New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Whether you enjoyed songs like “This Magic Moment,” “Be My Baby” or “Stay Just a Little Longer” via radios, record collections or multiple viewings of the movie “Dirty Dancing,” you can soon delve into a sonic scrapbook to delight in these classics once more.
On April 16, the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford will celebrate the roots of rock and roll with “Doo Wop 12,” a live look back at some of the music that has endured for more than half a century, a night to share with some of the stars of that era – performers who enjoy the music as much as their audience.
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $45 and $55. They are available at www.zeiterion.org, by calling (508) 994-2900, or at the Zeiterion box office located at 684 Purchase St.
“I’m very happy when I can put smiles on people’s faces,” says Bobby Hendricks, known as the lead singer for the Drifters, a group that will be performing at the show. “I like taking people back to their glory days, and we still have a lot of fun.”
Along with Hendricks, other performers will include Jay Siegel and the Tokens and The Chiffons, who are known for some of the biggest hits of their time. Filling out the bill will be youthful crooner Kid Kyle.
Major hits for The Tokens include, “He’s in Town,” “I Hear Trumpets Blow” and “Portrait of My Love.” In October 1961, they recorded what has become one of the biggest hit songs of all time, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” which has enjoyed resurgence in multi-generational popularity thanks to its prominence in the long-running Broadway hit, The Lion King.
The Chiffons are best known for their songs, “One Fine Day” and “He’s So Fine,” which were both produced by Siegel and The Tokens, as well as, “I Have a Boyfriend.” The group will perform with original member Judy Craig Mann, along with her daughter and niece.
This concert will be the 25’th area show organized by Todd Baptista, the 12’th at the Zeiterion. A doo wop fan who was raised in New Bedford and now resides in Westport, he began putting the shows together in 1998.
“This next Zeiterion show will feature many pioneering doo wop artists, there will be many of the original singers,” Baptista says. “Fans won’t have to travel great distances to see them, they can take advantage of this opportunity in our back yard.”
Baptista claims that he got the idea for the concerts while working on a book about doo wop.
“Some of these artists were telling me that they were still wanting to continue performing and entertaining fans,” he says.
And some of those fans can be quite young – doo wop concerts are bringing in fans from three generations.
“I’m seeing doo wop fans bringing their grandchildren to these concerts,” Baptista says. “There are people in their 70’s and 80’s with fans in their 20’s.”
And this next show will feature a performance by the 21-year old Kyle Flandrau, otherwise known as Kid Kyle. A fan-favorite and New Jersey native, he gained attention after appearing on American Idol Junior at the age of 8. Recording by age 10, he performed with original members of the Students and Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers in a 2007 PBS Doo Wop special that brought him international acclaim. Now he will hold his own alongside doo wop’s favorite icons on stage at The Zeiterion.
“Young girls are attracted to Kid Kyle as well as the music,” Baptista says. “It’s been said that good things last and this music has lasted. Our audiences are continuing to grow.”
“I began singing in my bedroom at 12 years old and doo wop music has taken me around the world,” Hendricks says. “Shows like this are helping people’s experiences stay strong.”
Baptista notes that the upcoming Zeiterion performance will include hit songs as well as some that will be dusted off for this show. “This night will feature songs that were hits when they were first played as well as songs that audiences haven’t heard for 60 years.
“Many of our memories are attached to music,” Baptista says, “whether you’re singing the songs or enjoying them.”
