Thursday, July 17, 2014
Our Mission
Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, presents a wide range of programs that entertain, enrich, and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey. The 2014-2015 season is made possible, in part, by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support received from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, F.M. Kirby Foundation and other numerous foundations, corporations and individuals. As a courtesy to the artists and for the uninterrupted enjoyment of your fellow patrons, please turn off all cell phones, pagers, beepers and other electronic devices. Please unwrap any lozenges before the performance begins. No portion of this performance may be photographed, recorded, filmed, taped, broadcast or mechanically reproduced without the written consent of the Artist and/or the Presenter. Mayo Performing Arts Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Media Partner
FM KIRBY FOUNDATION
The Stylistics, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes & Blue Magicin 70s Soul Jam The Stylistics Following the success of The o’Jays, The Spinners and The Delfonics, the City of Brotherly Love has just enough room for another highly successful soul group. That group came in the form of The Stylistics. The Stylistics, with their charisma, style and harmony, evolved into one of the best-selling soul groups ever, as the Philadelphia-based quartet, recorded a remarkable 10 straight-top ten hits during the early 1970’s. The story of The Stylistics is not only of success, it is one of early disappointment that eventually led to their meteoric rise. When The Monarchs and The Percussions, two moderately successful Philadelphia’ high school bands dissolved in the late 1960’s, it set the state for a merger that would impact soul music for years. In 1968, under the suggestion of a teacher, the two disbanded high school groups decided to join forces. Russell Thompkins, Jr., Airrion Love and James Smith of The Monarchs, joined forces with James Dunn and Herbert Murrell of The Percussions, it was then that The Stylistics were born. In 1971, the group collaborated with producer Thorn Bell, the ingenious’ creator of the “Philly Sound” to release their debut self-titled album. The Stylistics would capture the imagination of the nation and the hearts of its women with their first single. “You’re a Big Girl Now”, which immediately became a top-ten hit. The Stylistics had started a contemporaries or predecessors that appealed to the masses. With this style and delivery, fans and artists alike were mesmerized. Under the production of Bell, The’ Stylistics went on to produce 12 consecutive top-ten hits from 1971 to 1974, culminating with their Grammy-Nominated hit, “You Make Me Feel Brand New.” It seemed every song the quintet released, greeted the airwaves with fresh, artistic fervor. Their emphasis on smoother, sweeter ballads made them the antithesis if many of their popular contemporaries. Their tempo and style would vary effortlessly with each song. The Stylistics had carved themselves a reputation as perhaps the premIer soul group dunng that span.
What started as the innocent union of two ex-high school bands, developed into one of the longest standing, most accomplished soul bands to grace the R&B scene. They continue to perform as only they can, bringing with them the sweet, soulful memories of year’s past.
Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes Harold Melvin was one of the driving forces behind Philadelphia soul, leading his group the Blue Notes to the top of the charts during their stint on Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International label. Despite Melvin’s billing out front, the Blue Notes’ focal point was lead singer and onetime drummer Teddy Pendergrass, whose surging baritone graced the Blue Notes’ recordings during their glory years of 1972-1975 and gave them a truly distinctive sound. Their output ranged from sweeping, extended proto-disco dance tracks to silky, smoldering ballads, all wrapped up in Gamble and Huff’s lushly orchestrated production. When Pendergrass left for a solo career, Melvin & the Blue Notes’ commercial fortunes largely reverted to the pre-Pendergrass days (of which there were quite a few), although they did continue to record for a time. They never really disbanded, and by the time Melvin passed away in 1997, he’d been leading the Blue Notes for over four decades. Blue Magic an R&B vocal quintet whose members were Theodore Mills, Vernon Sawyer, Wendell Sawyer, Keith Beaton, and Richard Pratt, was formed in Philadelphia and signed to Atlantic Records in 1973. They hit the Top 40 of the R&B singles chart with their first three 45s before breaking through and crossing over with “Sideshow,” released in April 1974, which went gold, topped the R&B charts, and became a Top Ten pop hit. “Three Ring Circus,” their next single, made the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40. Blue Magic had two more R&B chart singles in 1975 and four in 1976 before suffering a career slump, but they returned with R&B chart singles in 1981 and 1983 and made a comeback album, From Out of the Blue, in 1989.