Joe Nardone to present 'Oh What a Night of '60s Rock & Roll' at Kirby Center

Oct. 7—WILKES-BARRE — An incredible four-act lineup of legendary '60s hit-makers is coming to the Kirby Center on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Headlining the concert are Jay and the Americans. The band started with four teenagers singing in Sandy Yaguda's Brooklyn basement, and they are still going strong today.

Tickets go on sale today, Friday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. and are available at the Kirby Center box office, by phone at 570-826-1100, or online at — www.kirbycenter.org. A Kirby Member pre-sale began Thursday.

From 1962-1971, the group charted 12 top-10 records. In 1962, "She Cried" went to #5 on the charts. Jay Traynor, the first "Jay," was the lead singer. He was replaced by Jay #2, Jay Black, who was lead singer on the rest of their hits. In 1963, "Only in America" was a hit. In 1964, "Come a Little Bit Closer" went to #3, "Let's Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key") was top 20, and Jay and the Americans were on the bill on The Beatles first American tour, and they played at Carnegie Hall on the Rolling Stones tour.

From 1965-1970, their hits included "Cara Mia" (#4), "This Magic Moment" (#9), "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Walkin' In the Rain."

In 2006, Jay Black declared bankruptcy. The bankruptcy court sold the rights to the "Jay and the Americans" name to founding member Sandy Yaguda. The other bidder was Jay Reincke, a Chicago-based singer who had been singing their tunes in his band for decades. Sandy and Howie flew to Chicago to see Jay Reincke perform, and were amazed by his vocal talents, and Jay #3 joined Jay and the Americans.

Original members Sandy Yaduda, Howie Kirchenbaum and Marty Kupersmith, along with Jay Reincke, continue to recreate the authentic, unforgettable sound of the great hits to the delight of their fans.

The Grass Roots had many hit singles in the late sixties and early seventies, achieving three Top 10 singles, six Top 20 singles, 14 Top 40 singles, two gold albums and selling more than 20 million records worldwide.

In 1967, their first hit, "Let's Live for Today," went gold. In 1968, the Grass Roots performed at the San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami Pop Festivals, and "Midnight Confession" was a Top 5 hit. "I'd Walk a Million Miles" was the follow up hit. Other hits from 1969-1972 included "Temptation Eyes," "Sooner or Later," "Heaven Knows" and "Two Divided by Love."

In 2011, lead singer Rob Grill passed away, but band members who have been Grass Roots for 30 years and lead singer Mark Dawson continue to present the great music to grateful fans.

Gary Lewis & the Playboys were overnight stars in 1965-1966. The band got its start performing every night at Disneyland to packed audiences, and administrators at Disneyland didn't know that Gary was the son of comedy star Gerry Lewis. Legendary producer Snuff Garrett brought Gary the song "This Diamond Ring," and they recorded it with the Wrecking Crew backing them up. After an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show (Gary & the Playboys performed on the Sullivan Show five times), "This Diamond Ring" shot to #1 on the charts.

Gary and the band also performed on many other TV shows, including "Shindig," "Hullabaloo" and Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show."

Despite the fact that the music charts were dominated by British acts during the mid-sixties, Gary Lewis & the Playboys were only one of two acts in the 1960s whose first seven releases all reached the Top 10 on the charts, and Gary won Cash Box Magazine's Male Vocalist of the Year, beating out both Frank Sinatra and Elvis. The hits were "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9) and Green Grass" (#8). In all, Gary Lewis & the Playboys had 8 gold singles, 12 Top 40 singles and 4 gold albums.

Opening the show is Jimmy Russo. Throughout his career, Jimmy has performed as the lead singer of the Earls, Vito and the Salutations and the Duprees. His renditions of 60s hits will be a great way to start the concert.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.