Oldies Fest offers big-name lineup

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 13, 2003 by Nicole Warburton Deseret Morning News

The Oldies Fest is back for the eighth straight year with a lineup that includes The Grass Roots, B.J. Thomas, The Kingsmen, Billy J. Kramer and Blood, Sweat & Tears. "This is one of the best lineups ever," said Scott Kerr, producer of the event.

Kerr describes Blood, Sweat & Tears as the headlining act. "As far as hits go, this is one of the bands that has had the most hits. One of their top hits -- a lot of people know the words -- is 'Spinning Wheel.' " Other songs include "Just One Smile," I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" and "You've Made Me So Very Happy."

Led by David Clayton-Thomas -- a talented singer with a rough background -- Blood, Sweat & Tears has gone through a series of transformations since its inception. Different founding members and musicians left the band throughout the late '60s and early '70s. In 1976, Bobby Colomby, the group's last founding member, left Clayton- Thomas -- who had joined in 1967 -- to lead the band. Currently, trumpet player Nick Marchione, guitarist Gregg Sullivan, drummer Andrea Valentini, trombone player Dale Kirkland, keyboardist Eric Cortright and saxophone player Darcy Hepner make up Blood Sweat & Tears with Clayton-Thomas.

Clayton-Thomas "just kind of revamped the band," Kerr said, adding that the current version of Blood Sweat & Tears is talented in its own right. "They are such a large band, with a complete horn section. . . . They've toured with some of the best blues and jazz musicians all over the world."

The Kingsmen are known for the hit song "Louie, Louie," while B.J. Thomas is known for "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," "Hooked On A Feeling" and the hit song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." The Grass Roots -- which has performed at the Oldies Fest before -- sang "Where Were You When I Needed You," "Sooner or Later" and "Let's Live For Today."

"Before we started doing this, I didn't realize how much of this music I knew," said Kerr. "There are all these hits we grew up listening to, and we don't realize that these are the bands that sang the songs."

While not as well-known as the Grass Roots or B.J. Thomas, Billy J. Kramer was an opening act for the Beatles, and his songs include "Bad to Me," "Do You Want To Know a Secret" and "From a Window," written for him by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. He will be singing a tribute to the Beatles during the Oldies Fest.

The concert is being touted as an event for all ages. "People can lay down or stand up and dance," Kerr said. "It is pretty much a fun- loving and laid-back concert."

If you go

What: Oldies Fest

Where: Franklin Covey Field

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

How Much: $21 for adults, $5 for kids (12 and under)

Phone: 1-800-888-TIXX

E-MAIL: nwarburton@desnews.com