Tri-State Concert Association books ‘Unexpected Boys’ for next season

Tribute features hit music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

For the Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Tri-State Concert Association’s Legends of Rock ’n’ Roll Concert Series has announced that one of its 2010 six-show series will be The “Unexpected Boys” tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The “Unexpected Boys” are New York Broadway actors and musicians, several who have been in the hit “Jersey Boys” Broadway show. The show will feature songs from the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys,” the theatrical production based on the rise of rock ’n’ roll icons Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Valli and the Four Seasons began their career with the No. 1 hit “Sherry” in 1962. Their careers spanned from that point through the 1960s with Billboard hits “Rag Doll,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” through 1965’s “Let’s Hang On.”

Then in the 1970s, Valli and the Four Seasons returned to top the charts with the disco tune “Swearin to God,” “Who Loves You,” “My Eyes Adored You” and then reached No. 1 again in 1976 with “December ’63 (Oh What a Night).”

In 1978, the blockbuster movie “Grease” hit the screen with Valli singing the theme song and again topping the charts. Concert-goers will hear all of the above listed songs plus many more.

The “Unexpected Boys” stage show combines the Valli and Four Seasons hits with professional choreography. Billed as the top touring “Jersey Boys” tribute, the “Unexpected Boys” have performed for audiences across the United States and abroad and have opened for top artists Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick and Chubby Checker.

The have also been featured on TV’s Bravo hit “Housewives of New York.” More information on the artists is available at www.unexpectedboys.com.

The Valli and Four Seasons tribute is just one of the six shows scheduled for the Legends of Rock ’n’ Roll series. Scheduled to appear next season are the the Contours with Sylvester Potts (“Do You Love Me”) the Crystals (“Da Do Ron Ron”), the Marcells (“Blue Moon”), Bill Haley’s Comets (“Rock Around the Clock”), Jimmy Clanton (“Just a Dream”), Frankie Ford (“Sea Cruise”), Al “Lil Fats” Jackson, and his tribute to Fats Domino (“Blueberry Hill”), Kathy Young (“A Thousand Stars”), Peggy March (“I Will Follow Him”), Dodie Stevens (“Pink Shoelaces”) and perennial sell out, Matt Lewis’ Tribute to a King — Elvis.

All shows will be held at Allegany High School auditorium. More than 560 tickets for next year have been sold but 150 more are needed to secure the full season. Great seats for the 2010 series are still available and can be reserved by calling the Tri-State hotline at (301) 759-0580 or visiting TWR, 549 N. Centre St.

More information on the artists and tickets, including seating charts, are available on the Tri State Web site at www.tri-stateconcerts.com.

A limited number of tickets are also available for the remaining two shows, The Chinese Bandits in concert Sept. 19 and Phil Dirt and the Dozers stage show, Oct. 10.