The 2013-14 pop music series at SUNY Fredonia’s Michael C. Rockefeller Arts will be sponsored by DFT Communications for the seventh consecutive season.
The DFT Communications Pops Series features a mix of popular musical styles including everything from light classics, jazz and Dixieland to show tunes and big band. Artists who have appeared in the series include Roger Williams, Dave Brubeck, the Four Freshmen and The Three Irish Tenors.
“We are very happy to continue our long-standing relationship with DFT Communications,” said Rockefeller Arts Center Director Jefferson Westwood. “They have supported our programming for many years and we welcome them back as the title sponsor of our flagship series.”
The 2013-14 series, which is part of the Lake Shore Savings Season at the arts center, will feature three concerts. It opens Saturday with “Almost Elton John and the Rocket Band: Remember When Rock Was Young starring Craig A. Meyer” at 7:30 p.m. in King Concert Hall.
Craig A. Meyer bears a striking resemblance to Elton John and is said to have “an uncanny ability to sound like the rock and roll legend.” Backed by the seven-piece Rocket Band, Meyer performs the best of John’s chart-topping songs in this tribute show.
Other concerts in the series include:
■ “The Hit Men: ’Tis the Seasons” on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in King Concert Hall. Returning to Fredonia by popular demand, this supergroup of musicians, vocalists, arrangers and composers actually were the Four Seasons who sang with Frankie Valli and the Shondells who sang with Tommy James. In this concert, the Hit Men perform holiday favorites like “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “White Christmas,” along with favorite hits from the Four Season, the Shondells, Jim Croce, The Critters and more.
■ Commencement Eve Pops: “Gershwin’s Greatest Hits” on Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. in King Concert Hall. The songwriting genius of George and Ira Gershwin will be featured in this continuation of the Great American Songbook Series at Rockefeller Arts Center. Eight of SUNY Fredonia’s most talented student singers and dancers will again share the stage with the 17-piece Little Apple Big Band. The show will include tunes like “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” “Embraceable You,” “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” “Our Love is Here to Stay” and a special arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue with band leader Bruce Johnstone on baritone sax.
Tickets to events in the DFT Communications Pops Series are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center (673-3501 or www.fredonia.edu/tickets).
