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November 6, 2008

Vocal Group Hall inducts 48, opens weekend concerts

By Matt Snyder

YOUNGSTOWN — Kicking off four days of music festivity, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame held its 10th anniversary induction ceremony Thursday afternoon in the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown. The first of four concerts followed.

The event marked the induction of musicians for 2005, ’06 and ’07, some of whom were planning on lending their musical talents to the four-night concert series.

With more than a few tears at the podium as they accepted their awards, many of the musical personas who showed up were a throwback from the 1950s and ’60s era.

The Hilltoppers were a seminal 1950s pop vocal quartet that began as a barbershop harmony trio in college. When they found their fourth, a pianist and baritone, they recorded their first song together, “Trying.”

Surviving band member Jimmy Sacca accepted the award Thursday night. “It’s been a perfect life,” he said –– including doing what he loves and 55 years of marriage.

Proud to receive the Vocal Group Hall of Fame award, he talked a bit about how his music has touched other lives.

One letter from a woman said his song, “P.S., I Love You,” was the first song she and her husband ever danced to. When her husband fought in the Korean War, they signed all their letters with the song’s title, she wrote. Sacca said she wrote him shortly after her husband’s death, to tell him the title of his song is inscribed on the man’s tombstone.

Sixteen groups from each of the three years –– for a total of 48 –– were inducted into the Hall of Fame on Thursday. While only a portion attended and many groups have been hit hard by the deaths or departures of various members, the concert lineup still features a breadth of talent.

Thursday performances featured Three Dog Night, Peter Tork of the Monkees, The Lettermen, Florence LaRue of The Fifth Dimension, Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge, Charlie Thomas of The Drifters, The Crystals, Terry Johnson’s Flamingos, The Capris, The Spaniels and Tom Bialoglow of The Duprees.

Each remaining concert is at 7 p.m. in the Chevrolet Centre, and the lineup consists of:

• Today –– Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, Al Jardine of The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Chi-Lites, The Angels, The Tokens, The Tymes, Harold Jackson’s Ink Spots, Jimmy Sacca of The Hilltoppers, and Harold Winley of The Clovers.

* Saturday –– The O’Jays, Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, Jay and the Americans, Mary Weiss of the original Shangri-Las, The Dixie Cups, The Vogues, The Skyliners, Danny and the Juniors, Jim Freeman of the Five Satins, Gretchen Christopher of The Fleetwoods, and Bowzer of Sha Na Na.

• Sunday –– All-Inductees Finale Jam Session, Tony Orlando, Tim Hauser of The Manhattan Transfer, The Association, Maurice Williams of the Zodiacs, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, Ruby of Ruby and the Romantics, Frankie Lymon’s Teenagers, Sonny Til’s Orioles, The Modernaires, and Bernie Toorish of The Four Lads.

Concert tickets cost $25, $35, or $45 in the stands and $60 for table seats on the floor with the artists, according to a news release. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Chevrolet Centre’s box office at 330-746-5600, or the Vocal Group Hall of Fame at 724-983-2025.

For more information on the inductees, including biographies and musical clips, go to www.vghf.org and click on “Inductees” on the right side of the page.

The Hall of Fame, intended as a tribute to the world’s greatest vocal groups, was founded by Tony Butala of The Lettermen, a Sharon native. It is based out of downtown Sharon. A portion of the concert proceeds goes toward revitalizing the Columbia Theatre and Hall, where president and CEO Bob Crosby has said they want to host groups locally.

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