February 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … An all-star lineup featuring The Jerry Butler Orchestra, the original lead singer of the Shirelles, Shirley Alston Reeves, and doo-wop favorites Willie Winfield and the Harptones bring back the distinctive sounds of the ‘50s and ‘60s with some of their greatest hits in an Oregon Symphony Pops concert on March 18, 19 and 20 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, with an added performance on March 21 at Smith Auditorium in Salem. The Oregon Symphony does not perform. Media support is provided by KEX and Oregon Business Magazine.
Butler, whose smooth, soulful sound has earned him three Grammy nominations, opens the evening with some of his best-known hits including “Only the Strong Survive,” “For Your Precious Love” and “He Will Break Your Heart.”
Reeves will sing some of The Shirelles’ solid gold hits including “Soldier Boy,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” and “This is Dedicated to the One I Love.”
Willie Winfield and the Harptones will bring back the sweet sounds of doo wop with such songs as “Life is But a Dream” and “Sunday Kind of Love.” All performers will announce their selections from the stage.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 19, at 3 p.m. and Monday, March 20, at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, with an additional performance on Tuesday, March 21 at Willamette University’s Smith Auditorium in Salem. Tickets range in price from $27 to $76 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Customer Service Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the Group Sales hotline at (503) 416-6380. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Jerry Butler’s career spans four decades - he's recorded more than 50 albums and his voice is one of the most distinguished voices in all of music. As soulful as ever, yet smooth as ice, his nickname, “The Iceman,” epitomizes his demeanor and sound. In spite of his status as a true music icon, he remains humble. Butler moved from Sunflower, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois at the age of three during the mass migration of Blacks from the south to the north (he grew up in an area that is now known as the Cabrini-Green Housing Projects).
Butler acquired his initial music lessons as a young boy while a member of the church choir in Chicago. Curtis Mayfield, who was three years younger, was also a member of the same choir. The two befriended each other and began a collaboration that would have an everlasting impact on music. The twosome joined up with brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks and Sam Gooden to form the R&B group The Roosters. In 1957, the quintet’s name was changed to Jerry Butler And The Impressions. Butler scored his first hit with The Impressions in 1958 with the timeless ballad “For Your Precious Love,” (he’d written the lyrics to the song when he was just 16).
Jerry Butler was recently rediscovered by a whole new generation because of his unprecedented national exposure as “host” of three PBS Doo Wop specials, “Doo Wop 50,” “Doo Wop 51” and “Rock Rhythm and Doo Wop.”
The Shirelles, you may remember! Legendary lady Shirley Alston Reeves, you will never forget! Ms. Reeves is the co-founder of The Shirelles. She was born Shirley Owens in Henderson, North Carolina, moved to Passaic, New Jersey at an early age. While attending Passaic High School, The Shirelles with Shirley Alston Reeves as lead singer were discovered and recorded after performing in an auditorium program.
The first single release, “I Met Him on A Sunday” penned by the Shirelles collectively was an instant success “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” penned by super singer/songwriter Carole King was featured in the colossal hit movie “Dirty Dancing” with Shirley on lead vocal. Ms. Reeves also co-starred in the Rock n Roll film with the Shirelles “Let The Good Times Roll”, produced by Richard Nader.
“Tonight’s the Night” penned by Ms. Reeves, “Baby It’s You” lead vocal by Ms. Reeves along with the soulful sounding “This Is Dedicated To The One I Love” are all time Shirelle Favorites. The greatest hit song enjoyed by the group is “Soldier Boy.” Her golden vocals. Her show is designed to please all with the hits “Dedicated,” “Soldier Boy,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “Mama Said,” “Tonight’s the Night” and “Baby.”
The Harptones emerged from the group of youngsters singing against each other on the streets of New York’s East Side and Harlem in 1953. The Harptones have been able to earn universal acceptance and respect of fans, critics, and their peers alike, without the benefit of a significant charted hit or degree of exposure afforded many of their contemporaries. Their recordings have lasted in popularity throughout the years.
“Sunday Kind of Love,” their first recording, played on WMCA in New York City in 1954 by Hal Jackson, was an overnight hit. “Life is But a Dream,” “That’s the Way it Goes,” “My Memories of You” and “Three Wishes,” all written by Raoul J. Cita, are some of the group’s recordings that are still requested whenever they appear.
Thanks to the outstanding voice of Willie Winfield and the artistic compositions and arrangements of Raoul J. Cita, always supported by an excellent cast, the Harptones have maintained their beautiful harmony to round out a sound that gives every indication of lasting forever.
