Johnny Wild – aka Andy Matchett – and the Delights are moving on up in The Villages.
After a year of playing the Villages Squares, the popular oldies band is ready to debut at Savannah Center on Wednesday for shows at 5 and 8 p.m. Advance ticket sales have been strong.
The performance is labeled, “Johnny Wild and the Delights Present Roy, Buddy and Hank.” For those who haven’t been part of the mob packing the Villages Squares for the band’s gigs, here is the lowdown. Roy is Roy Orbison, Buddy is Buddy Holly and Hank is Hank Williams.
Matchett, a professionally trained actor, can bring each of them to life on stage. He was selected to tour in a national musical about Holly and has appeared in a play about Williams. And, by the way, the dude looks a lot like a youthful Orbison.
Put those three legendary singers together and you get the Wild One.
“I love those guys and that music,” Matchett, 37, told Villages-News.com earlier this year. Despite his relatively tender years, Matchett and his Orlando-based band and back-up singers, bring an authentic sound and feel to the old songs.
“There was such passion in their music,” Matchett said. “We just want to play rock and roll and keep the passion in the music.”
The band includes Abraham Couch, bass; Randy Coole drums; Simon Palombi, guitar/keyboards. The singers are: Amanda Warren, Megan Matchett and Whitney Abell-Couch.
