![]() I do love to funk! Of all the shows we have done, few have been as big a party as George Clinton and “Parliament-Funkadelic!” He is the undisputed king of that funk music that bleeds from your soul and makes you move in ways you never would think you are able to! Twenty-two people on stage in multicolored stretch-polyester pants, sequined shirts with feathers and swimming goggles … well, you get the picture! That all-too-familiar drum-to-horn opening actually brought a tear to my eye as I sung along (a bit too loudly) and sat front and center. Her presence was one of sheer royalty, and her voice was one of sheer magic. When I was able to bring Gladys Knight to The Arcada, I was front and center and in amazement. “Midnight Train To Georgia” has always been one of my favs. We put on the show, and I tell you, it took a lot to convince him to do an infield of a racetrack with horses working out around him! But when he ultimately did the show, he took me aside and said, “Women, liquor, horses, James Brown … You a genius!” James Brown made a stop on his “Livin’ In America” tour at Hawthorne Racecourse in Cicero. ![]() Speaking of “Kings,” few can come close to the show the “King of Soul” put on. In the end, both artists felt bad for putting me in the middle of their own personal feud, and the show wound up being an incredible experience for the audience. And did I pay for it! Instead of the 45 minute set Richard was supposed to do, he spitefully stayed on almost double the time! Chuck was furious and threatened to cut his set. Who would open and who would close the show? Of those two, who was the “King” of rock ’n’ roll?” It depended who you were speaking to!Ĭhuck was $5,000 more than Richard, so he closed the show, much to the disappointment of a disgruntled “Lucille”-singing piano player. ![]() Now aside from Elvis who definitely laid claim to fame of that title, there were two guys I wanted to put together in a “show of shows” - Chuck Berry and Little Richard. I wanted to do a “King of Rock ‘N Roll” show. When I think of true icons, several come to mind. Pepper it with greats from Motown and the inspiration of Gospel and you now have a clearer semblance of my musical foundation. However, I also have a deep love for the R&B/funk/soul that was prevalent at the same time. Most people know me as the “Rock Guy” because of my affinity for all things ’60s, ’70s and ’80s rock ’n’ roll. And much of the reason for my accelerated hunger for the stories “Behind The Music” has come as a result of the relationships I have formed with showbiz legends and icons over the past four decades.Īs the celebrated African American Heritage Month of February comes to a close, I thought I would touch on some of the legends from that community I have been blessed to work with over the years. Music as a cultural medium has always interested me, even though in high school, music history wasn’t as interesting as it has become over the years. BACKSTAGE with the Arcada Theatre’s Ron Onesti
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