Rock ‘n Soul Holiday Concert - Music Museum Of New England
Thanks go out to our friends over at the Boston Phoenix for bottling and sharing some of the Christmas magic that was the 2009 Rock 'n Soul Holiday Concert, held on Sunday, December 13 at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. Headlined by Boston soul legend Barrence Whitfield, with some help from the Rock 'n Soul Holiday All-Stars and a dozen of New England's leading musical lights, the concert was a phenomenal success and, as these videos attest, it may be cold outside, but the Boston music scene and the Music Museum of New England have never been hotter!
Click here for concert photos courtesy Michael Sparks Keegan
The Perfomers:
Barrence Whitfield and the Rock ‘n Soul Holiday All Star Band features Barrence Whitfield, vocals and Musical Director; Jim Haggerty, Bass and Musical Director; Andy Plaisted, Drums; Allan Scheinfeld, Piano and Keyboards, Mario Perrett, Tenor Sax; Paul Ahlstrand, Baritone Sax’ and Charles Hansen, Guitar.
Barrence Whitfield came to Boston from New Jersey in the late '70s to attend Boston University after fronting hard rock, disco, and even progressive rock bands, yet never singing soul and R&B music in any bands. He met Boston musicians including ex-Lyres guitarist Peter Greenberg, who shared Whitfield's love of high energy soul and R&B music represented by artists like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Little Richard. In 1983, Barrence Whitfield & the Savages were born. The band, including Greenberg and drummer Howie Ferguson, were wild on stage. Barrence would scream and croon soulfully in the same set, sometimes doing cartwheels and somersaults on stage. Their debut LP was released in 1984, getting a lot of airplay on local Boston radio stations and tours around the US and Europe. England was going wild for them, including a BBC airing of a live show from Boston, which brought them a lot of English fans including Robert Plant and Elvis Costello. Barrence released LPs each year between 1985 and 1988, plus LPs in 1993, 1995 and 2005. He continues to perform with various incarnations of The Savages, along with stints fronting other roots rock bands. www.barrencewhitfield.com
Willie Alexander www.williealexander.com
Charlie Farren www.charliefarren.com
Ernie & The Automatics www.ernieandtheautomatics.com
Jenny Dee & The Deeliquents www.myspace.com/jennydeemusic
John Powhida www.johnpowhida.com
Andrea Gillis www.andreagillis.com
Ramona Silver www.ramonasilver.com
Brian Charles www.myspace.com/briancharlesmusic
Mike Gent www.myspace.com/themikegent
Eli "Paperboy" Reed www.elipaperboyreed.com
Sarah Borges http://www.sarahborges.com/
Lyle Brewer http://www.myspace.com/lylebrewer
DJ Easy Ed http://www.easy-ed.net/
Doug Bell http://www.bellevuecadillac.com/
Yiddishkeit Klezmer Ensemble http://www.yiddishkeitklezmer.com/
Produced by Gary Sohmers and Leland Stein
Musical Direction by Barrence Whitfield and Jim Haggerty