THEY WERE DANCING IN THE AISLES!

I don't think I've seen a Princess Theatre audience enjoy themselves anymore than the one Saturday evening.  The Boy's Night Out, featuring C. Vaughn Leslie, and The TAMS rock'n rolled'em up and down the aisles!

Say what you will about the kind of performances at the Princess thus far, but there is no other group in history that has enjoyed, or is still enjoying, themselves anymore than "baby boomers"!  

If you went back in time 50 years, you would have heard the same sounds pouring over dance floors, as you would have heard if you happened to pass the Princess Saturday night!  However, it only points to the fact that "we" still like to get down, and "get down" they did all around the Princess main floor and even in the balcony.  It was a true happening!

I describe all this to let those of you that have not yet let your hair down, and come down to a Princess show know what you are missing.  Slowly, we are seeing our town and larger community come back together in some sort of musical unity.  It may be a little bit at a time, but it is happening.  From all this we will find new inspiration, a new infusion of ideas, and a regrowth of our spirit.

Emcee and DJ, Jeff Moser, and C. Vaughn Little survey the audience before going on stage.

C. Vaughn Leslie may be my age, but time has not robbed him of his voice.  It is still vibrant and able to bellow out the oldie-but-goodie tunes just the way we remember them.  The backing band has only grown tighter and their sound is just as distinctive as it was 30 years ago. The band has a repertoire of over 140 beach and R&B songs.

Boys' Night Out (BNO) was organized in 1983 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with the goal of recreating the authentic performances of the rhythm and blues (R&B) music that had been extremely popular with teenagers in the south during the late 1960s. Boys' Night Out's first public performance was at the Oak Ridge Azalea Festival on May 5, 1984, and they have played a busy schedule ever since.

Here are a few of the BNO specific photos from last night:

Rick Nuebert on drums, and Jake Alexander on bass.

C. Vaughn Leslie and Don Bachelor

Mark Wright, sound manager, offering a few pre-show tips.

You can barely make out dancers in front of the stage!

And, at intermission, POPCORN!  That's right, last night was a milestone event - popcorn came back to the Princess!  Hallelujah!  

Volunteers Beverly Clough and Sandy Hooks proudly present POPCORN!

The TAMS website shouts, "Are you looking for entertainment?  Having a party?"  The Princess was sure looking to have a party Saturday evening when they invited the world famous TAMS!

THE TAMS have been entertaining and thrilling audiences for over 50 years! Known for such hits as "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy", "What Kind of Fool", "I've Been Hurt" and "Untie Me", The Tams have had 2 Gold Records, and 1 Platinum Single.  "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" hit #1 in the UK in 1971.
 

When intermission was over, the popcorn eaten, the TAMS picked the mood back up and the isle dancing resumed!  All the old favorite hits kept coming and the Princess kept jumping!

The Tams were formed in Atlanta, GA in 1962. It’s members were Joseph Pope and Charles Pope (founders), Horace Key, Floyd Ashton, and Robert Lee Smith. In the beginning, they sang and danced as a way of having fun and to escape their circumstances, hoping to make at least a little money. The group began performing in local night spots for $1.25 each. These small wages only allowed for them to purchase matching Tam O’shanter hats to wear while on stage. From this trademark, the legendary Tams name was born.

Here are a few of my favorite TAMS photos from last night:

(L-R) Geno, Frank Floyd, Rodney Bruce, and Micky Glover

Little Redd (Albert Cottle), Elton Richardson, Greg Gallashaw, Robert Arnold, and Reginal Preston.

Before the show, I got to know the band.  They are a bunch of really nice guys!  It's funny, why did they pose the whitest boy in town with the TAMS members!  But, I've been sickly!

Micky Glover, Frank Floyd, Geno, Bernard Jordan, me, and Rodney Bruce!

Before I close, I'd like to mention again what a great time we had.  Please, please come to the next Princess Foundation concert.  They really are a lot of fun.

You can now buy tickets on line at  http://princess.brownpapertickets.com/.  So, there is really no reason you can't get tickets, and if you can't, come to the window!

See you there - NEXT TIME!