Somewhere between “Disco Inferno” and “At Last,” I figured out at a show Saturday what makes the Dorels so cool.
It’s the music.
It’s the harmony.
It’s the soul.
It’s the choreography
It’s the Dorels.
I mean, what else can you say about these five Villagers who can cover everything from Johnny Maestro to Smokey Robinson to Jimmy Buffett. They did it all Saturday night before a raucous, sold-out crowd at Eisenhower Recreation Center.
The show was billed as “The Dorels and Friends.” Toni Booker, Earl Cash, Cliff Cook, Henry “Tres” Tresvant and Bill Rascoe make up the Dorels and they sang for about two hours, giving a rousing musical history lesson.
The guests added to the musical luster. Sharon Archer covered Brenda Lee’s “Break It To Me Gently.” Vince Morris dug deep for a soulful “Daddy’s Home.” Rick “Hollywood” Harris — who often sings with his wife, Paige — went solo on the Temptations’ “My Girl.” And Jack Ondrus turned in an Elvis tune with “Are You Lonesome Tonight.”
All were a compliment to The Dorels, who offered a variety of sounds and songs from the past 60 years.
“It’s great to have a big show like this and we’re going to do the music that the people here grew up with and still want to hear,” said Cash, musical director of The Dorels.
The group opened with an old doo-wop number, “Tonight,” originally done by The Velvets. Next up was another old standard, “Only You,” by the Platters.
Then the mood shifted into a country sound as Toni Booker sang “Blue Bayou,” hitting all the right high notes. Cliff Cook got the crowd line-dancing with a take on Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally.” Then Cash went back to more doo-wop on an elegant “When We Get Married” and the group added another doo-wop chestnut with “One Summer Night.”
“I’m from Detroit and I want to go to Motown,” said Booker, who used to work as a cop in the Motor City before retiring to The Villages.
Booker seemed inspired as she covered Smokey Robinson’s tender and soulful “”Ooo Baby Baby.” The song could have been dedicated to Booker’s great-granddaughter, Melina, 10 months old, who was sitting near the side of the stage. The baby was being held by Booker’s granddaughter Tristan.
“I like the way Grandma sings,” Tristan said. When asked about her favorite Toni Booker song, Tristan replied: “At Last.”
Sure enough, later in the show, Booker gave the Etta James’ classic a smooth and powerful vocal, as the dance floor filled with couples.
“I’ve always loved that song,” Booker said.
Disco made a comeback as Cliff Cook took the lead on the Tramps’ “Disco Inferno.” People were dancing in their seats as well as the dance floor.
But the great thing about the Dorels is they never get stuck in one musical genre. Before you could say Bobby Darin, Henry “Tres” Tresvant was snapping his fingers and singing “Mack the Knife.”
Things slowed down as Booker and Rascoe combined for a duet on “Let It Be Me.” Rascoe did justice to covering Johnny Maestro’s “16 Candles.” Tres took command on Brooks and Dunn’s “Neon Moon.” There was more cool country on Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”
It’s the musical variety that makes the Dorels so unique.
“We sing everything,” Booker said. “I think people know that when they come to hear us. We’re getting more shows all the time and more people. It’s great.”
The recognition is deserved.
“I think the Dorels are one of the most innovative singing groups in The Villages,” Sharon Archer said.
“They are unique in The Villages,” added Vince Morris. “They spend a lot of time rehearsing and when they get on stage, they make it look easy.”
The group possesses a kind of musical chemistry.
“You can hear it in their harmony,” Rick Harris said. “You can see it on stage in their ability to work with each other.”
The Dorels’ formula for success is simple.
“As long as people come to see us and have a good time, everything will be fine,” she said, “because we’ll keep singing.”