It took five years but the band known as Dawn DiNome and Flashback finally made it to a Villages Town Square.
“We really waited a long time and this has been an amazing night,” Ralph DiNome, Dawn’s father and leader of the Flashback crew said Friday just after 9 p.m.
The sky was black and the music ended, but plenty of people from the packed crowd were milling about near the front stage of The Villages Market Square at Lake Sumter Landing.
Watch video of their performance:
Ralph DiNome started the rock and pop band about five years ago. Dawn, a theatrically trained singer, joined about two years ago. Flashback is one of the most popular bands in The Villages. They regularly play shows at local venues and will be performing a Halloween concert Tuesday Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. in Savannah Center. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Honor Flight program for veterans.
Playing the Town Squares has long been a status symbol for local bands.
“It’s a great setting with great sound, and it’s amazing to see the turnout we hadtonight,” Ralph DiNome said. “We had people coming from all over Central Florida to see us. And we had a lot of new fans.”
Flashback features a hard-rocking and soulful group of veteran musicians that includes Gary Davis, guitar and Ted Skolits on drums.
Dawn DiNome performs in several local stage productions and is musical director for St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood.
She can sing anything from Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.”
Dawn performed those songs for big crowd on Friday night and earned rousing ovations.
“Being up here with my dad and these guys is very special,” she said. “Of course my father is family, but the guys in this band are my extended family. It’s great to play the Square together with them.”