Harold Wherry (left), guitarist and gentleman of soul, leads his Blue Breeze Band back to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 27. The band serves up jazz, funk, R&B, Motown and soul.
Photo courtesy Blue Breeze

Guitarist and Motown gentleman of soul Harold Wherry and his Blue Breeze Band return to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 27.

A favorite of Idyllwild audiences, especially the dancers, Blue Breeze serves up a high-energy musical menu of Motown, R&B, soul, funk and jazz.

Wherry and his band have worked with Motown and R&B royalty, including Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Billy Preston, The Four Tops and the Delphonics.

If your musical tastes run to Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Ritchie, Ray Charles, and Sly and the Family Stone, and tunes like “Superstition,” “That’s the Way of the World,” “Dance to the Music,” “What’s Going On” and “Georgia on My Mind,” then Wherry and Blue Breeze will take you back to the day when you could boogie all night.

Returning with guitar statesman Wherry are Chicago-native Bob Henley III on vocals, Richard Moorings on keyboards, vocals and trombone, Detroit-native Darryl Bomar on four-, five- and six-stringed electric bass guitars and vocals, Buster Harrell on drums and vocals, and Tim Anderson on tenor sax and vocals.

Female vocalists Chevone Shampine and Vivian Love break out the smooth and sassy, remembering Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, The Supremes, Gladys Knight, and Martha and The Vandellas.

This is not a night for laid-back easy listening. This is a night to dance to the music, remembering what it was like to feel those possibilities, that groove and that beat — at that time.

Put on your dancin’ shoes and bring chairs, comfort food, coolers, camaraderie and cash to help fill the donation jars. This is a free concert, presented by Ken Dahleen and his ISCS board for the enjoyment of locals. Donations at the concerts and sponsorships help fund the series budget. Sponsors and donors can contact Dahleen directly at 951-659-2229 or send checks to P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild, CA 92549.

Blue Breeze takes the stage at 7 p.m. Opening for Harold and his group is Jac Jacaruso and Friends, starting at 6:15 p.m. It would be wise to bring flashlights to help find your way from the venue to your car.