What happens when you combine rock, doo-wop and big band music?
“Something very unique,” said Gerry “Rocky” Seader, of Rocky and the Rollers. “You’re going to hear all kinds of music.”
It’s called “Legendary Groups of Rock and Doo Wop Meet Big Band.” The musical extravaganza is Oct. 17 at 5 and 8 p.m. in Savannah Center. The groups performing include Jay Siegel’s Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”), The Capris (“There’s A Moon Out Tonight”) and Vito Picone & The Elegants (“Little Star”).
Rocky and the Rollers will supply the backing music and will become an 18-piece band with a horn section that includes four trumpets, three trombones and five saxophones.
“I’ve got horn players coming from everywhere,” Rocky said. “This is what big band music is all about. I’ve wanted to do this kind of a show for a long time.”
The Rollers have a stellar horn section with Bruce Nardi, Steve Falkner and Rick Abbott. They will be featured on such numbers as Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” and four Glenn Miller songs.
Also, the band will play a big-band version of James Brown’s “Living In America” and the old Sam Cooke hit, “Shake.”
The concert will showcase the diversity of Rocky and the Rollers.
“We play music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s,” Rocky said. “We’ve been playing a few big band numbers in our shows and people love it.
“I’ve wanted to do a big band show for a long time. It’s something different, and it’s going to be special.”
Tony Violanti is a veteran journalist and writes for Villages-News.com.
