Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Media Contact:
Lucy Friedman-Bell, PULSE Fellow
friedman@trustarts.org | (412) 894-4202
Rock ‘n' Remember Live!
Stars from the Golden Age of Rock and Roll
Return to the Benedum Center in April
Saturday, April 11 | 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. | Benedum Center
Some of the biggest rock and roll hits of the sixties will once again reverberate within the Benedum Center on April 11 and you’ll find the original artists who recorded singing them. “Those late-night PBS television specials have sanctified the Benedum for vintage rock and roll fans,” remarked Charlie Pappas, the show’s producer and promoter. “So, we thought it only fitting to stage one our biggest shows ever on the Benedum stage.”
The April show, part of a Spotlight Productions’ live concert series titled Rock 'n' Remember Live!, features Bobby Rydell, Lou Christie, Charlie Thomas' Drifters, Jay Siegel's Tokens, The Chiffons and Chuck Blasko's Vogues. Pappas, who helms the Burgettstown-based production company, said this year's edition will be the series’ biggest line-up of talent yet with artists who have collectively charted more than 70 Top 40 hits.
Although Bobby Rydell’s career began as a 1950s teen idol, the headliner proved himself to be so much more than just another pretty face when he went on to sell over 25 million records. Billboard Magazine places him in the Top five artists of his era, having amassed 34 Top 40 hits. Teenagers of the 1960s will also remember his role as Hugo Peabody – alongside Ann Margaret – in Bye Bye Birdie. From his million-selling pop rock singles like “Wild One” and “We Got Love” to the teenage confections “Kissin' Time” and “Swingin' School” to the instant classics such as “Volare” and “Forget Him,” his body of work reveals a versatility unrivaled by his peers. This will be Rydell’s first Pittsburgh appearance in over 35 years.
The show’s other headliner is no stranger to town, however; Lou Christie hails from Moon Township and is known worldwide as one of the Pittsburgh area's favorite sons. Lou's cavalcade of hits includes “The Gypsy Cried”, "Two Faces Have I", "Rhapsody in the Rain", and the multi-million seller "Lightnin' Strikes", all of which he co-wrote. Lou is hotter than ever and in 2019, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the East Coast Music Hall of Fame.
Several of the acts on the show could headline an entire concert of their own, including Charlie Thomas' Drifters (Thomas is the last original Drifter who appears on all of the legendary Atlantic Records hit recordings, including "Under the Boardwalk", "Up on the Roof, "On Broadway", "Save the Last Dance for Me", "This Magic Moment" and dozens more), Jay Siegel's Tokens (“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”) , The Chiffons (“One Fine Day”, “He’s So Fine”) and hometown heroes Chuck Blasko's Vogues (“You’re the One”, “Five o’Clock Word”, “Turn Around, Look at Me.”)
Rock ‘n' Remember Live! comes to the Benedum Center (237 7th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) on April 11, 2020 with shows at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $39, $58, $68 and $78 and are on sale now at the Theatre Square Box Office by calling (412) 456-6666, or online at TrustArts.org.
###
Spotlight Productions is an entertainment company that produces and promotes a variety of entertainment for arenas, theatres, casinos, colleges, auditoriums, outdoor festivals as well as corporate, social and fundraising events.
Spotlight Productions specializes in producing their Rock ‘n Remember Live! Shows at the Benedum Center each spring, and their Rock, Roll and Doo Wop shows, which feature legendary artists from the 50’s—60’s and 70’s and are presented at Wheeling's Capitol Theater the Spring and Fall of each year.