend, and Chicago sound engineer, Martin (Marty) Bilecki, who collapsed while mixing at the sound board at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville last evening. He was taken quickly to a nearby hospital, where he passed away. We’d just finished our set, in our 15th year for the Salute to the 60s concert there, a very special night, together with our friends Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits, and the Grass Roots. Marty’s passing leaves us solemn and missing a man we considered an important part of our musical family. We'd just spent the previous week together with Marty, as he ran sound for all of us on the Concerts at Sea tour aboard the Grand Princess. Of his many wonderful qualities, he was a man who cherished his family. Poignantly, his parents were also aboard the cruise ship, and they were so happy to be there to see their son doing his great job mixing each group, for all the...

[Second in a series of articles chronicling the 7-day Southern Caribbean tour, ‘Where the Action is’ cruise, featuring Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Buckinghams, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters and Davy Jones of The Monkees.] Continuing on this journey, you’re on the Concerts at Sea Rock and Roll oldies tour cruise, a passenger aboard the Grand Princess sailing vessel, which is making its way down the eastern U.S. coast headed for the Caribbean Sea. Admit it. Now aboard, you think. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you are humming the theme song made famous by the cruises of the Pacific Princess, another jewel in the fleet of the Princess Cruise lines, made even more famous in the 1970s as a superbly successful CBS TV series. With the QE2 docked right next door, the Grand Princess was our ship for Concerts at Sea, promising a fun adventure. The strings swell and the horns blast, and the familiar theme music can’t help but pop up in the back of your mind. Hear Jack Jones sing now, ‘L...

The Buckinghams would like to thank all our friends and fans for joining us and making The Concerts At Sea Caribbean Cruise such a major success! We had a great time meeting and hanging out with all of you. Paul Revere & The Raiders were fabulous as always and it was the first time we had the opportunity to see our long-time Buckingham and close friend Tom Scheckel perform with The Raiders and what a special performace it was. Charlie Thomas and The Drifters put on a fabulous show; Charlie is a real pro and entertainer. Speaking of entertaining, Davy Jones put on a fabulously entertaining show! I don't know where he gets it from, but his wit and humor is never ending. Davy, just like Paul Revere, Peter Noone and The Turtles Flo & Eddy have that rare talent to go way beyond just performing their songs...They are true entertainers with their spontaneity and humor. Stacy Wayne as Elvis was superb as were JR and the Stingrays, who kept us rockin' all week! We also want...

Pre-cruise activities for 'Where the Action is Cruise' Let's get this party started; the night before the cruise, favorite DJ Jimmy Jay offered his "Rewind Show" poolside for the rock cruisers to get into the spirit of the week ahead. Saturday morning in Ft. Lauderdale, strangers meet and discuss home towns and favorite rock groups they can't wait to hear aboard the Grand Princess ship. (West Communications, used with permission) [First in a series of articles chronicling the 7-day Southern Caribbean tour, ‘Where the Action is’ cruise, featuring Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Buckinghams, Charlie Thomas’ Drifters and Davy Jones of The Monkees.] When the news came that January 2012 offered a grand and glorious vacation opportunity to become a first-time passenger aboard the stately Grand Princess vessel and the chance to hear four superb representative bands from the very best days in rock and roll—well, who could resist? Paul Revere and the Raider...

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 .