Harold Wheery and his Blue Breeze Band bring their familiar brand of blazing Motown to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series.
Not only is the music some of the best in pop music’s lexicon, BBB executes with punch and panache.
Wheery, BBB’s elder statesman on guitar, returns with his regulars — Bob Henley III on vocals; Richard Moorings on keyboards, vocals and trombone; Darryl Boar on four, five and six-string electric bass guitar and vocals; Buster Harrell on drums and vocals; Tim Anderson on tenor sax and vocals; and Tyrone Griffin on trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals.
Also returning with BBB is Memphis native and soulful vocalist Laia Jones. Jones will delight her ISCS audience with some of the best of Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin and Martha Reeves. Jones has worked with Mary J. Blige, Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton, among others.
BBB has been a huge favorite of ISCS audiences because of the strength of their musical chops, the brilliance of their horn section and the ensemble’s full-throated group vocals.
As always, Wherry promises Motown is for motion, not for meditation. So put down that wine glass and that fried chicken leg, and get up and dance. That is what Motown is for, said Wherry.
Wherry and his band members have worked with the royalty of Motown and R&B, including Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Billy Preston, The Four Tops and The Delphonics. They take the ISCS stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Opening for BBB at 6:15 p.m. is local Mike Rose and his group.
For Ken Dahleen and the ISCS board, the challenge is always raising enough money to fund the series before the eight-week season is over. This year, the challenge looms especially large. Less than half of the season budget of $32,420 has been raised to date ($15,923) with only four more concerts to go.
So bring chairs, comfort food, champagne, camaraderie and cash, especially cash to celebrate the 17th-season of Dahleen’s summer spectacular. Sponsors and donors can contact Dahleen directly at 951-659-2229 or send checks to P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild, Ca. 92549.
As a side note, Dahleen said the Forest Folk’s Idyllwild Shuttle Service transported the Marine Corps Jazz Alumni Musicians from off-Hill airports to and from Idyllwild for their performance this Thursday. Also, all profits from Craig and Janice Coopersmith’s water and ice cream sales at the concert site are donated to help fund the series.