The Booking Connection represents a select and eclectic group of bands, entertainers, comedians and musicians. They represent a diverse group with expertise that ranges from pop, country and rock music to comedy acts and more.
Ambrosia
In 1970, four young musicians from the South Bay of Los Angeles, came together to create a new invigorating style of music.
Exploring the possibilities of progressive classical and world influences, yet rooted with the soul of the blues and R&B, Joseph Puerta, Christopher North, David Pack, and Burleigh Drummond created a new sound that was defined and recognized as, “Ambrosia”.
Originally labeled as America’s answer to the progressive invasion of such English acts as “Yes” and “King Crimson”, the group quickly proved it was all that and much more as its albums painted aural landscapes covering the gamut of musical styles and attracting the collaboration of such cultural icons as, Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and Alan Parsons.
In its brief recording history, Ambrosia garnered five Grammy Nominations, five hit singles, Heavy FM Airplay, and the admiration and respect of the musical community. All this was in addition to Sold Out concerts around the world.
Today the band is more alive than ever. The band recently rocked the Jimmy Fallon show with accolades from Jimmy himself (”that’s how you do it!”) and has shown it’s musical versatility with the ability to play a prog set of music with Yes and Genesis or glide into their pop hits “How Much I Feel and Biggest Part of Me”
with a romantic soul. With three of the four original members in tact plus the addition of the very talented and inspiring Ken Stacey on acoustic guitar and amazing lead vocals, Mary Harris on soulful keys and vocals, and the six string ace Doug Jackson on electric guitar and vocals.
The group is well into the recording of a new CD and continues to tour throughout the world delighting audiences everywhere they perform. Ambrosia wants to thank its fans for 43 years of musical support and give a promise for much more great music to come.
John Ford Coley
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
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
Terry Sylvester of The Hollies
– Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)
– Bus Stop
– Carrie Anne
– He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother)
– The Air That I Breathe
– Hippy Hippy Shake
Terry Sylvester is one of five people from Liverpool, England inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He grew up with the other four … John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Terry started his rock & roll career as a teenager with The Escorts. He then joined The Swinging Blue Jeans who had a huge hit Hippy Hippy Shake. In 1968, The Hollies called and asked Terry. While with The Hollies Terry was part of many Top 10 hits including: Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother), Sorry Suzanne and The Air That I Breathe.
Terry left the group in 1981 to start a successful solo career. He and the Hollies were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Terry currently tours North America and the United Kingdom performing the many great songs of his career.
Joey Molland
Joey Molland of Badfinger
– Baby Blue
– Day After Day
– Come And Get It
– No Matter What
Joey Molland is one of the many musicians from Liverpool, England who made it to the big time in rock & roll.
After playing with several bands, Joey joined Badfinger in late 1969. The group gained notoriety by being the first band signed to The Beatles’ Apple Records, where they had a string of hit singles and albums. While with Badfinger, he also made guest appearances on two George Harrison albums All Things Must Pass and The Concert For Bangladesh as well as John Lennon’s album Imagine in the early 1970s.
Joey and Badfinger’s music has a resurgence ever since their song Baby Blue was used as the sound track to the climactic end to the final episode of the TV show Breaking Bad.
Dennis Tufano
– 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.
Helen Welch
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.
The Vogues
– 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. Walkers All-Stars
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.
Speakers Bureau Booking Motivational Speakers and Artists
The Booking Connection can book almost any Motivational Speakers, artist or act you can think of for your event. Here are some lists of some that you may want to consider.
Rock & Oldies
- 5th Dimension
- 38 Special
- Air Supply
- Al Green
- Al Jardine
- Al Jarreau
- Al Stewart
- Alan Parson Project
- America
- Anita Baker
- Anita Pointer
- The Association
- Average White Band
- B.B. King
- BTO
- Bad Company
- Ben E. King
- Berlin w/Terri Nunn
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
- Billy Squier
- Blackfoot
- Blue Oyster Cult
- Bo Diddley
- Bobby Rydell
- Bon Jovi
- Box Tops
- Brenda Lee
- Buckinghams
- Bryan Adams
- Captain & Tennille
- Carlos Santana
- Chad & Jeremy
- Christopher Cross
- Chubby Checker
- Chuck Berry
- Chuck Mangione
- Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night)
- Classic Rock All Stars
- Clint Holmes
- Coasters
- Commodores
- Danny & The Juniors
- Darlene Love
- Dave Davies of the Kinks
- David Clayton Thomas
- Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
- Dickie Betts & Great Southern
- Dion & The Belmonts
- Dionne Warwick
- Don McLean
- Donna Summer
- Doobie Brothers
- Drifters w/Charlie Thomas
- Dr. Hook w/Ray Sawyer
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Eddie Money
- Englebert Humperdink
- Eric Burden & The Animals
- Fabian
- Fats Domino
- Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
- Firefall
- Flamingos
- Flock of Seagulls
- Foreigner Four Tops
- Frankie Avalon
- Frankie Valli
- Gary Lewis & The Playboys
- Gary Puckett
- Gene Pitney
- Gin Blossoms
- Gladys Knight
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Grassroots
- Head East
- Helen Reddy
- Herb Alpert
- Herman’s Hermits w/Peter Noone
- Hollies Greatest Hits with Terry
- Sylvester
- Huey Lewis & The News
- Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople)
- J.T. Taylor
- James Ingram
- Jay Black & The Americans
- Jeffrey Osborne
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Joan Jett
- John Fogerty
- John Kay & Steppenwolf
- John Sebastian
- John Waite
- Johnny Rivers
- Journey
- Judy Collins
- Kansas
- Kenny Loggins
- Kingston Trio
- The Knack
- Kool & The Gang
- Leslie Gore
- The Lettermen
- Little Anthony & The Imperials
- Little River Band
- Lobo
- Loverboy
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Manhattan Transfer
- Manhattans
- Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
- Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)
- Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
- Marvelettes
- Mickey Dolenz
- Molly Hatchett
- Motels w/ Martha Davis
- Natalie Cole
- Natalie Imbruglia
- Neil Sedaka
- New Rascals
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
- O’Jays
- Orleans
- Otis Day & The Knights
- The Outfield
- Pablo Cruise
- Patti LaBelle
- Patti Page
- Paul McCartney
- Paul Rodgers
- Peabo Bryson
- Peaches & Herb
- Percy Sledge
- Peter Frampton
- Peter Tork
- The Platters
- Poco
- Pointer Sisters
- Pure Prairie League
- Rare Earth
- Rick Derringer
- Roberta Flack
- Roger McGuinn
- Ronnie Spector
- Sha Na Na
- Sheena Easton
- Shirelles
- Sister Sledge
- Smokey Robinson
- Spencer Davis Group
- Spinners
- Starship
- Stephen Bishop
- Steve Miller
- Supremes w/Mary Wilson
- Taylor Dayne
- Temptations
- Temptations Review w/Dennis
- Edwards
- Thin Lizzy
- Three Dog Night
- Tiffany
- Todd Rundgren
- Tommy James & Shondells
- Tony Orlando
- Toto
- Troggs
- Turtles w/Flo & Eddie
- Vanilla Fudge
- Vanilla Ice
- Wayne Newton
- Weird Al Yancovic
- Wilson Phillips
- Wilson Pickett
- The Zombies
Country
- Aaron Tippin
- Alabama
- Alan Jackson
- Allison Krause & Union Station
- Amy Grant
- Asleep at the Wheel
- B.J. Thomas
- Bellamy Brothers
- Bill Anderson
- Billy Dean
- Billy Ray Cyrus
- Blackhawk Blake
- Shelton Boots Randolph
- Brad Paisley
- Brenda Lee
- Bryan White
- Buddy Jewell
- Chad Brock
- Charlie Daniels
- Charlie Pride
- Chet Atkins
- Chris Ledoux
- Clay Walker
- Cledus T. Judd
- Clint Black
- Colin Raye
- Confederate Railroad
- Darius Rucker
- Daryle Singletary
- Darryl Worley
- David Frizzell
- Deanna Carter
- Diamond Rio
- Dierks Bentley
- Don Williams
- Doug Kershaw
- Doug Stone
- Eddie Raven
- Emmy Lou Harris
- Faith Hill
- Florida Georgia Line
- Gatlin Brothers
- Gary Chapman
- George Jones
- George “Goober” Lindsey
- George Strait
- Glen Campbell
- Hager Twins
- Hal Ketchum
- Hank Williams, Jr.
- Hunter Hayes
- Kenny Chesney
- Jan Howard
- Janie Fricke
- Jason Aldean
- Jean Shephard
- Jeanne Sealy
- Jim Ed Brown
- Jo Dee Messina
- Joe Diffie
- Joe Stampley
- Jordanaires
- John Anderson
- John Conlee
- John Michael Montgomery
- John Randall
- Johnny Rodriguez
- Josh Gracin
- Juice Newton
- Keith Urban
- Kenny Chesney
- Kentucky Headhunters
- The Kinleys
- Kitty Wells
- Lady Antebellum
- Lari White
- Lee Ann Rimes
- Lee Ann Womack
- Lee Greenwood
- Lee Roy Parnell
- Lee Roy Van Dyke
- Linda Davis
- Little Big Town
- Little Jimmy Dickens
- Lonestar
- Loretta Lynn
- Lorrie Morgan
- Lyle Lovett
- Lynn Anderson
- The Lynns
- Mark Chestnutt
- Mark Collie
- Mark Wills
- Marshall Tucker Band
- Martina McBride
- Marty Stuart
- Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Mel Tillis
- Merle Haggard
- Michelle Wright
- Mickey Gilley
- Miranda Lambert
- Montgomery Gentry
- Oak Ridge Boys
- Pam Tillis
- Patty Loveless
- Phil Vasser
- Porter Waggoner
- Radney Foster
- Ralph Emery
- Randy Travis
- Ray Stevens
- Reba McIntyre
- Restless Heart
- Ricky Van Shelton
- Rickey Skaggs
- Riders in the Sky
- Rodney Crowell
- Ronnie Milsap
- Roseanne Cash
- Roy Clark
- Sammy Kershaw
- Sara Evans
- Sawyer Brown
- Scotty McCreery
- Shania Twain
- SheDaisy
- Skeeter Davis
- Statler Brothers
- Steve Wariner
- Sugarland
- Suzie Bogguss
- Taylor Swift
- T.G. Shepard
- Tanya Tucker
- Teri Clark
- The Band Perry
- Tim McGraw
- Toby Keith
- Trace Adkins
- The Tractors
- Tracy Byrd
- Tracy Lawrence
- Travis Tritt
- Trick Pony
- Ty England
- Ty Herndon
- Vince Gill
- Wade Hayes
- Willie Nelson
- Wynonna
Today’s Hot Stars
- Bruno Mars
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Drake
- Gotye
- Imagine Dragons
- Jay Z
- Justin Bieber
- Justin Timberlake
- Kanye West
- Katy Perry
- Kelly Clarkson
- Lady Gaga
- Lumineers
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
- Maroon 5
- Miley Cyrus
- Phillip Phillips
- Pink
- Pitbull
- Rihanna
- Train
Big Band
- Anna Maria Alberghetti
- Andy Williams
- Artie Shaw Orchestra
- Ben Vereen
- Benny Goodman Orchestra
- Bernadette Peters
- Bobby Vinton
- Buddy Greco
- Cab Calloway Orchestra
- Cleo Laine & John Dankworth
- Connie Francis
- Count Basie Orchestra
- Danny Aiello
- Diamonds
- Dick Contino
- Dominic Chianese
- Duke Ellington Orchestra
- Ed Ames
- Eddie Mekka
- Florence Henderson
- Four Aces
- Four Freshman
- Frank Sinatra, Jr.
- Frankie Laine
- Gianni Russo
- Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Guy Lombardo Orchestra
- Harry James Orchestra
- Jack Jones
- Jerry Butler
- Jerry Vale
- Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra
- Jimmy Sturr
- Lanie Kazan
- Les Brown’s Band of Renown
- Michael Buble
- Michael Crawford
- Peter Marshall
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- Ricci Martin
- Roger Whittaker
- Sammy Kaye Orchestra
- Steve Lawrence
- Susan Lucci
- Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
- Tony Bennett
- Tony Danza
- Von Trapp Family
- Woody Herman Orchestra
Disco
- Anita Ward
- BT Express
- Cameo
- Cece Penniston
- Commodores
- Donna Summer
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Evelyn “Champagne” King
- First Ladies of Chic
- France Joli
- Gap Band
- Gloria Gaynor
- J.T. Taylor
- K.C. & The Sunshine Band
- Klymaxx
- Kool & The Gang
- Martha Wash
- Musique
- Patti LaBelle
- Peaches & Herb
- Rose Royce
- Rufus
- Sister Sledge
- Taste of Honey
- Thelma Houston
- Trammps
- Yvonne Elliman
Comedy
- Amazing Kreskin
- Bill Cosby
- Bob Newhart
- Carrot Top
- D.L. Hughley
- Daniel Tosh
- David Brenner
- Don Rickles
- Dov Davidoff
- Elaine Boosler
- Fr. Guido Sarducci
- Fred Travelena
- Gary Valentine
- Gilbert Gottried
- Guy Torry
- Howie Mandel
- Jack Carter
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Joe Piscopo
- Joe Torry
- Joey Kola
- Kathy Griffin
- Larry the Cable Guy
- Lil’ JJ
- Mark Curry
- Pat Cooper
- Paula Poundstone
- Rich Little
- Robert Klein
- Shecky Greene
- Sinbad
- Steve Rossi
- Tom Dreesen
- Tommy Davidson
- Tony Rock
- Tony Russell
- Vicki Lawrence
Jazz
- Chuck Mangione
- David Sanborn
- Earl Klugh
- Herbie Hancock
- Maynard Ferguson
- Peter Cincotti
- Ramsey Lewis
- Spyro Gyra
- Wynton Marsalis