Entertainers

John Ford Coley of England Dan & John Ford Coley

Certain songs you hear in your life transport you to a special time or give you a unique 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 have that kind of effect on people.

Those songs and many others have made John Ford Coley half of the Grammy nominated duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, a singing legend.

With double platinum and gold records behind him, John continues to perform on the road, recently completing a live album.  He’s also produced many other artists including Eddie Money.  

John’s many other hits include We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again, Sad To Belong, Gone Too Far, Soldier In The Rain, Come Back To Me, Simone, Westward Wind and Part of Me, Part of You.  His songs have appeared in feature films like “The Goodbye Girl,” “Dickie Roberts Former Child Star” and “Long Kiss Goodnight.”

Over the years John Ford Coley has shared the stage with rocks biggest acts including Elton John, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Carole King, Bread, Loggins and Messina and Led Zepplin.

His television credits include hosting “The Midnight Special” and co-hosting “The Mike Douglas Show”.  He’s appeared on “The Tonight Show”, “Merv Griffin”, “David Soul and Friends”, “Dinah”, “American Bandstand”, “Hollywood Squares” (A Special Rock Edition), “Make Me Laugh”, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert”, “Prime Time Country”, and the “Trinity Broadcasting Network.”

Some of John’s Television and Movie Theme Songs written or performed include: “Just Tell Me You Love Me”, “Dr. Pepper”, “Major League, Back To The Minors”, “James At 16”, “Joe Panther”, “The Spy Within” “Cold Case” and “Maxwell House Coffee” with Paul Newman in Japan.

In the mid-1980’s, John entered acting with memorable performances in “Dream A Little Dream”, “Scenes From The Gold Mine” and “Aces and Eights..  

In between life on the road, John lives in the Nashville area with his family, where he’s penned a book on his years in the music industry entitled “Backstage Pass”, and is writing another book about his spiritual journey back from another religion to Christianity.  He also speaks in churches about his experiences.  

Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas

– Do You Want To Know A Secret
– Bad To Me
– I’ll Keep You Satisfied
– I Call Your Name
– Little Children
– From A Window
– Trains And Boats And Planes

Billy grew up in Bootle, a suburb of Liverpool, where his performances at local rock clubs brought him to the attention of John Lennon.  Recognizing Billy’s pop-idol potential, John urged Brian Epstein to sign Billy to an exclusive management contract.  Needless to say, Billy jumped at the opportunity.

In 1963, Billy was the first person to have a hit record with a Lennon-McCartney song.  Do You Want To Know A Secret, which was recorded with George Martin at Abbey Road Studios before The Beatles themselves recorded it.

Billy toured extensively throughout the UK as the opening act for The Beatles both before and during Beatlemania.  Billy also headlined tours with such greats as Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, and The Everly Brothers.

The Lennon-McCartney compositions, Bad To Me, I’ll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window, and I Call Your Name all became international million sellers for Billy.  Then, he got a song called Little Children, which became a worldwide hit.

Bad To Me and Little Children were released as a double sided single and had the unique distinction of being the highest entry into the Billboard charts at #8.  That accomplishment has never been equaled.

To commemorate his 50th anniversary in the music business, Billy recorded and released new material titled I Won The Fight.  His song Liverpool With Love was instrumental in finally getting Brian Epstein inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. 

Billy recently released his autobiography titled Do You Want To Know A Secret.  He continues sharing his music and stories with audiences throughout the world.

Terry Sylvester of The Hollies

Joey Molland of Badfinger

– Original Voice Of The Buckinghams
– Kind of A Drag
– Don’t You Care
– Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song
– Susan
– Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
– How Can I Be Sure
– Back In Love Again

Chicago native Dennis Tufano, was the “Original Voice of The Buckinghams”.  With Dennis’ vocals leading the way, the Chicago-based group scored with a string of five Top Ten hits in the late sixties including , the #1  Kind Of A Drag, Don’t You Care, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Hey Baby They’re Playing Our Song, Susan and Back In Love Again. 

Following his success in the Buckinghams he was part of the song writing duo Tufano and Giammarese and recorded three albums with Lou Adler’s custom label, Ode Records (1971 to 1976).  In 1978, he wrote the music and performed with Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist, on Taupin’s album, He Who Rides The Tiger.  

He has also performed as guest vocalist and co-written with renowned composer and musician Tom Scott. With Scott as composer, Dennis performed the original theme song for the long running Family Ties television show (first 13 episodes).  

In 1982, Dennis toured with Olivia Newton-John and was featured, with Olivia, on her HBO Special in two dramatically inspired duets.  In 1995 Dennis was invited, once again, to co-write, co-produce and perform with Bernie Taupin, Robin Le Mesurier and Jim Cregan on the Discovery Records CD Farm Dogs, Last Stand In Open Country.

Take the swing of Ella, sprinkle in the warm alto tones of Karen Carpenter, then add some soul and cheeky British humor and POW… you have world-renowned, critically-acclaimed vocalist, entertainer, producer and bandleader Helen Welch. Helen’s beautifully-arranged and entertaining shows have intimately engaged audiences and packed houses around the globe. Broadway World boasts, “Helen’s sophisticated vocals and humor leave the audiences breezily enchanted.”

A native of England, Helen began her career on television’s Romper Room. Since her early success, she has headlined with world-class organizations such as the BBC Big Band, Glenn Miller Europe, Opus One and others at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues including: The Ritz, The Savoy, Blenheim Palace, The Grosvenor House Great Room, Claridges and many theatres in London’s West End. Additionally, she held starring roles in a variety of popular musicals including: Hello Dolly, Barnum, Carousel, 42nd Street, Calamity Jane and Oliver Twist.

After a very successful run in the UK, Helen relocated to the United States to guest star in the Broadway musical Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Her immediate success landed her as a fronting vocalist for The Cleveland Orchestra, The Breckenridge Summer Orchestra, The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra (Chicago), The Florida Symphony and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Since that time, Helen has been producing her own shows for Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, The Akron Civic Theatre, The Chautauqua Institution and many other theatres and performing arts centers. In 2016, her musical release “Spellbound” was an entry for the Traditional Pop Category of the Grammy Awards.

Helen also stars in Superstar, a docu-musical of The Carpenters, the #1 American music group of the 1970s.  It is the only touring tribute that has the blessing of Richard Carpenter.

– You’re The One
– Five O’Clock World
– Turn Around Look At Me
– My Special Angel

The Vogues created a sound.  It was a fresh, original blend of vocal harmony that left an indelible mark in the world of popular music.  Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001, The Vogues remain one of the top vocal groups on the oldies scene today. Even though their first hit “You’re the One” was released more than 45 years ago, the Vogues continue to attract sellout audiences at concerts and club appearances around the country.

Their outstanding talent, stylish delivery and excellent choice of material, coupled with their vital, poised performance, makes this group one of the world’s top nostalgia acts. Featuring original lead vocalist, Bill Burkette, the group continues to dazzle audiences with their silky smooth vocals.

Throughout the late 1960’s and early 1970’s The Vogues appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show“, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson“, “The Red Skelton Show“, “The Mike Douglas Show“, and numerous appearances on “Dick Clark’s American Bandstand“.

According to Webster, the word “vogue” means general favor or acceptance. The Vogues many sold-out shows prove that they are not only accepted, but favored by oldies aficionados everywhere! They truly fulfill the promise of their name. Throughout the years, the sound remains unmistakably The Vogues!

Jr. Walker’s All Star Band continues to get crowds on their feet with their unique blend of their hits and Motown revue. 

Led by saxophone legend Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. (aka Jr. Walker), the band started their journey in the early 1960s signing with Berry Gordy and Motown.  They quickly became one of the record label’s signature groups.

Their first and signature hit was Shotgun written and composed by Walker and produced by Berry Gordy it reached # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart in 1964.  They followed that with by many other Top 20 Hits like (I’m A) Road Runner, Shake and Fingerpop and covers of the Motown this Come See About Me and How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). 

They ended the 60s with What Does It Take (To Win Your Love), which reached #4 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B charts. 

Jr. Walker died of cancer in 1995, but today the group is led by Acklee King.