AC Entertainment GuideGo. See. Do.

ATLANTIC CITY CONCERTS (CONT'D)

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Rob Thomas

January 6 & 7, 2012  |  9:00 PM  |  $95.00  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

"The whole thing started 15 years ago because I had a bunch of songs," says Rob Thomas of the genesis of Matchbox Twenty. Since then, he has penned a remarkable string of smashes, including their #1-charters "Push," "3AM," "If You’re Gone," "Bent," "Disease," and "Unwell," and other major hits like "Real World," "Back 2 Good," "Mad Season," and "Bright Lights."

In 1999, his smash collaboration with Santana, the Thomas-penned "Smooth," earned Rob three Grammy Awards and today ranks #1 on Billboard’s "Top Hot 100 Rock Songs" chart and #2 on the magazine’s "Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs." He has also worked with the likes of Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Marc Anthony, and Bernie Taupin.

In 2004, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented Thomas with its premiere "Starlight Award" – created to recognize a composer in the early years of his or her career who has already made a lasting impact. He has won numerous BMI and ASCAP Awards, and has earned the Songwriter of the Year crown from both Billboard and BMI for two consecutive years.

With the 2005 release of his first solo album, the #1, multi-platinum "…SOMETHING TO BE," Rob embarked on a major, sold-out world tour. He also appeared at the historic Live 8 multi-concert event in July 2005, performing both as a solo artist and joining Stevie Wonder for a duet version of the Wonder classic, "Higher Ground."

In 2007, Thomas reunited with Matchbox Twenty for "EXILE ON MAINSTREAM." Their first album in five years, the set combined a retrospective of their greatest hits with a six-track EP of new songs produced by Steve Lillywhite – including the RIAA gold single, "How Far We’ve Come." Debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, the RIAA gold "EXILE ON MAINSTREAM" scored the biggest first week of the year for a greatest hits collection.

Thomas landed another solo hit in 2007 with "Little Wonders," from the soundtrack to the Disney animated feature, Meet The Robinsons. In December 2008, he performed at the 31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington DC, where he paid tribute to Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey with an emotionally charged rendition of The Who’s "Baba O’Riley," featuring a choir of 150 New York City policemen and firefighters.

Moving forward, Thomas will continue to toggle between his solo career and Matchbox Twenty. "Over the years, the other guys have evolved as writers," says Rob. "Now that I have a solo outlet, we can be more creative together; we can be a band and really explore what Matchbox can become – the best of what it can be – without my ego as a songwriter getting in the way. The reason I do what I do is because I have all these songs that are always building up in my head, so it’s really cathartic to get a load of them out into the world and start over again. And the solo career is a really important way for me to do that."

Frankie Valli

January 13 - 15, 2012  |  Times Below  |  $55.00 - $65.00  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

These are the rescheduled dates for Frankie Valli's postponed shows from over the weekend of Hurricane Irene (August 26 - 28, 2011): Friday, January 13 at 9pm; Saturday, January 14 at 9pm; and Sunday, January 15 at 8pm. All original tickets will be honored. For refunds, visit your point of purchase.
   
Oh, what a story. Frankie Valli, who came to fame in 1962 as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, is hotter than ever in the 21st century. Thanks to the volcanic success of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Frankie and his legendary group, such classic songs as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” are all the rage all over again. As the play enters its third sold-out year on Broadway, and two touring companies of Jersey Boys travel around the U.S., the real Frankie Valli is packing concert halls coast to coast, from the Rose Theater, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, to L.A.’s Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards.

But please don’t say that Frankie is back. The truth is, he never went away. Sure, the majority of the 71 chart hits of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (including 40 in the Top 40, 19 in the Top 10 and eight No. 1’s) came during the 1960s, but the music didn’t just disappear. He has toured almost continuously since 1962, and his songs have been omnipresent in such movies as The Deer Hunter, Dirty Dancing, Mrs. Doubtfire, Conspiracy Theory and The Wanderers. As many as 200 artists have done cover versions of Frankie’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” from Nancy Wilson’s jazz treatment to Lauryn Hill’s hip-hop makeover.

Frankie and the Seasons have influenced many other great recording artists. That was acknowledged in dozens of recent tributes collected for Jersey Beat, the newly released Four Seasons boxed set. For example, from Barry Gibb: “Frankie Valli to me has become one of the hallmark voices of our generation. From the deepest emotions of his real voice to the power of his falsetto, he created a style that we all still strive to emulate.” From Billy Joel: “I wrote ‘Uptown Girl’ as the flip side to the story of ‘Rag Doll.’ I always loved that record.” And from Brian Wilson: “In the early ’60s the Four Seasons were my favorite group. I thought they were fantastic. The voice blend was fantastic. The competition helped me to get cracking. It inspired me, because they made good music. I went to the piano thinking I could top their music.”

There’s something about Frankie’s music that makes young people of every generation want to get up and dance. Amid the disco era, the Seasons hit it big with “Who Loves You,” which reached No 3 in 1975, and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night), a No. 1 record in 1976. On the other side of the Atlantic, “You’re Ready Now” and “The Night,” which didn’t do anything in the U.S., emerged from dance clubs in the north of England to become huge hits in Europe. Two decades later, in 1994, a dance club remix of “December 1963” climbed to No. 14 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2000, a French-language rap version of “December 1963” went to No. 1 in Paris. And last July—yes, July of 2007—a remix of the Four Seasons’ 1967 hit “Beggin’ ” became the No. 1 dance record in Britain. This was eight months in advance of the scheduled March 2008 opening of Jersey Boys in London. Case closed: Frankie never went away.

A bit of national attention didn’t come until 1956, when Frankie was in a group called the Four Lovers with Tommy, his brother Nick DeVito and Hank Majewski. They had a minor hit with “You’re the Apple of My Eye” by Otis Blackwell, who also penned “Don’t Be Cruel” for Elvis Presley. The Four Lovers also cut an album called Joyride and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. But even this modest success proved to be short-lived, and Frankie kept open his other main career path—cutting hair.

It wasn’t until 1959 that the Lovers, now numbering three (Frankie, Tommy and Nick Massi) started catching some big breaks. First, a friend named Joe Pesci (yes, the same Joe Pesci who would go on, improbably, to become an Oscar-winning actor) introduced the Lovers to Bob Gaudio, a piano-playing, song-writing prodigy and former member of the Royal Teens. He had co-written the monster hit “Short Shorts,” but then his Teens had returned to obscurity. After taking in Gaudio, the Lovers, now Four again, started working with Bob Crewe, a brilliant lyricist and producer with a golden ear (his songwriting credits already included “Silhouettes” for the Rays). Meanwhile, the Lovers flunked an audition to play at the cocktail lounge of a bowling alley in Union, N.J., but they decided the lounge’s name would make a classy moniker for a singing group: The Four Seasons.

For two years the Four Seasons sang background for Crewe’s other acts while working on a style of their own. Finally, in 1962, Gaudio came up with a song that made full use of Frankie’s remarkable range, from baritone to falsetto. When the unknown Seasons sang “Sherry” on American Bandstand, they suddenly became the hottest band in the land, and after nine years as a recording artist, Frankie Valli became an “overnight” sensation with a No. 1 record. The sound of “Sherry” was unlike anything else on the airwaves. “Many R&B groups had used falsetto as part of their background harmonies,” explains Frankie, “but we were different because we put the falsetto out front and made it the lead.”

Determined not to be a one-hit wonder again, Gaudio collaborated with Crewe, and the duo quickly composed two more No 1 hits for the Seasons: “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” Gaudio and Crewe went on to become one of the most successful song-writing teams in pop-music history. Around the same time, Gaudio also formed a special partnership with Valli. With a handshake, Bob agreed to give Frankie half of everything Bob earned as a writer and producer, and Frankie agreed to give Bob half of Frankie’s earnings from performances outside the group. That partnership remains in force 45 years later, still sealed only with a handshake.

The fateful year of 1964 brought the British invasion, but that didn’t stall the Four Seasons. With the Gaudio-Crewe engine firing on all cylinders, the group released one smash after another: “Dawn (Go Away),” “Ronnie,” “Rag Doll,” “Save It For Me,” “Big Man in Town” and, in early 1965, “Bye Bye Baby (Baby, Goodbye).”

From late 1965 to 1967, Gaudio and Crewe began working on songs that Frankie could sing solo—adult-oriented songs that didn’t rely on his famous falsetto. Songwriting for the group was largely turned over to the team of Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer, who produced three straight giant hits: “Let’s Hang On,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ’Bout Me).” The Seasons also cracked the Top 10 with a gorgeous reinvention of the old Cole Porter standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Gaudio’s main contribution to the group during this period was “Beggin’,” written with Peggy Farina of the Angels.

Back in the studio, Gaudio and Crewe were still puzzling over songs that could give Frankie his own identity. After several unsuccessful attempts, they finally fashioned a signature song that would make Frankie a solo superstar: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Released in 1967, it went to No. 2 in Billboard and No. 1 in Cashbox. With the popularity of the original record and all the cover versions, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has become one of the top ten most-played songs in the history of BMI, one of the two major companies that collect royalties for songwriters.

After “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” came two more Top 40 solo hits: “I Make a Fool of Myself” and “To Give (the Reason I Live).” But unlike many lead singers who achieve solo success, leave their groups and never look back, Frankie stayed with the Four Seasons, producing hits in two parallel careers. While Frankie flourished solo, the Four Seasons stayed in the Top 40 with “C’mon Marianne,” “Watch the Flowers Grow” and a remake of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”

In 1975 Frankie came roaring back with “My Eyes Adored You,” which reached No. 1, “Swearin’ to God” and a cover of “Our Day Will Come.” That burst of success spurred Gaudio to put together a new Four Seasons, led by Frankie of course. With his future wife Judy Parker, Gaudio wrote “Who Loves You” and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” two of the biggest hits in the Seasons’ history. The new hot streak culminated in 1978, when Frankie’s solo performance of “Grease,” featured not once but twice in the movie soundtrack, reached the inevitable No. 1 ranking in Billboard.

From 1962 to 1978, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold more than 100 million records, even before the invention of the compact disc prompted Seasons collectors to buy the hits all over again. For decades after their heyday, Frankie and the Seasons continued to be a top concert draw, and radio constantly played their classics, not to mention the new remixes that kept popping up on the charts. In 1990 Frankie and the other original Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, only five years after the Hall opened for business.

But who could imagine that the first 45 years would be only the beginning—that Frankie Valli would celebrate 2007 with a new album and a heavy sold-out concert schedule? No other pop star has ever received the kind of new lease on life that Jersey Boys has given Frankie Valli. In addition to the three current productions of Jersey Boys, plans have been laid to take the play to London, Las Vegas and Toronto for open-ended runs. And producers are clamoring to bring the musical to Australia, Singapore, China and even Dubai—yes, the Dubai that’s part of the United Arab Emirates. Every major Hollywood studio has asked about making a Jersey Boys movie.

For as far into the future as anyone can see, Jersey Boys will introduce the music of Frankie Valli to new generations. Romancing The ’60s is a most welcome and long-awaited addition to that legacy. The man himself shows no signs of slowing down. As his character says at the end of Jersey Boys: “Like that bunny on TV with the battery, I just keep going and going and going.” For as long as he wants to sing, people will want to listen.

Donny Osmond

January 15, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  CANCELLED  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

This event has been cancelled. For refunds, visit your point of purchase.
   
Donny was born December 9, 1957 to George and Olive Osmond in Ogden Utah. He is the seventh of nine children: eight boys and one girl. The entire Osmond Family have a long and varied career, which had a humble beginning singing barbershop harmony on Main Street Disneyland. Soon thereafter, Donny and his siblings became very successful teen idols worldwide.

Today, Donny performs at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel with his sister, Marie. The show began back in September 2008 and was originally scheduled to run for 6 months. The response was so overwhelming that the Flamingo immediately asked for a two year extension. The Donny & Marie Show is scheduled to continue through October 2010.

On occasion, Donny co-hosts the nationally syndicated nightly entertainment newsmagazine, “The Insider,” and continues as a special correspondent for its sister show “Entertainment Tonight.” He, along with his sister have recently co-hosted two primetime television specials, “Miss USA” and “America’s Favorite Mom.” The two have a long history of working together that began in the late 70s on the original Donny & Marie show.

2008 was a milestone year for the entire Osmond family, particularly Donny’s brothers: Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay – The Osmond Brothers --- it marked their 50th anniversary as performers. To commemorate it, the family gathered for a concert which was videotaped and broadcast nationally on PBS as a pledge drive special. Following the concert, the seven performing Osmonds went on a month long tour through the UK, Australia and Asia. It was the first time in 27 years all performing Osmonds were on one stage and also marked the final world tour for the Osmond family as an entire group. An expanded version of the PBS anniversary concert is now available on DVD at donny.com.

In 2007 Donny hosted two television series on British network television, “Identity” and “Pyramid”, was the special correspondent for “Entertainment Tonight” covering “Dancing with the Stars,” and performed at “The Concert for Diana,” which was seen worldwide by 2 billion viewers. Also during this year, Donny completed his 55th CD entitled, From Donny… with love, a compilation album of his favorite love songs.

Donny had performed on Broadway prior to 2006 in George M. Cohan’s Little Johnny Jones, but his stay was short-lived. All that changed when Donny was invited by Disney to star in the Broadway production of Beauty and The Beast. Playing the role of the villainous Gaston was a change for Donny, who said it was an opportunity for his “mischievous side to shine.” After his 12-week run ended, he was asked to return in July 2008 for the final performance as it closed its doors.

As if performing 6 shows per week on Broadway wasn’t enough work , during his run in Beauty and The Beast Donny produced his next album. Since there wasn’t a recording studio nearby, he soundproofed a portion of his dressing room in order to record the vocals for “Love Songs of the 70s,” a mix of different love songs made popular by various artists. Some of the songs included in this collection are: "Laughter in the Rain," "Oh, Girl," "If," "Let's Stay Together," "How Deep Is Your Love," and "You Are So Beautiful." For Donny, these are songs he considers priceless and timeless; he loves listening to these songs, and especially enjoys singing them.

In 2005, Donny co-wrote and recorded What I Meant To Say, and it may be, for him, the most satisfying albums, yet. Not only did the album hit the charts immediately following its release in the United Kingdom, each song gave Donny some of the most rewarding creative experiences in his long and remarkable career. The title track, What I Meant To Say, reveals the depth of intimacy and affection that each song on the album expresses.

One of the songs he wrote took on special significance upon the passing of his mother. According to Donny:

"It occurred to me after I wrote ["Whenever You're In Trouble"] that this song is everything she told us. She was always there for us - a shoulder to cry on, just an incredibly loving person -- the perfect mother. She made each of us nine kids feels like she was our special protector and that each one of us was 'her favorite.' So although it was inspired by an experience with my third son, Brandon, the concept of 'Whenever You're In Trouble' really comes from her. It's almost as if she wrote it through me, to my children."

Donny collaborated with several different writers but the strongest creative influence was probably his own experience. For that very reason, What I Meant To Say is everything Donny wanted to say throughout the years.

When the 2002 Olympics occurred in Donny's backyard -- Utah -- he, Marie and their father, George Osmond, participated in the official Olympic Torch Relay. Additionally, Donny & Marie were invited to perform in the Closing Ceremonies.

Donny has sold over 80 million records over five decades, and has received 33 gold records, 18 of them before the age of 13. His album, Somewhere In Time, released in 2002, went platinum in only 8 days -- a first for the music veteran, and he toured the United Kingdom a year later. The tour was a success, and Donny Osmond: LIVE quickly climbed to the top of the UK charts, becoming one of the best selling DVDs of the year.

Reuniting with Marie on TV, he co-hosted the nationally syndicated daytime talk show Donny & Marie, for which he was not only Emmy-nominated for "Best Talk Show Host", but also for "Best Producer".

Donny has learned to persevere and to follow his own path, and never rests on his past achievements. He is constantly thinking of the best way to stay ahead of the curve, which is probably why he chose to host the wildly popular Pyramid game show, and was again nominated for an Emmy for “Best Game Show Host.” And, of course, who could forget his appearance on the celebrity edition of Fear Factor where he placed his head in a box of hundreds of disgusting insects.

One of Donny's greatest achievements occurred in the early 90s when he played the title role in the North American production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Following a six-year commitment encompassing more than 2,000 performances, Donny retired his colored coat; again achieving great success and recognition for his performance.

During the 80s, Donny struggled against his lingering teeny bopper image; an image so unfashionable that even his closest friends advised him to change his name. He then met English rocker Peter Gabriel; it was under Gabriel’s tutelage that a rugged, edgier Donny Osmond emerged from near-obscurity with the hit "Soldier of Love" written and produced by the highly successful team of Sturken and Rogers (Rihanna, Christina Aguilera). The single went all the way to the top of the Billboard charts and garnered Donny Billboard Magazine’s “Top Pop Male Artist of the Year”. Most critics agreed that his attempts at mainstream rock were much more impressive than anyone had imagined. Donny continued to prove his versatility with hits like “My Love Is A Fire” and “Sacred Emotion”, which became a top 5 hit on VH1.

It was in the early 70s, when Donny was just a teenager, that he and his brothers became a genuine entertainment phenomenon. The Osmond Brothers, as the group was known, released hit after hit and toured the world. Donny's debut single, "Sweet & Innocent", became his first Top 10 hit at the age of 14. He later went on to release million-selling hits like "Go Away Little Girl", "Puppy Love" and "Too Young". Together with his brothers, The Osmond Brothers took the United Kingdom by storm, which became affectionately known as "Osmondmania" --- fan riots and hysteria matched that of The Beatles. Donny’s "Puppy Love" gave him his first number 1 hit in the UK, and was a multimillion-selling smash hit single worldwide.

Donny began a series of duets with his sister Marie, which included more Top 10 hits like "I’m Leaving It All Up To You" and "Morning Side of the Mountain". The two went on to host one of the most successful television variety shows ever, the "Donny & Marie Show". Donny and Marie are listed in The Guiness Book of World Records as the youngest prime time television hosts ever. They also received a People’s Choice Award.

This entire journey began for Donny at the early age of 5 when he made his first television appearance with his brothers on the Andy Williams Show. Andy enjoyed the brothers so much that they became regulars on the show displaying various talents of singing, dancing, ice skating, or whatever they were asked to do. During breaks from the show he began touring with his family all over the US, Europe, and Asia. And, he hasn't stopped, yet

It has been said that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and tribulation. Donny Osmond has stood at the highest peaks of success any man could hope to attain in a lifetime. But, all of these success stem from his upbringing. His parents, George and Olive Osmond, taught their children to work hard and aim high to realize their greatest ambitions.

Donny has generated millions of dollars over the years for several charitable organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Best Buddies, The Children’s Miracle Network, and The One Heart Foundation. Donny is the author of The New York Times bestselling book Life Is What You Make It, in which he revealed his battle with social phobia, a common but debilitating anxiety disorder that threatened not only his career, but his very life as well. He narrated the PBS documentary “Afraid of People”, bringing this little known phobia to the public’s attention.

For nearly five decades, Donny Osmond has been making a difference in people’s lives. He has continually proven himself to be not only a critically acclaimed singer and songwriter, but also a compassionate humanitarian, a man of principle and faith, and most importantly a good son, husband and father.

Rascal Flatts "Thaw Out 2012" with Hunter Hayes

January 28, 2012  |  7:30 PM  |  $39.50, $65.00, $85.00, $115.00  |  Boardwalk Hall  |  609.348.7000

In just ten years, Rascal Flatts has become one of the most honored acts in country music history, reaching heights and achieving milestones reserved for the genre's elite.

They have set more venue attendance records than any country act en route to ticket sales of six million and counting. They have sold 20 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and earned 13 #1 singles. With the #1 debut on the Country Albums sales chart of Nothing Like This, Rascal Flatts becomes one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1. They have won nearly 40 awards from the ACM, CMA, AMA and People's Choice, among others, and they have received that ultimate honor for those who have impacted the culture—a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"We have had an unreal ten years," says lead singer Gary Levox with an appreciative smile. "We've done things we couldn't have been able to dream."

Behind those statistics is an accomplishment more basic than numbers, more important than any trophy—for the past decade, the music of Rascal Flatts has been the soundtrack to countless lives. Songs like "These Days," "Mayberry," "What Hurts The Most," "My Wish," "Stand," "Here," "Here Comes Goodbye" and "Summer Nights" have soothed and uplifted, fired up, mellowed out and otherwise impacted millions.

"I'm humbled to think that the music we've been able to make has touched so many lives and moved so many people," says bass player/harmony vocalist Jay Demarcus. "The stories are just incredible and I think I'm most grateful for that."

"To this day," adds guitarist/harmony vocalist Joe Don Rooney, "we receive letters and e-mails about how a song like 'I'm Moving On' has impacted someone's life in some way or how 'Bless The Broken Road' was played at their wedding or how 'Stand' gave them the courage to stand up and fight the cancer out of their body and mind! That's powerful stuff, and that's the reason we're in the business, without question."

Their place in country music history may be assured, but Gary, Jay and Joe Don retain a newcomer's passion about capturing magic with each new project. Now, with the release of their latest, Nothing Like This, they have done it once again, taking their career and their legacy another long step forward.

"We've reached back a little to what brought us here while moving forward at the same time," says Jay. "We concentrated more on our vocals and chemistry again and not so much on big production."

The album is a microcosm of all the things the band does well—Jay calls it "Rascal Flatts in a nutshell"—which is to say it touches on many of the best aspects of 21st-century country music. It is first and foremost uplifting, with songs like "Why Wait" and "Play" kicking off the proceedings with the call to enjoy life no matter what our circumstances. It features both the throwback groove of "They Try" and the fresh sparkle of "All Night To Get There." "Summer Young" is an uptempo celebration of the season of warmth and romance and "I Won't Let Go" is "You've Got A Friend" for the new millennium, a song steeped in the strength of love and friendship in times of trouble. The title cut finds a way to bring freshness to the subject of love and sees Gary bringing a disarming desperation to his vocal.

"One of the more special songs on this album for me is 'I Won't Let Go,'" says Joe Don. "Being a parent now and listening to that song really hits home and truly hits me in the heart."

Evident throughout is the group's ability to recognize the best in Nashville songwriting.

"It's always been about the songs first," says Jay, "and boy did we get our hands on some gems!!"

"We think we've got a good balance," says Joe Don, "between the really deep, sweet, meaningful ballads and the 'right at ya' up tempos that keep the party going."

"I think there's something for everybody on this project," adds Gary, "and it's a full-length example of what makes us who we are."

Guesting on the project is Natasha Beddingfield, who joins the trio on “Easy.”

"We had a blast recording with Natasha," says Gary. "I've always been addicted to great singers and she is certainly one of the best. It was an honor to sing with her."

Fans got their initial listen to the project with the debut single, the group's first release on Big Machine Records, their new label home. "'Why Wait' is one of the coolest tunes I've heard in a long while," says Joe Don. "I'll never forget sitting in that little studio in Santa Barbara and hearing it for the first time. Instantly we new it was a Rascal Flatts song and by the day's end we had ourselves an extremely magical track going. I love it!"

The laid-back California outpost was chosen as a creative counterpoint to Music City. "We cut half the album in Nashville and half in Santa Barbara," says Gary. "We just wanted to change it up some and enjoy the beautiful weather in California. It gave us a new spark for sure."

"It as a nice departure from the norm for us," adds Joe Don. "We recorded in a funky little studio with some amazing L.A. musicians and created some great magic together. I really think you can feel some of the energy on a lot of these tracks."

“Overall,” says Jay, "this is an album about fun, growth and change. We have been at a very important crossroads this year with our ten-year mark, so I think we wanted to prove to ourselves that we could still grow and surprise ourselves and stretch."

The fact that they were able to do so reflects the magic they have always found in their approach to music and the respect with which they view their mission and each other. Their sound took root in the late 1990s, when Jay and Joe Don were band mates working with Chely Wright and Jay and Gary were playing a separate gig in downtown Nashville. When their guitar player was unable to make it one night, Jay asked Joe Don to sit in.

“We knew right away we had something special,” says Jay, “even if we were the only ones who ever got to hear it!”

“I truly feel like every time the three of us lock into a chorus,” adds Gary, “God’s hand is in it. I feel blessed to share the stage with Jay and Joe Don and their crazy talent. They both inspire me.”

“Gary is one of the greatest and most unique singers of our time," says Joe Don, returning the compliment. "I've always felt blessed that we have a lead singer who, like a quarterback, takes charge of the stage and leads us into victory night after night!"

The three honed their sound with club work, cut some demos and by year's end had been signed to Lyric Street Records, where they flourished and took off on that magical decade of hits and sold-out shows. Along the way, their “Bless The Broken Road” was Grammy nominated for Country Song of the Year and Vocal Performance, they became 2006's top-selling physical and digital artist in all genres, scored four #1 country albums and three #1’s overall, and hit the Top 10 Billboard pop singles chart twice, among many other milestones.

"There's never been a method to our madness," says Joe Don. "We just cut the best songs we can, and through the years we get better at what we do."

When Lyric Street closed its doors, they chose Big Machine as their new label home.

“We have found an amazing business partner with [label head] Scott Borchetta and the entire Big Machine family,” says Gary. “They get us and we get them on every level. It feels like the right place at the right time.”

Committed to giving back, they are known for their charitable work, which includes raising three million dollars for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. “That,” says Jay, “is definitely the thing I’m most proud of.”

This summer sees them back on the road with a new tour Flatts Fest.

"As a kid,” says Gary, “you stand in front of your mirror and only dream about being able to sell out arenas and stadiums. And to be able to play a place like Wrigley Field and sell it out, you can't even dream that big. The feeling is awesome."

“Without a doubt we've been blessed to have received our fair share of awards and recognitions in this business,” adds Joe Don. “But above all, getting to make music that matters, that affects people emotionally and spiritually, is the greatest thing we could ever accomplish.”

Never content to rest on their laurels, they are eagerly looking forward.

“The goal,” adds Gary,” is to continue to make amazing music together for at least the next ten years, because we honestly feel like we’re just getting started.”

“And as long as we stay true to the music and each other,” adds Jay, “everything else will fall into place.”

Tony Bennett

February 4, 2012  |  9:00 PM  |  $56.00 - $106.00  |  Caesars Atlantic City  |  609.348.4411

Tony Bennett grew up in a poor family, in circumstances made more difficult by the Depression and by the death of his father when he was nine. While he attended the High School for the Industrial Arts in New York City, Bennett began working as a singing waiter. After serving in the Army infantry during World War II, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and studied singing and acting at the American Theatre Wing. During this period his vocal coach Mimi Spear offered some advice that he took to heart: don’t imitate other singers, emulate instrumentalists instead.

The young singer was discovered by Pearl Bailey in Greenwich Village and subsequently hired by Bob Hope in 1949. Hope advised him to take the name Tony Bennett (rather than the name he had been using, Joe Bari) and put him in his road show. Bennett told Billboard in 1997, “I’ve been on the road ever since.” He signed with Columbia Records in 1950 and started working with record producer Mitch Miller. His early hits included “Rags To Riches,” “Because of You,” and “Stranger in Paradise.” His most famous song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” was released in 1962 as a B-side on a single; it also earned Bennett his first Grammy award.

Bennett’s success led to some artistic differences between the singer and his record company. His interest in singing quality material made him want to try new songs and new kinds of music. Columbia, however, wanted to repeat the style of his early hits. For some time, Bennett and Miller compromised by each selecting one half of the material to be recorded. After 20 years of recording with Columbia, however, he was told not to do any new songs. Company management wanted Bennett to cover top ten hits. Soon thereafter, Bennett ended his relationship with the company, formed his own label, and recorded on others. Bennett ended up taking a long hiatus from recording, staying away from the studios for some ten years before he made the 1986 album The Art of Excellence.

Bennett’s break from recording coincided with some difficult times for the singer. He moved to California in the late 1970s and began using cocaine and marijuana, drugs that were an integral part of the celebrity party scene. A near death experience passing out in the bath tub and the memory of Lenny Bruce’s drug-related death scared Bennett into changing his habits. Bennett was also struggling with a change in the public’s taste in popular music, with the increased dominance of rock and roll. When he began his career, pop music appealed to all ages. Bennett asserts that young listeners were being taught that rock music belonged exclusively to their generation and that this alienated children from their parents. Moreover, music marketing was so focused on young listeners, that it was the squeezing adults who bought Bennett’s albums out of the record stores.

Bennett has weathered such troubles and completely revitalized his career. He credits his son Danny, who is now his manager, with making many key decisions. Danny put Bennett on television, on the animated series The Simpsons, on talk shows with David Letterman and Jay Leno, and on MTV Unplugged. The last appearance earned the singer a flock of young fans. He now has a recording contract with Columbia that allows him to simply turn in his finished record, with no corporate input on content. Among Bennett’s later recordings are the Grammy-winning MTV Unplugged; a series of tribute albums, Bennett/Berlin (Irving Berlin), Perfectly Frank (as in Sinatra), Tony Bennett on Holiday (Billy Holiday), Here’s to the Ladies (miscellaneous female singers); and the children’s album The Playground. These recordings demonstrate that Bennett still has plenty of ideas about the music he wants to sing, and that he is in fine form. With a half-century of professional singing under his belt, Bennett credits learning bel canto technique with preserving his voice; he told Billboard, “it teaches you how to breathe properly and how to sing so that you don’t push and you don’t destroy your voice.”

During the 1990s Bennett published two books that gave fans an inside look into his personal life and career. Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen (1996) is a coffee table book of his paintings, exhibiting a very serious pastime for a man who once aspired to be a painter. His autobiography The Good Life (1998) details his childhood, singing career, personal life, and friendships. Signing his name Anthony Benedetto, he began showing his paintings in 1977 and has since sold his work for as much as $40,000 a canvas. What My Heart Has Seen includes a number of portraits of famous people, as well as still-lifes, landscapes, and cityscapes that are dominated by scenes of New York and San Francisco.

To mark his 80th birthday in 2006, he released Tony Bennett: Duets – An American Classic, recorded with a collection of stars including Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Bono, and Sting.

The Shirelles

February 12, 2012  |  4:00 PM  |  Call for Ticket Prices  |  Middle Township Performing Arts Center

The Shirelles were the first all girl group of the Rock and Roll Era to score a number one record!

Few performers can truly be called trendsetters. Fewer still can sustain a high-visibility presence in the pop culture consciousness for over 50 years. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, The Shirelles have done these things and more. They have earned their exalted place in modern musical history.the shirelles

Beginning in 1958 as schoolgirls in Passaic, New Jersey, The Shirelles quickly became rock & roll's first female supergroup and were the inspirations for a legion of female groups that followed. The Shirelles are the original "Dream Girls" and have earned their exalted place in modern musical history.

They are universally credited as the originators of the Girl Group Sound that is so beloved by the Baby Boomer generation. Their long string of hits, including Soldier Boy, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Dedicated To The One I Love, Mama Said, and so many others, have been recorded by hundreds of artists, including The Beatles, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton & The Yardbirds, The Mamas & the Papas, Bernadette Peters and Smokey Robinson.

Beverly, Doris, and Micki, The Shirelles have received awards from BMI, The USO, The Vietnam Veterans of America, and the US Army. They received three gold records and were named Best Female Group in Billboard and Cash Box for five consecutive years. The 25th Anniversary of The Shirelles resulted in their receiving a citation in the Congressional Record in July 1983.

The lasting appeal of these classic hits is so broad that they continue to be heard daily on a wide variety of radio formats. The Shirelles' songs have also been featured in scores of films and TV shows.

The Shirelles were among the first women to write their own music and they also launched the careers of songwriters like Carole King, Burt Bacharach, Ashford & Simpson and Van McCoy. Constantly reissued, "The Shirelles Greatest Hits" received the highest rating in the Rolling Stone Record Guide. Leading music critic Dave Marsh described the album as essential to any serious record collector. The rise of compact discs has seen several original The Shirelles albums re-released to resounding acclaim, both critically and commercially.

Since their 1958 debut at the New York's legendThe Shirelles 1990sary Apollo Theater, The Shirelles have graced virtually every important stage in the world, countless supper clubs, discos, state fairs, hotel ballrooms and casinos. Years of nonstop touring have taken The Shirelles to Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and every state in the U.S.

Shirelles songs have been recorded by the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Pattie LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, Tony Orlando, Linda Ronstadt, The 4 Seasons, Laura Nyro, Mamas & Papas, Bernadette Peters Pattie Austin, Chuck Jackson, Donna Fargo, Peaches & Herb, and hundreds of others.

Recently, The Shirelles began a new phase in their career, appearing in concert with Symphony Orchestras across the country.

With a history that includes headlining the first integrated show in Alabama, participating in early bus tours and package shows with their peers among the originators of rock & roll, and performing for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, The Shirelles have many inside stories to tell and are currently in great demand on the TV talk/interview circuit.

The Shirelles were among the first star entertainers to get involved in the battle against AIDS, and have also served as fund raisers for the USO (they hosted a gala New York benefit for the Persian Gulf troops) and the Mental Health Association in Passaic (NJ) County for which The Shirelles co-founder Beverly Lee has served on the Board of Directors.

In recent years The Shirelles have received the Soul of America Music Award and the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, in addition to their 1996 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Shirelles have made such an indelible impression on American culture that their name is regularly used in the Doonesbury comic strips and on TV programs (Golden Girls, Cheers, Murphy Brown, Blossom) to personify the era of the 50s and 60s.

They continue to thrill audiences worldwide with their high-energy show, "An Evening With The Shirelles", that includes their many hits interspersed with a wide range of selections from pop, rock and soul to standards, gospel and country, mixed with spirited dancing and comedy, all done in the inimitable style that millions of fans have come to expect of the legend that is The Shirelles.

The Middle Township Performing Arts Center is located at 212 Bayberry Drive in Cape May Court House. Phone 609.463.1924.

Aaron Lewis

February 17 & 18, 2012  |  Times Below  |  $55.00 - $60.00  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa welcomess Aaron Lewis on Friday, February 17 at 9:00 PM and Saturday, February 18 at 8:00 PM.

Country music comes naturally for Aaron Lewis.

In fact, the Staind frontman never strayed very far from country. It's something that he grew up with. It's something that he comes back to. It's something that inspires him. It's something that's in his blood. Hints of that are present in the stripped honesty and acoustic melodies of Staind hits such as "Outside," "It's Been Awhile," and "So Far Away."

However, Lewis fully shows that spirit on his forthcoming five-song Town Line debut solo release for Nashville-based Stroudavarious Records and, most prevalently, via its first single, "Country Boy." With a little help from legends Charlie Daniels and George Jones as well as genre stalwart Chris Young, Lewis tells his story like never before on the song.

Released in December 2010, "Country Boy" served as a fitting introduction to Town Line, which hit shelves in early 2011. Lewis's voice carries a catchy chorus over a slide guitar, and he opens up about his past, present, and future. Featuring a fiery fiddle lead from Daniels, a booming verse from Jones and Young's lilting harmonies, "Country Boy" strikes a balance between classic and modern country. About "Country Boy," Lewis exclaims, "George Jones and Charlie Daniels are two of the genre's legends, and Chris Young represents the new regime. It's definitely a personal, autobiographical song, and I'm very thankful that they all participated."

Their participation formally announces Lewis's arrival in Nashville with a bang. The song's music video is an event in and of itself. Not only does the video feature Jones, Daniels, and Young in the studio, but it also draws from Lewis's own family archives, giving a glimpse into his youth, home, passions, and so much more. "The video really is me. This is probably the most I've ever participated in any video that I've been involved with. I added a lot to the mix to tell the story."

"Country Boy" is simply the beginning though. As a whole, Town Line signals the next evolution for Lewis. He went back to his roots, and the results are as powerful and poignant as anything that he's committed to tape.

Growing up in rural Vermont, the singer/songwriter spent summers with his WWII veteran grandfather hunting and fishing. During that time, he developed a love for the land, the woods, and the simple life, which still permeates everything he does. There was one specific soundtrack to those times though.

"Country was the background music to my childhood," Lewis recalls. "My grandfather listened to Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., and all of the greats. When Staind did our first tour with Kid Rock in 1999, I rode the bus with him on a couple occasions and we bonded over this music. I haven't been able to let go of it since then."

Listeners won't be able to let go of the songs on Town Line either. Lewis recorded his latest offering in Nashville during early 2010, and it brandishes the singer's trademark style and a distinct country soul. Produced by Grammy Award-winning James Stroud and Lewis, this collection proudly sits alongside Lewis's numerous accolades. With Staind, he crafted the most-played rock song of the decade, "It's Been Awhile," sold 13 million albums worldwide, had four consecutive top 3 debuts on the Billboard 200, and released multiple cross-format radio hits. However, listeners haven't heard him like this until now.

In terms of songwriting, Town Line was an organic progression for Lewis. "The country accompaniment naturally complements my acoustic guitar playing," he says. "These songs are country in the sense of classic Americana. They're simple, understated, and founded on quality songwriting. If you put a country accompaniment to any of the songs that I've written over the years on my acoustic, all of them would work as country tunes. When a song comes from an acoustic, it can go in any direction you want it to go. I always write and play the same way. The only difference here is the accompaniment."

That accompaniment seamlessly blends with Lewis's unique voice. One song, "Massachusetts," builds from a poetic visual of Lewis sitting on his front porch into a love letter for his home state. The song paints a vivid picture of the tranquility the singer still finds in the Northeast.

"I live in the sticks of Massachusetts," smiles Lewis. "I wrote the song sitting on the front steps of my house. In the spring, the peepers get so loud outside. When they come out, they bring on the night. It's chilling and familiar, and I've heard that sound my whole life. That's how I know I'm home."

Then there's "Vicious Circles." It's a hauntingly beautiful tune that's simultaneously hypnotic and heartfelt. "It's a little more on the personal side of things, and it discusses the ups and downs of a relationship," he reveals. "I started messing around with something during a sound check, and the next thing I knew, it turned into this song. That tends to happen a lot."

In addition, Lewis re-recorded "Tangled Up in You," the stand-out ballad from Staind's sixth album, The Illusion of Progress. "Tangled Up in You" immediately lent itself to country stylings. "The song was already a little bit country in term of its flavor with the slide guitar and the pedal steel," he says. "We brought it further down that road."

Stroudavarious Records also proved the perfect home for this project. Lewis instantly bonded with producer and CEO James Stroud, and they've crafted something very special that goes even deeper than the songs.

He goes on, "A lifetime friendship was formed between James and I while we were doing these songs. As the head of the label and producer, he possessed an incredible amount of faith and belief in this project. It just made sense on so many levels."

"We just immediately developed a very intense musical and personal connection," echoes Stroud. "I'd always loved the expressiveness and intensity of Aaron's voice, but from the very first day in the studio, we hit it off in an entirely special way."

Ultimately, Lewis is giving listeners something that he always does. There's a tangible honesty to each of these five songs, and he opens up with every guitar chord and lyric.

Lewis concludes, "I've always stayed true to how I feel in my songs. I love this country, and I feel like I've gotten to live the American dream. I'm genuinely blessed to have this opportunity, and I'm glad to celebrate that classic country spirit with this new music."

That's why this music will live on forever; just like everything else Aaron Lewis has done.—(Rick Florino)

Foreigner Acoustique Tour

February 19, 2012  |  9:00 PM  |  $65.00, $75.00  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, racking up scores of smash hits, multi-platinum albums, and sold out concert tours.

From Cold As Ice to Hot Blooded, Urgent to Jukebox Hero, Waiting For A Girl Like You to the chart topper I Want To Know What Love is, Foreigner's thrilling mix of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop continues to captivate generation after generation of music fans.

Today, over 70 million albums later, Foreigner is an ensemble of talented musicians each adding their individual credentials to the mix to make the band stronger and more powerful than ever.

Foreigner is ending the 3rd quarter at a significant milestone. Their latest album, Feels Like The First Time, entered the Top 50 in the USA on a date that coincided with the re-entry of their previous release, Extended Versions II, in the same chart (Nielsen SoundScan 9/18/11).  This marks the first time in over twenty years that any Classic Rock artist has had its two most recent albums in the chart at the same time.  That same week, the Foreigner catalog was #1 in sales among the Top 15 Classic Rock radio chart artists.
 
Foreigner’s recent national TV appearances have included closing the Fox & Friends 15th anniversary show on September 19th, and multiple PBS broadcasts as part of the network’s summer pledge week.  They appear on the popular CBS daytime show The Talk on October 11th.
 
Over the last year or so, Foreigner songs have been featured in movies and TV shows as diverse as Happy Feet 2, Valentines Day, The Chipmunks, Hot Tub Time Machine, Sex And The City 2, Raising Hope, The Good Guys, Dancing With The Stars, Wipeout, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Protector and Ellen DeGeneres Show; radio and TV commercials for major brands including Coors Lite, Bosch, Stouffers, Motorola and Volkswagen; and some of the biggest video games such as DJ Hero, Guitar Hero 6 and Rock Band 3.  Frequent video game uses comprise a key factor in Foreigner’s renewed popularity with the younger demographic.

The band is consistently in the Top 15 at Classic Rock Radio. As a result of the depth of the catalogue, the band gets more airplay at this important format than, Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Def Leppard, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and most of its peers.

Foreigner '4' spent more weeks on the Billboard chart at No. 1 than any album by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, U2, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Genesis, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton and any artist in Atlantic Records' 60 year history.

Foreigner has 9 Top 10 hits (that's just one less than The Eagles, as many as Fleetwood Mac, and more than Journey, Crosby, Stills and Nash, ZZ Top, Bad Company, The Steve Miller Band, Alice Cooper, Genesis, Def Leppard, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and a whole lot more).

Their hit single, 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' was No. 2 on the singles chart for a total of 14 weeks. This is a record in the history of Billboard magazine. It helped drive Foreigner to No. 49 on Billboard's Hot 100 All Time Top Artists Chart. To put that in perspective, The Eagles are No. 54, Fleetwood Mac are No. 73 and Aerosmith are No. 90.

Foreigner's leader and founder, Mick Jones, wrote the band's No. 1 worldwide hit 'I Want To Know What Love Is', which was the first single released from Mariah Carey's latest album. He also wrote or co-wrote every Foreigner song and produced or co-produced every album. He produced Billy Joel's 'Storm Front' and Van Halen's '5150', the career best selling albums of both artists, and he has written songs with artists as diverse as Ozzy Osbourne and Eric Clapton, with whom he wrote 'Bad Love'. Eric received a Grammy for that one!

Foreigner music has been performed in concert and recorded by artists that cover the whole spectrum of popular music. Phish, Daughtry, Julio Iglesias, Mariah Carey and Wynonna Judd have all played Foreigner songs for their legions of fans.

The Saw Doctors

March 17, 2012  |  9:00 PM  |  $29.50  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

The Saw Doctors are a folk-rock band from Tuam, County Galway in Ireland. Members of the group include Leo Moran (guitar), Davy Carton (vocals), Derek Murray (keyboards), former Waterboy Anthony Thistlethwaite (saxophone and bass), and Fran Breen (drums). The band's first big break came when they were asked to play the opening act for The Waterboys UK tour in 1988. Soon after, their second single entitled "I Useta Lover" became the biggest selling single in Irish history, spending nine weeks at the top of that country's charts and prompting a scolding from the Catholic Church because of a lyric in the song that describes a boy as being more interested in his beloved's backside than the mass he is attending.

Perhaps the band's most notable effort and contribution to the pop music lexicon is their ode to a local highway "N17", which actually runs through the town of Tuam. They also recorded the theme song to the BBC Northern Ireland comedy series Give My Head Peace.

The band is also often compared to revered American Rock N' Roll great Bruce Springsteen, echoing his frequent use of local atmosphere, haunts and characters (Springsteen- Asbury Park, Freehold Borough, New Jersey) (The Saw Doctors- Tuam, Galway, Clare Island) and also his energetic live efforts often showcasing audience participation.

The Saw Doctors tour non-stop throughout Europe and the United States and released a DVD showcasing their live efforts in 2004 named "Live in Galway". It was recorded in their home city of Galway to a sold out crowd at the Black Box Theatre.

Leo Moran and former Saw Doctor Padraic Stevens also released an album named "The Folk Footballers" in 1998 with a re-release in 2001. It contained songs that supported the Galway Gaelic Football Team and includes a host of Tuam talent on many of it's songs. Further collaboraions between the pair brought another album, by another side-project band. "The Shambles" was born, releasing a self-titled album. This project also included Saw Doctor's mainman Davy Carton.

The SawDocs have a rabid international fan base that has been compared to that of the Grateful Dead. Fueled by those in Ireland as well as those of Irish descent in the US, UK, and elsewhere, this unofficial fan club prides itself on seeing the SawDocs live as many times as possible. They meet online in a forum on the band's website and enjoy an interesting global ongoing conversation about the band. One can almost feel the heat of the fire, smell the peat burning, and taste the Guinness....

The Saw Doctors appeared in a movie entitled The Tavern in 1999. They are the subway band that eventually gets to play in the tavern. Although they have a small part in the movie, the use of their song Same Oul Town at the end is quite fitting...

Toto Cutugno

March 24 & 25, 2012  |  Times Below  |  $39.00 - $120.00  |  Tropicana Casino & Resort  |  609.340.4000

You don’t have to speak Italian to feel the passion Toto Cutugno pours into every song he sings. Fans old and new will find reasons to fall in love with this beloved pop star when he takes the stage in the Tropicana Showroom March 24 and 25, 2012.

Cutugno began his musical career as a drummer, but later formed a band called Albatross that performed his own songs. He hasco-written for popular French-American singer Joe Dassin, contributing some of his most famous songs including “L’été indien” (“Africa”), “Et si tu n’existais pas” and “Le Jardin du Luxembourg” (written with Vito Pallavicini). He also co-wrote Dalida’s “Laissez moi danser” (“Voglio l’anima”), which became a Platinum record shortly after its release.

In 1976 Cutugno participated for the first time in the Sanremo Music Festival, takingthird place with his band Albatross with the song, Volo 504. He then won in 1980 with the song “Solo noi”, and again in 1983, with his smash hit, “L’Italiano”, and subsequently finished second in six editions: in 1984 with the song “Serenata” (“Serenade”), in 1987 with “Figli” (“Sons” or “Children”), in 1988 with “Emozioni” (“Emotions”), in 1989 with the song “Le mamme” (“The Mamas”), in 1990 with Ray Charles with the song “Gli amori” (“Loves”, but entitled “Good Love Gone Bad” in Charles’ version) and in 2005 with Annalisa Minetti with the song “Come noi nessuno al mondo” (“No One Else in the World Like Us”). He won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990 with his own composition “Insieme: 1992” (“Together: 1992”), a ballad which celebrated European political integration.

Show times are Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 9 pm and Sunday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets range in price from $39, $60, $80, $95 and $120 and will go on sale Monday, October 24, 2011 at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased at the Tropicana Box Office or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Il Divo

August 10, 2012  |  8:00 PM  |  $75.00, $95.00, $145.00, $175.00  |  Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa  |  609.317.1000

Il Divo has conquered the world. The dramatic rise of the international operatic supergroup has been breathtaking in its speed and unparalleled in its success.

The fusion of four exceptional voices, bringing the passion and virtuosity of their classical training to the interpretation of romantic and popular songs, has brought a sense of opera into the mainstream and thrilled the world in the process.

They have achieved 26 # 1 chart positions internationally, sold over 13 million albums, and achieved some 104 gold and platinum awards around the world.

With Il Divo, their first album, which was released in October 2004, they smashed Led Zeppelin's 25-year record of being the only band to achieve a number 1 album without a commercial single release. It was even the highest charting debut album for a UK signed act ever in America.

Their second album, Ancora, went straight in at number 1 in the USA, sold a phenomenal 150,000 copies there in just one week, and confirmed them as one of the biggest acts in the world. In the UK, Ancora also went straight to number 1 and they finished the year on a high performing for Her Majesty the Queen at The Royal Variety Show.

They recorded the official anthem for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, performing in front of an International audience of 1 billion people at the opening ceremony and the Final of the World Cup.

For all four members it has been an incredible journey. With the release of their third album, Siempre, Il Divo are poised to take their meteoric success to another level.

David Miller (tenor, from the USA) says: "So much of what has happened has exceeded our hopes and expectations, and the future seems wide open. But we still have to keep ourselves grounded in the music, in passion for the music, and for performing.

"So we're very proud of the new album, and the vocals we've come up with. We're branching out a little, but it's still the Il Divo sound. We've done Nights In White Satin, and Bryan Adams' Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? But the whole album has a much more Latin feel, more up-tempo. It's more fun."

David, who has a Masters Degree in Opera Theatre, had sung leading roles internationally in opera for 10 years and on Broadway in Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme. "We four have become like brothers. We've shared so many amazing experiences - we went to NASA together, to the beach in Australia, shared private jets. It's all been new to all of us. We make light of it, almost a buffer against how excited we are. Because if we really let out how we feel all the time, we'd be like nerdy little boys!"

Sebastien Izambard (pop singer from France) says: "Our adventure has been amazing. Two years ago, I never thought I would travel so much, meet so many people of different cultures, or work so hard. I couldn't believe it when I heard we would be singing with Barbra Streisand, and it has been fabulous."

Sebastien, the only self-taught singer, is an accomplished songwriter who plays guitar and piano and has produced for many other French artists. "The new album is different from the other two, it's another side of Il Divo, a side we've never shown before. We use Cuban percussion and guitars, the melodies are very different. Il Divo starts swinging..!"

"When we found out, just before we went on stage on the first night of our world tour, that we were at number 1 in the USA, it was a fabulous moment. But we love performing in the UK. We feel like we were born here, and everything started from here. So we always feel like we're coming home."

Urs Bühler (tenor, from Switzerland) says: "I'm very happy about the third album. Except for Somewhere, which is in English, everything is in Spanish or Italian and it has more rhythm. I think it's very sexy actually! And the songs are wonderful. I really love Without You. The Mariah Carey version is great and the Nilsson original is wonderful, but I am really proud of our version."

Urs, who started singing with a hard rock band, had sung at the Salzburg Festival, based in Holland, singing with Netherlands Opera. "Life is very exciting, and never better than when we're on tour. I love the traveling. It has changed my views on the world, stretched my horizons.

"It was wonderful being on our UK Summer Nights Tour, I rented a motorbike to travel between venues. It was like having a motorbike holiday through England, and yet each night at the same time, I got to have one and a half hours of big, big fun on stage."

Carlos Marin (baritone, from Spain), says: "Now we know each other so well, we only need to watch each other's eyes, and we know what the other guy is thinking, and how he will sing the part. It's an amazing closeness.

"We needed this when we first started to sing with Barbra Streisand, an unbelievable honour. Of course we were nervous, but when she arrived, we couldn't believe that she was this sweet woman who was asking our opinion. She has a beautiful, amazing voice, but she likes to improvise, so at first rehearsal it was a little difficult. But it soon came together, and the mix of our voices is very special."

Carlos, a star of the opera scene was based in Madrid and was renowned for his work in many operas such as La Traviata and La Boheme. "In my opinion, this album is the best of the three. The original songs are better, the vocal arrangements are more precise, more elaborate. And of course, it's still always romantic. How could it not be?

"We just want to grow and grow. We do our best, try every single day to improve ourselves. Even my English is improving! Now when I go back to Spain, I sometimes find I am thinking in English, and English words come out with the Spanish."

David has the final word: "We are built for singing, that's what we're here for, to let our voices out, and let the music ring. Now we're going to the next step."

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