May 3, 2013
SAIL ROCK 2013 TO FEATURE TIDAL WAVE OF HITS
THIS SUMMER WITH PERFORMANCES BY
CHRISTOPHER CROSS, ORLEANS, GARY WRIGHT,
FIREFALL, JOHN FORD COLEY, ROBBIE DUPREE AND PLAYER
What do you get when you combine such classic songs as “Ride Like The Wind,” “Still The One,” “Dream Weaver,” “You Are The Woman,” “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Steal Away” and “Baby Come Back?”
An amazing flashback concert spectacle called the SAIL ROCK tour featuring Christopher Cross, Orleans, Gary Wright, Firefall, John Ford Coley, Robbie Dupree and Player.
Nothing but hits with the original voices.
In the summer of ’76, no matter where you were in America, it was likely that you were listening to many of those hits on your favorite radio station…”Still The One,” “Dream Weaver,” “You Are The Woman” and “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” along with Gary Wright’s “Love is Alive” were all staples of the summer.
Although you might have already been familiar with Orleans from their hit song, “Dance with Me” from the year before and Gary Wright due to his work with the British band, Spooky Tooth, it was 1976 that most of the artists became well-known with their hit singles and considerable chart success.
Here it is, well over three decades later, and not only do fans and followers remember the songs, they recollect the great memories that often come along with them.
Now’s your chance to relive some of those good times with an evening of SAIL ROCK.
Featuring seven artists who boast a combined thirty Top 40 hits, along with sixteen Top 10’s and three chart-topping singles, the inaugural SAIL ROCK tour is expected to begin in early July (see current itinerary below).
Christopher Cross was by far the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, “Sailing.” That year, his self-titled debut album, Christopher Cross, spawned no less than four Top 20 singles, including “Ride Like The Wind,” “Never Be the Same,” “Say You’ll Be Mine,” and, of course, his biggest hit off the disc, “Sailing,” which ultimately garnered Cross one of his five Grammy Awards (1981) for Song of the Year. The Grammy honors, which included Best New Artist, would be an unprecedented and record-setting achievement. Christopher soon scored his second number one hit, as well as an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award, with the song, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” for the popular Dudley Moore comedy movie, Arthur. In 1983, Christopher would have another Top 10 song with “Think of Laura,” a song featured prominently in the daytime drama, General Hospital. In all, Christopher Cross had eight songs on the Billboard Top 40 charts between 1980 and 1983. Four years, two albums, eight hit singles, several world tours, five Grammy’s, and one Oscar marked Christopher’s meteoric rise to the top. Throughout the years, he has remained a unique artist, replete with that confounding blend of sensitivity, determination and conviction of his own artistry. Christopher continues to record and perform, averaging about 100 live shows per year.
From their earliest days as a favorite at colleges and clubs in the Northeast US … to studio and live collaborations with industry greats Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Little Feat and others… to Top 10 success with bona-fide classics such as “Still the One” and “Dance With Me”… now celebrating their 40th year of creating musical history together, Orleans has continually demonstrated “depth.” “Depth”: A word used to describe sports teams who are multi-dimensional, movies that must be seen many times, art that continues to reveal hidden meaning. In the throwaway world of Rock & Roll bands, how often do you see real depth? For the past four decades, Orleans has defied industry pundits and career counselors by doing many different things well. They’ve been performing live nearly every year since 1972, always with at least half the original members. They do it the old-fashioned way… they sing and play their own stuff. Their oldest fans are bewildered and amazed at the fact that they still sound as good as (or even better than) ever … especially their vocals! Younger fans are simply impressed. Everyone agrees… these guys “still have it”.
Although he’s probably best known for his massive hit, “Dream Weaver,” Gary Wright originally hit the popular music scene in 1967 as the singer and keyboard player for the band Spooky Tooth. In 1970, he would perform at the famous Isle of Wight festival with the band. Prior to the breakup of Spooky Tooth in 1974, Gary was invited to perform piano on George Harrison’s solo classic, All Things Must Pass. In 1975, Gary released his first solo album “The Dream Weaver” featuring the singles, “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive,” both of which would hit the #2 position on the Billboard charts the following year and remain classic rock radio mainstays until this very day. “Dream Weaver” would sell over a million copies shortly after its release and go on to be prominently featured in three major movies including Wayne’s World, The People vs. Larry Flynt and Toy Story 3. In 1981, Gary would achieve his third big hit with the release of “Really Wanna Know You.” Since 2008, Gary has toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. More recently, Gary released an album titled, Connected, featuring such musicians as Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter. He appeared on the Hippiefest tour in 2011 with Dave Mason, Mark Farner, Rick Derringer and Felix Cavaliere and is excited to be on this year’s Sail Rock Tour.
Gary states, “I am very much looking forward to playing again with such a great group of artists this summer. I’ve worked with Christopher Cross, Peter Beckett and Robbie Dupree in the past and I’m looking forward to working with Orleans and Firefall. It should be a great tour.”
Jock Bartley, Sandy Ficca, Bil Hopkins and Steven Weinmeister have been playing together in Firefall for over fifteen years, with Chris Ball joining the band in 2002. Firefall first hit the scene in May of 1976 with the release of their self-titled debut album that would be, at the time, the quickest album to reach gold status in the history of Atlantic Records. The second single released from the album, “You Are The Woman,” would enter the Top 10 and become their biggest hit. That summer, the band found themselves opening up for the legendary Fleetwood Mac. In 1977, the band would have another major hit with “Just Remember I Love You,” followed by yet another in 1978 with “Strange Way.” Both would hit #11 on the charts… Over the years, they would compile an impressive six Top 40 hits. Today in concert, Firefall can play over an hour of nothing but hits and radio recognizable tunes. There are plans to record a live CD to capture the fire and fun that sparks from the stage. They are currently writing songs for a new studio album, which will hopefully soon become a reality. Firefall endures because of the strength and integrity of their songs. It flourishes because of the energy and spontaneity that is so evident on stage and in the studio.
“Firefall is very excited to be playing on the Sail Rock tour with such great bands and artists of the 1970s,” says founding member Jock Bartley. “It’s an honor for us to be included. It’ll be hit song after hit song being played on this amazing tour, some of the top tunes from that amazing decade. What a roster! What an event!”
There are songs you hear in your life that transport you to a certain time period or give you a special feeling. You associate those good times to the group that made them famous. Songs like “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You” and “Love Is The Answer” by England Dan and John Ford Coley seemingly have that kind of effect on people. Those popular Top 10 singles from the 70’s, along with such other songs as “It’s Sad To Belong,” “Gone Too Far” and “We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again” have made John Ford Coley a singing legend. He has spent decades touring, writing, recording, and producing. John — most revered as half of the Grammy nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley — continues with an active roster performing the platinum and gold record hits for audiences around the world. As part of that duo, he would have six Top 40 hits, including four Top 10’s. Classically trained on piano and an avid guitarist, John loves the craft and enjoys every audience he encounters. John is currently going into the studio to record new material for an acoustic album.
“Every now and then I get the opportunity to perform with friends and musicians whose music I really enjoy and what they contributed to the world by their music,” says John. “Although I’ve performed with many of these guys on separate occasions, I’m excited to be able to perform with so many of them at the same time. It’s going to be like old home week for me. I’ll be singing along with everyone else. It was great music and I know everyone will enjoy hearing all of those songs back-to-back.”
Robbie Dupree began his music career in the clubs of Greenwich Village in New York during the late 1960’s. After years of performing in R&B bands (including New World Rising with renowned producer/guitarist Nile Rodgers), he moved to Los Angeles in 1978. A musical partnership with Rick Chudacoff and Peter Bunetta led to Robbie’s first recording contract on Elektra Records. His debut album from 1980 produced two major hit singles, “Steal Away” and “Hot Rod Hearts,” now classics. In 1981, Robbie was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best New Artist. His current release, Arc of a Romance, marks his tenth studio recording. His songs have been used in major films and television shows. Robbie continues to perform live in concert around the world.
“It’s going to be great fun to be a part of the Sail Rock tour, comments Robbie. “I get the chance to work with old friends and great artists . Although through the years we have all continued to record and tour, this show gives us an opportunity to revisit our hits from back in the day.”
The band Player — now featuring original members Peter Beckett and Ronn Moss — is, perhaps, best known for their international number one hit single called “Baby Come Back.” This song came about when Peter had just split from someone he had been in a relationship with for a long time. Still feeling the sting, he sat down with J.C. Crowley, to write, and their moods came out in the song. “Baby Come Back” broke on the radio in October of 1977, and reached number one in early January, 1978. Player was voted by Billboard Magazine’s honor roll as Best New Single Artist for 1978. Just two months after “Baby Come Back” hit the top of the charts, the band would follow up with another Top 10 hit, “This Time I’m In It For Love.” Both songs appeared on their self-titled, debut album, Player. As well as both playing guitar, Peter and J.C. shared the lead vocals on this album, except for “Tryin’ To Write A Hit Song,” which Ronn Moss took the lead vocals on. J.C. is also credited with playing keyboards and synthesizer as well as guitar. Player first performed live as the opening act for Gino Vanelli in November of ’77, then later with Boz Scaggs. It was in the middle of this tour that “Baby Come Back” became a huge hit, and the band took off from there. Later in 1978, the band would experience another Top 40 hit called, “Prisoner of Love,” from their album, Danger Zone. Player has now been reformed again with original members Peter Beckett and Ronn Moss, and have just released their new EP and album on Frontiers Records.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing some Rock and Roll with Peter Beckett,” says Ronn Moss. “We’ll make it fun, and it’ll be great to see a lot of our fans.”
For further information, photos or interview requests, please contact Jeff Albright / The Albright Entertainment Group at rockstarpr@aol.com.
www.christophercross.com
www.orleansonline.com
www.thedreamweaver.com
www.firefall.com
www.johnfordcoley.com
www.robbiedupree.com
www.player-theband.com
SAIL ROCK TOUR 2013
DATE / VENUE / CITY
Friday, July 5 – Chautauqua Amphitheater – Chautauqua, New York
Saturday, July 13 – Fortune Bay Casino Resort Ballroom – Tower, Minnesota
Monday, August 5 – Wisconsin State Fair / Main Stage – West Allis, Wisconsin
Thursday, August 8 – Fraze Pavilion For The Performing Arts – Kettering, Ohio
Saturday, August 10 – River Edge Park – Aurora, Illinois
Tuesday, August 13 – Mayo Performing Arts Center – Morristown, New Jersey
Wednesday, August 14 – Indiana State Fair / Marsh Free Stage – Indianapolis, Indiana
Thursday, August 15 – The Family Arena – St. Charles, Missouri
Wednesday, August 21 – Sandy Amphitheater – Sandy, Utah
Saturday, August 24 – The Sunrise Marketplace Pavilion – Citrus Heights, California
Tuesday, October 8 – Norfolk County Fair – Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
*More dates to be announced.