All-American vintage rock and roll came to Florida Atlantic University on July 4th and baby boomers came out in force to soak it all in. Sixties superstars Jay & the Americans were the main attraction at the concert which took place in the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium on the University’s Boca campus. It was billed as a luxury alternative to more traditional outdoor Independence Day festivities centered on fireworks displays and local talent.
The evening’s headliners spend more than half the year on the road, singing their hits, such as “Only in America”, “Come a Little Bit Closer” and “This Magic Moment” at festivals and concert events. Featuring three original members from their heyday on the Billboard charts, the group covered all of their dozen-plus hits in addition to peppering the show with covers and stories of their work with other artists. Members of Jay & the Americans were the first to discover and produce Steely Dan, for example. Jay & the Americans were the first to chart a Neil Diamond composition. And the group made no secret of their evolution involving not one, not two, but three Jays. Jay Reincke, who has fronted the group since their re-formation seven years ago, was in fine voice this night and made re-creating the Americans’ more operatic cuts, such as “Cara Mia”, seem like a walk in the park. “The third Jay was extraordinary,” remarked Deby Goldfarb of Stepping Out Florida, who had brought a group of more than twenty single men and women to the show. The original Americans kept up with their younger counterpart, keeping the audience engaged and carrying on routines that must come naturally, considering most met when they were still in their teens.
Stan Zizka and the Del-Satins opened the show and showed first-time revelers why they were back by popular demand, having played the same theater just 6 months earlier. Although some may have come expecting to hear little more than the songs the group recorded with Dion such as “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer”, the Del-Satins wowed the crowd with a variety of classics such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (a show-stopper) and a medley of patriotic tunes culminating in “Livin’ in America”. Zizka, just past his 70th birthday, roused the spirit of James Brown for the latter, cutting up and dancing around the 60-some-odd-foot apron of the stage like an entertainer half his age. It was tough to decide whether to focus on his wild comedic facial expressions or his feet which seemed to have a life of their own. Original Del-Satins Tommy Ferrara and Les Cauchi were also spotlighted as was Edie Van Buren, who delivered the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” like she meant it.
The show was the latest in the “Pop, Rock & Doo Wopp Live” series produced by Joe Mirrione and Tony Brocco, area residents who also delivered the “Jazz, Bossa & Blues Live!” series and “Moonlight Serenade” big band events to Boca. Sandy Deanne, founding member of Jay & the Americans, was impressed with the dynamic duo’s efforts on the fourth. “Never have I seen so much thought and caring for both the fans and performers go into presenting a show,” gushed Yaguda. “That’s high praise, coming from a 50-year industry veteran who was also the Music Supervisor for Beatlemania on Broadway”, responded Mirrione, upon hearing the commentary. “But we don’t let it go to our heads. We’re still going to try to top it next time.” For more info, visit www.poprockdoowopp.com.