!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars1.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
There’s a star-studded event going on at the historic Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ, this February 8, 2019 evening called Stars of the ‘60s! Presented by Joe Mirrione, this trip back in time to the golden days of rock ’n roll features four outstanding acts: The Original Vandellas, The Motortown All-Stars, Dennis Tufano, and Jay and the Americans.
Concert producer Joe Mirrione welcomes the packed house to the beautiful Strand theater and introduces tonight’s’ first group — The Original Vandellas — featuring original members Rosalind Holmes and Annette Helton, in addition to current lead singer, Roschelle Laughhunn — backed by instrumentalists on keyboards, bass, drums, saxophone, and trumpet.
Strutting out onto the stage, the women ask the crowd, “Did you come here to have a good time?” to which the audience responds with a collective “Yeah!” and the journey begins!
Warming up the house with the group’s classic 1963 Top 5 hit, “Heatwave,” the talented trio from Detroit energetically sings and dances as the audience joins in on the famous “I got a heat wave/Burning in my heart” chorus.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars2.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
Following avid applause, the group performs one of The Vandellas’ early hits, 1963’s “Come and Get These Memories.” When the women get to the lyric, “Here’s that old teddy bear,” they even throw a teddy bear out into the crowd!
A highlight of the trio’s set is their performance of one of their hits which was included in the soundtrack of the film, Good Morning, Vietnam — the group’s 1965 smash, “Nowhere to Run.” With their voices crying out, the skillful backup band supports the singers’ soulful vocals with all the right notes.
Following a slow and sweet love song from 1966, “My Baby Loves Me,” The Vandellas take a moment to introduce themselves.
Announces original member, Rosalind Holmes, “Annette and I have been singing together since we were 14 years old!”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars3.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
Her long-time partner, Annette Helton, adds, “We turned 75 last year,” before disclosing, “I’m three months older than Rosalind!”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars4.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
Lastly, lead singer Roschelle Laughhunn, 61, confesses, “I was born the year they started singing together!”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars5.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
At this point, the group launches into the 1967 Top 10 audience pleaser, “Jimmy Mack,” a number which features lots of spirited dancing on the song’s instrumental break.
The Vandellas end their set on a high note with one of the group’s biggest hits — their 1964 smash, “Dancing in the Street” — which has audience members dancing at their seats before cheering and applauding on their feet!
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars6.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
After thanking the women from Detroit, Joe Mirrione introduces the Motortown All-Stars — a talented quartet from the Motor City comprised of Charles Franklin and Douglas Daddy from Ali Woodson’s Temptations, George Wilson from the Capitols, and David Finley from The Miracles.
The group takes the stage dancing as they perform a high-energy rendition of The Temptations’ 1966 Top 40 hit, “Get Ready.”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars7.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
They follow up with an electrifying performance of The Temps’ 1966 Top 20 hit, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” a number which has the audience joyfully clapping along.
A series of four more Temptations’ songs follow. First, is the group’s 1964 chart-topper, “My Girl,” which features fancy footwork and dance moves. Next up is the 1967 Top 5 hit, “I Wish It Would Rain,” a performance which highlights the group’s clear, strong voices, and beautiful harmonies.
After an upbeat version of The Temps’ 1964 Top 20 hit, “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” the All-Stars perform a dynamic and funky version of the 1969 #1 Temptations’ smash, “I Can’t Get Next to You,” the quartet clearly having fun as they joyfully sing and dance for the crowd.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars8.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
George Wilson explains that Motown’s world-famous back-up band, The Funk Brothers, played on the original recording of their next number, The Capitols’ 1966 Top 10 smash, “Cool Jerk.”
The audience sings along on a song which was originally recorded by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles — the group’s 1970 #1 hit, “The Tears of a Clown.”
Original Miracles’ member David Finley handles the lead on The Miracles’ 1965 Top 20 classic, “Tracks of My Tears.”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars9.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
The All-Stars follow up with their rendition of The Miracles’ 1967 tune, “I Second that Emotion,” a number which elicits excited cheers from the crowd.
After introducing one another, the men from Motortown present one of the highlight performances of the evening — a medley of Michael Jackson hits which includes sparkling renditions of such Jackson 5 chart-toppers as “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There.” The crowd sings along before responding by rising to their feet and reacting with enthusiastic cheers and whistles!
The All-Star party continues with the quartet’s version of The Contours’ 1962 Top 40 classic, “Do You Love Me,” with the crowd singing along and responding to the famous “Do you love me? (Do you love me?)/Do you love me? (Do you love me?)/Do you love me? (Do you love me?)/Now that I can dance” lyric, as each All-Star takes a turn strutting about the stage!
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars10.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
The crowd continues to sing and dance on the All-Stars’ final number, The Isley Brothers’ 1969 hit, “Shout.” With hands up in the air, the audience happily shrieks, “You know you make me wanna (Shout!)/Kick my heels up and (Shout!)”
Shouting their approval as the singers wave good bye, the crowd stands and applauds for this seasoned group of Motown entertainers!
During intermission, we have an opportunity to chat with one of the members of The Original Vandellas — Annette Helton.
Exclaims Helton, “We’re having a great time here at the Strand tonight!” before confessing, “We were all backstage dancing with the crew to the music of the Motortown All-Stars!”
In talking about the origin of The Vandellas,” Helton recalls, “Rosalind Holmes and I met at an audition. Neither one of us expected to be a singer — she wanted to be an airline stewardess, and I wanted to be a nurse — but we were each there with someone else who was auditioning and, somehow, we got picked and here we are still singing together!”
Lastly, with regards to recording the group’s great hits at Motown’s Detroit studios, Helton says, “I recently revisited Motown Studio A and I couldn’t believe how small it was! It’s really amazing how we fit all those singers and musicians in that one little room,” before adding with a wink, “but we did it — and now we’re a part of music history!”
The lights in the auditorium dim and Act II begins with Joe Mirrione who introduces Dennis Tufano, the original lead singer of one of the most popular groups of the 1960s — The Buckinghams!
Opening with Chicago’s 1972 Top 5 hit, “Saturday in the Park,” horns wail to Tufano’s silvery-smooth lead vocal.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars11.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
After explaining that the group, Chicago, was “another horn band which came after The Buckinghams,” Tufano launches into an original Buckinghams’ song— their 1967 Top 10 hit, “Don’t You Care.” His voice sounding as clear, strong, and focused as ever, the audience sings along to the easy groove of this classic ’60s tune.
Taking a moment to acknowledge tonight’s prior acts — The Original Vandellas and the Motortown All-Stars — Tufano acknowledges, “I’m overwhelmed. I was in the wings dancing!” before joking, “I’m tired! I need a nap,” and thanking the members of this Jersey crowd saying, “You’ve kept all of this music alive for over 50 years!”
Keeping it as ’60s as it gets, an organ swirls on The Bucks’ 1967 Top 20 hit, “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song).” Inviting the audience to sing along on the “Hey baby” lyric, Tufano rocks the house as the back-up band’s solid keyboards, guitar, bass drums, and horns add to the number’s driving sound.
A treat for tonight’s audience is a rare concert performance of a lesser known Buckinghams’ single, “Back in Love Again” — a song which features an intricate studio arrangement which is skillfully brought to life by Dennis and the band.
Tufano knocks one out of the park with his stellar version of The Buckinghams’ 1967 hit, “Susan.” Then, a driving beat, a tight booming bass, and brassy horns are all featured on The Buckinghams’ 1967 Top Five hit, “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.” Dancing and grooving to the rockin’ band, Tufano sings his heart out for this packed house of music lovers at the Jersey Shore.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars12.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
After a fan yells out “Love you, man!” Tufano replies with an earnest, “I love you, too.” He continues by telling the audience a true story about a member of tonight’s audience named Bibello.
Announcing, “There’s a special occasion tonight,” Tufano reveals, “A man and his wife came up to me in the lobby before. They told me that, just yesterday, he had an operation on his ear. This is the first time he can hear with both ears, and he came here tonight to listen to the show! God bless you, Bibello!”
At this point, Tufano launches into The Bucks’ 1967 #1 hit, “Kind of a Drag,” which gets audience members up on their feet singing and dancing, obviously in love with Dennis and his music.
Following a heartfelt standing ovation, Tufano sings an encore of James Brown’s “I’ll Go Crazy.” As lights flash and the band rocks its way through the number, Dennis leads the way crooning, “You gotta live for yourself and nobody else,” the audience appreciating his lyrical message as much as they do every single musical note!
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars13.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
Joe Mirrione retakes the stage and thanks Tufano before exclaiming,“This music is the best medicine God ever made. Can I get an AMEN?” at which point the entire audience shouts, “AMEN!”
Mirrione follows up by introducing tonight’s final performers, Jay and the Americans, a group which he reveals “had 18 Top 40 records between the years of 1962 and 1970!”
Opening with their 1963 tune, “Only in America,” the rich vocal harmonies of Jay and the Americans fill the room on this bright upbeat song that has everyone singing along.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars14.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
Next, the group segues into their 1964 hit, “Let’s Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key),” their voices ringing clear and strong.
The sound of a guitar introduces the easy 1966 rocker, “Sunday and Me.” Then, founding members Howie Kane and Marty Sanders — along with lead singer Jay Reincke — introduce one another, before acknowledging that original member Sandy Deanne cannot be with the group tonight.
Their voices pleading out, the trio performs their first major hit — the 1961 Top 5 single, “She Cried.” They follow that up with an uptempo Latin rendition of The Drifters’ 1960 hit, “Save the Last Dance For Me,” with many in the crowd joining in and singing along.
The vocalists then launch into a trio of Roy Orbison songs. Opening with “Crying,” the full sound of the group’s vocals fill the theater. Following cheers, the trio segues into “Pretty Woman.” Singing to all the pretty women in the audience, Jay Reincke looks patrons in the eye as he growls and purrs the song along.
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars15.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
After even more cheers and whistles, Jay and the Americans perform a sweet and sentimental version of The Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me,” before segueing into one of the highlight moments of the concert, a stunning rendition of “Cara Mia.” On this show-stopping number, Jay Reincke hits all the high notes with ease, eliciting applause from the audience and bringing the entire crowd to its feet cheering for this talented singer!
The group follows up with their version of The Coasters’ “Young Blood,” a rockin’ shuffle with spot-on vocal harmonies. Then, they perform their 1969 Top 20 hit, “Walkin’ in the Rain,” the trumpeting horns adding to the group’s rich, full sound, before shifting into an uptempo rendition of their 1965 Top 20 recording, “Some Enchanted Evening,” from the Broadway musical, South Pacific.
Next up is their version of The Walker Brothers’ 1966 hit, “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore,” which features great horn lines. Then, the group performs their 1964 Top 5 classic, “Come a Little Bit Closer.” The audience sings along on the the refrain of this fun, upbeat song — a number which, we learn, is currently included on one of the top-selling albums of the year, Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 2.
Following cheers, Jay and the Americans take a moment to acknowledge all of the veterans, first responders, and police officers in the audience and around the country who give of themselves every day. Then, the group concludes its set with their 1968 Top 10 smash, “This Magic Moment,” the audience standing and cheering as the group repays them with one final Jay Riencke chorus of “Cara Mia.”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars16.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
As we make our way out of the Strand auditorium, we happen to spot Joe Long, a long-time member of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, who was a member of the audience this evening.
Comments Long about tonight’s show, “That was a great line-up! When I was with The Four Seasons, we toured with groups like The Shirelles, so I really loved the integration of the Motown sound tonight.”
Continuing, “I’m also a big Dennis Tufano fan, and he was fantastic!” Long concludes by acknowledging, “The Four Seasons also worked with Jay and the Americans — so that brought everything full circle!”
Next, we catch up with Bibello from Point Pleasant, the man to whom Dennis Tufano referred when he talked about the audience member who, after a recent procedure, could hear tonight’s concert with both ears.
Explains Bibello, “I’ve had a hearing aid since age 10 in one of my ears that had some hearing, but I just had surgery in the other ear and, now, I have a hearing aid for that ear. In the past, I used to miss half of the sound I should have been hearing, but tonight I actually had to turn my hearing aid down!”
With regards to this evening’s feast of classic ’60 music, Bibillo exclaims, “Tonight was phenomenal; I just loved all the dancing, the rhythm, and especially the music — it was just amazing!”
Bibello’s wife, Audrey, agrees adding, “Being here at the Strand has just been wonderful — plus all of the music tonight is from our era; we loved all of tonight’s groups!”
Diane from Toms River concurs, noting, “We’ve seen a lot of different shows here at the Strand, and tonight’s show was no exception; it was awesome — they played all of my favorite songs!”
Debbie from Beachwood remarks, “All of the artists tonight were great — that they all can still sing and dance so well at this age is impressive!” Louise from Toms River agrees stating, “It was fantastic; I loved it” before Beatrice from Manalapan chimes in, “I’d give it a 10!”
Whereas Yvonne from Lakewood specifically states, “I thought the Motortown All-Stars were especially good — I loved their voices and their dancing,” Rhoda from Lakewood remarks, “I liked Dennis Tufano — tonight was my very first time seeing him — but I also enjoyed Jay and the Americans, too; their music brought back great memories!”
Lastly, Donna from Toms River concurs stating, “The entire show was amazing — all four acts were awesome,” before concluding with a smile, “I’d have to say it was quadruple awesome!”
!["Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2019/Stars17.jpg ""Quadruple Awesome!" The Stars of the ’60s LIVE! at the Strand")
To learn more about upcoming Joe Mirrione shows, please go to poprockdoowopp.com.
For more info on The Original Vandellas, please go to thevandellas.net. To learn more about The Motortown All-Stars, click on themotortownallstars. For further information on Dennis Tufano, please check out dtsings.com. For more on Jay and the Americans, go to jayandtheamericans.net.
For info on upcoming performances at The Strand Theater — including The Outlaws with special guest Southern Steel on March 15, The Cast of Beatlemania on April 13, and Let’s Hang On: A Tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons on August 10 — please go to strand.org.
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