They were the Beatles opening act on tour dates including August 23, 1966 at Shea Stadium, as well as August 29, 1966, for the Beatles’ famous final concert at Candlestick Park. If you were moving and grooving to the Beatles and the English Invasion in the mid 1960’s, then you are no doubt familiar with the music of the few bands to open for the greatest group of all time.

Earle Pickens and Tom Dawes formed the band as the Rhondells at Lafayette College in 1961. They soon added Don Dannemann and drummer Jim Maiella. In 1963, Maiella was replaced by Martin “Marty” Fried, and it wasn’t long before they became one of the most popular bands on the East Coast. This led to them being noticed by a couple of very influential men in the world of rock music.

While playing at a club in Atlantic City on Labor Day 1965, they were heard by New York attorney Nathan Weiss, who happened to be the business partner of none other than Brian Epstein, the famous manager of the Beatles. Weiss urged Epstein to see the band and offer to become their manager. The, rest, as they say, is history. With one small exception, that is. John Lennon himself, after hearing the band’s name, suggested a new one, with a unique spelling, and the Rhondells were re-christened THE CYRKLE.

In 1966 the band recorded their first album, Red Rubber Ball, which produced the Billboard hit song, “Red Rubber Ball” selling over one million copies and certified Gold. The single “Turn Down Day” was a solid hit as well, becoming their second Top 20 song of the year.

Later in 1966, Earle Pickens decided to pursue his dream of going to medical school and was replaced by keyboardist Mike Losekamp. The band then recorded their second album Neon. 1967 found them on the soundtrack of a motion picture The Minx. After releasing several more singles in ‘67, the band decided to go their separate ways and disbanded that same year.

Dawes and Dannemann then became professional jingle writers, with Dawes penning such classics as the world famous Alka-Seltzer jingle, “plop plop fizz fizz” and the original 7 Up “Uncola Song” and Dannemann writing classics for Swanson Foods and Continental Airlines. Dawes wrote a number of other songs, such as “Wild Cherry”, which was recorded by Foghat. He also produced two of their albums, Rock & Roll in 1973, and Energized in 1974.

After reforming in 2016, The Cyrkle will be seeking out venues that offer music of the 60s and later, targeting lovers of older music and anyone that appreciates what is truly the Golden Era of Rock Music. They will be playing such diverse venues as Festivals and Fairs, Theaters, Packaged Classic Band tours, and Classic Rock n’ Roll Cruises.

The Cyrkle will be playing their own mega hits, plus favorite tunes from the Classic 60s, but will also add a few new songs they have written especially for this new incarnation. They will also include a tribute to the music of several other Brian Epstein managed groups, which will round out their performances with even more legendary music.

The two original members of Cyrkle, Don Dannemann and Mike Losekamp, will be joined by Pat McLaughlin on lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Mike “Roscoe” Rousculp on lead vocals and bass guitar; Don White on lead guitar and vocals; and Scott Langley on drums and vocals. The new additions are all veterans onstage, and each brings a unique and individual style to the show that is sure to delight the most diehard music fan.

Much to the delight of classic Rock n’ Roll fans, The Cyrkle is poised to emerge on the scene of classic music venues in the coming months and will bring all their talent to the stage in shows that are sure to breathe new life into old music and renewed interest in songs that have never lost their popularity.

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At the age of thirteen David learned to weld and built abstract steel-welded sculptures, using salvaged car parts and other found scrap materials. By age fifteen he had begun experimenting with found forest materials. Using dry branches and rope-lashing techniques, he assembled different kinds of abstract structures. Ironically, at this early stage David had already steel-welded his first insect dragonfly and a housefly.

From his late teens to early twenties, David worn a lot of hats; cabinet and sailboat builder, home restorer, cabdriver, actor, and even a magician’s assistant. Through it all, the call to create was always present. In 1985, with a serious devotion to rustic design using all natural materials, he developed a very ornate bent-sapling construction style named “Victorian Rustic.” By 1990, David had completed a series of branch and sapling construction “dinosaur” sculptures, among many other rustic works. He first conceptualized the idea and early designs of what would become the Big Bugs the following year.

Combining all the materials and techniques of rustic construction and new engineering ideas, he created the first ten sculptures of the Big Bugs exhibit. These sculptures included four different subjects: Ants, Praying Mantis, Spider and Web, and Dragonfly. The exhibit debuted at the Dallas Arboretum in the summer of 1994. The success of the Big Bugs continues to be an intense and laborious experience of creative inspiration, discovery and invention. The Big Bugs exhibit now compromises 40 sculptures with 14 different subjects.

David Rogers’ Big Bugs exhibition has now toured public and private botanical gardens and nature centers throughout the United States. The exhibition has been successful in its role in assisting host institutions in outreach in educating the public about the importance of preservation and conservation on the planet. The exhibition brings solutions to the challenged faced by botanical gardens and nature centers in building new membership, increasing existing membership participation and public attendance and awareness of their mission. Several botanical gardens have invited David Rogers’ Big Bugs to return for additional exhibitions. Since 1994, David Rogers’ Big Bugs has been privileged to be shown in 40 States.

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Born on April Fools Day, 1951, in Brooklyn, NewYork, Henry began playing clubs at age thirteen with his first band. Before long he was performing at the 1964 World’s Fair and spending summers honing his skills at Catskill Mountain resorts. Encouraged by his mom, also a gifted musician, and Gil Hodges, the all-star first baseman of The Brooklyn Dodgers who lived in the neighborhood, Henry’s career rose to amazing heights when, in 1969, during his first semester at Brooklyn College, he co-founded the 1950’s Rock & Roll revival band “Sha Na Na” and that summer became the youngest performer at “The Woodstock Festival.”

Leaving the group to record on his own, he made over a dozen critically acclaimed albums for the most prestigious labels in the world highlighted by his classic A&M Records LP, “Plug Me Into Something” in 1975. In 1976, he received a gold record for his worldwide hit “Shannon,” a song inspired by the death of Beach Boy’s lead singer CarlWilson’s Irish Setter! He’s shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in rock-and-roll history, including Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Ricky Nelson, Mark Knopfler, Billy Joel, The Byrds, Poco, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Cocker, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Huey Lewis, Hall and Oates, Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, B.B. King and The Kinks.

As an actor, he starred in the road company of the Broadway hit PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES with the legendary Nicolette Larson (It’s Gonna Take A Lot Of Love) and Jonathan Edwards (Sunshine). For the past several years, Henry has been constantly writing and recording critically acclaimed CDs including NOTHING BUT DREAMS, I’M HEARING THINGS, ONE-HIT WANDERER, FOREVERLAND, and RHYMES AND MISDEMEANORS. “One HitWanderer,” is a celebration of life and re-invention that will charm audiences of all ages. Henry’s working his way back to the top, keeping in mind his mom’s words of wisdom: “The Impossible Takes A Little Bit Longer!”

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Baker made her first public appearance in church when she was just seven years old singing “Down to the River to Pray.” The talented youngster soon became a popular regional artist, winning talent competitions and recording three independent albums before she turned 13.

Kaitlyn Baker’s foundation is honest, relatable music that is rooted in faith, family and life experience. She possesses a voice that wrings every drop of emotion from a lyric and a heart that wants to connect with people through music.

It’s a winning combination sure to take her far in the years ahead. “There’s not a better feeling in the world if you look out in the crowd and see somebody sing along with your songs,” she says. “It’s really all that I’ve ever done my entire life. I’ve never had a backup plan. I’ve always known that this is what I’m going to do.”

Baker’s forthcoming album, on Silvercreek Records, is a potent combination of sassy, empowering anthems and poignant slices of real life that resonate with country music lovers of all ages. Her music combines youthful enthusiasm with substantive lyrical content that takes the listener on a compelling journey. Like Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn and other soulful mountain women before her, the 19-year-old singer/songwriter delivers songs that are heavily influenced by her Appalachian roots yet tap into emotions that are universal. After all, love, longing, regret and passion aren’t exclusive to any particular zip code.

Her debut song, “Burn”, is a well-crafted anthem that was inspired by one of Baker’s real life heroes. “It’s one of those songs that empower women,” she relates. “The song was inspired by my mamaw because she had a pretty rough life growing up. She got married at an early age and the song is basically talking about a woman who is with a guy who ends up cheating on her. Not only does she burn his things, she burns down the memories that they have and moves on with her life.”

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Costello’s songs have been recorded by a great number of artists. The list of performers reflects his interest in a wide range of musical styles: George Jones, Chet Baker, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Dusty Springfield, Robert Wyatt, Charles Brown, No Doubt, Solomon Burke, June Tabor, Howard Tate, the gospel vocal group The Fairfield Four and the viol consort Fretwork with the countertenor Michael Chance. In 2003, he began a songwriting partnership with his wife, the jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall, resulting in six songs included in her highly successful album ‘The Girl In The Other Room’.

During his career Costello has received several prestigious honors, including two Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting, a Dutch Edison Award with The Brodsky Quartet for ‘The Juliet Letters’, the Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef Award, a BAFTA for the music written with Richard Harvey for Alan Bleasdale’s television drama series ‘G.B.H.’ and a Grammy for “I Still Have That Other Girl” from his 1998 collaboration with Burt Bacharach, ‘Painted From Memory’.

Elvis Costello and The Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. During the same year he was awarded ASCAP’s prestigious Founder’s Award. There have also been a number of Grammy nominations for his recent albums ‘When I Was Cruel’ and ‘The Delivery Man’.

The late-2003 Deutsche Grammophon release ‘North’ – an album of piano ballads composed, orchestrated and conducted by Costello – retained the number one position on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart for five weeks.

In 2004 Costello was nominated for an Oscar for Best Song – “The Scarlet Tide,” sung by Alison Krauss in the motion picture “Cold Mountain.” The song was co-written with T Bone Burnett.

The summer of 2004 saw Costello presenting a series of concerts as part of the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City. Following concerts with the Metropole Orkest and The Imposters, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, conducted by Brad Lubman, gave the premiere concert performance of ‘Il Sogno’, Costello’s first full-length orchestral work.

The music was originally commissioned in 2000 by the Italian Dance Company, Aterballetto, for their adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Following performances in Bologna with the Orchestra del Teatro Communale, the ballet was staged throughout Italy, Germany, France and Russia.

‘Il Sogno’ was subsequently recorded by The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas. The recording was released in the late 2004 by Deutsche Grammophon and stayed at the top of Billboard’s Contemporary Classical Charts for 14 weeks.

Elvis Costello was commissioned by The Royal Danish Opera to compose an opera based on the life of Hans Christian Andersen. “The Secret Songs,” a “work-in-progress” cycle extracted from the opera, was given its first performance in Copenhagen in October 2005 to an appreciative audience response and enthusiastic reviews. Costello sang both of the leading male roles, Andersen and that of the showman P.T. Barnum, while the leading female role of Jenny Lind was taken by Swedish soprano Gisela Stille.

In January 2006, Elvis Costello was a featured artist at the Sydney Festival in Australia, presenting a series of contrasting concerts. The first reunited Costello with the Brodsky Quartet for excerpts from ‘The Juliet Letters’, while in the second half, Steve Nieve, double-bassist Greg Cohen and soprano Antoinette Halloran joined Costello and the Brodsky Quartet for several newly arranged excerpts from “The Secret Songs.” Costello and Nieve then gave a second concert, in which they drew on some of Costello’s rarely performed compositions.

The festival appearances concluded with two concerts with the Sydney Symphony conducted by Alan Broadbent at the Opera House. The program consisted of a suite from ‘Il Sogno’, followed by a number of Costello’s songs arranged for orchestra by Costello, Sy Johnson, Bill Frisell, Vince Mendoza and Steve Nieve. The program also included compositions by Charles Mingus and Billy Strayhorn with Costello’s lyrics and songs written by Costello and Burt Bacharach for the album ‘Painted from Memory’.

Many of these compositions are also featured on ‘My Flame Burns Blue’, the live recording of Costello’s performance with the Metropole Orkest at the 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival that was released in March of 2006 by Deutsche Grammophon coupled with the suite of ‘Il Sogno’ highlights.

Later that spring, Costello, Nieve and conductor Alan Broadbent presented a program similar to their Australian tour throughout the U.S., including appearances with San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Austin and Baltimore’s symphony orchestras.

2007 saw Costello tour extensively with The Imposters and also with Allen Toussaint throughout the USA and Europe. In autumn 2007 he undertook a highly successful tour, performing solo on “The Bob Dylan Show.”

In late 2007, Costello completed his work on a commission from The Miami City Ballet when he collaborated with world-famous choreographer Twyla Tharp. The work, entitled “NIGHTSPOT,” was premiered in Miami to great critical acclaim in March 2008. A new album with The Imposters entitled ‘Momofuku’ had already been recorded in secrecy in a period of just seven days and was released on April 22, 2008.

In December 2008, Costello launched the inaugural season of his internationally acclaimed music television series Spectacle: Elvis Costello with…. Spectacle is a compelling blend of the best of talk and music television that offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective on the creative process with an extraordinary and eclectic array of guests joining host Elvis Costello to chat, perform and share their passion for all kinds of music. The program’s eclecticism and depth reflect its uniquely qualified host, a songwriter and performer comfortable in almost every genre imaginable; a musicologist of formidable breadth and knowledge; a contributor to Vanity Fair; and a noted wit whose stint as guest host on “The Late Show with David Letterman” won rave reviews.

First season’s guests included: Sir Elton John, Tony Bennett, Lou Reed, Julian Schnabel, Smokey Robinson, The Police (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers), James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Rufus Wainwright, Rosanne Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Diana Krall, John Mellencamp, Jakob Dylan, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), Norah Jones, Jenny Lewis, Renée Fleming and President Bill Clinton.

The second season of Spectacle will begin airing in late 2009 and feature guests including Bono & The Edge, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, Levon Helm, Ray Lamontagne, Lyle Lovett, Nick Lowe, John Prine, Ron Sexsmith, Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, Allen Toussaint and Jesse Winchester.

On June 2, 2009 Hear Music released Costello’s ‘Secret, Profane & Sugarcane.’ Produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded by Mike Piersante during a three-day session at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio, ‘Secret, Profane & Sugarcane’ debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200, Costello’s highest album chart position since 1980′s Get Happy. Following its release, Costello toured extensively with the featured musicians on the album dubbed the Sugarcanes – Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Jeff Taylor and Dennis Crouch.

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Formed in 2007, THE MIDTOWN MEN reunites four stars from the Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys. Following their storied run on Broadway – where these four magnetic artists shared the stage for over a thousand performances and appeared on The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve and The U.S. Open – they have been selling out venues coast to coast living the dream they once portrayed on the stage. THE MIDTOWN MEN is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show.

The past few years have been a whirlwind for THE MIDTOWN MEN. With each tour their reach has grown, and with this next run, their third headlining tour, they are projected to perform an impressive 140 shows. Not only have they continued to win over audiences of all ages at the performances, their self-titled debut album, THE MIDTOWN MEN: Sixties Hits was met with critical acclaim and garnered 5 star album reviews across iTunes. The album was recorded in New York City and features the group performing such iconic ‘60s hits as, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Up On The Roof,” “Time Of The Season,” “Candy Girl” and more. It is once again a testament to what THE MIDTOWN MEN do best; helping to keep alive iconic music from the ‘60s in the 21st century while giving it a new “twist.”

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