Discover a gold mine of great entertainment during FMCA’s 79th International Convention.
By Doug Uhlenbrock
Associate Editor
January 2008
Family Motor Coach Association’s “Rush To The Golden State” convention, February 25 through 28, 2008, at Fairplex in Pomona, California, promises attendees plenty of opportunities to strike their own mother lode of fun. In addition to the terrific educational seminars to attend, hundreds of display coaches to tour, and aisles of RV lifestyle-related products awaiting discovery, convention-goers will find a wide range of splendid daytime and evening entertainment options to put shining smiles on their faces.
Jumping The Gun
Although the convention doesn’t officially get under way until Monday, February 25, those who arrive early and are interested in kicking up their heels can do so during Square, Round, and Line Dancing on Sunday, February 24, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Seminar 8.
Presiding over the event will be Jack Ingle, F251132, who has called square dances for more than 20 years and has taught dancing for more than 13 years. Accomplished dancers and novices alike will enjoy this evening of upbeat fun.
Fun In The Sun
All daytime entertainment will take place at the daytime entertainment stage on Broadway across from the Grandstand.
Convention activities kick into gear on Monday, February 25, and helping to get things off to a rousing start at noon will be The Ravelers, a classic rock band based in Southern California.
The band, which formed in 1987, features two original members, Hai Muradian (guitar, sax, flute, and vocals) and Pat Naish (guitar, harmonica, and vocals), along with Martie Echito (keyboards, guitar, bass, and vocals) and Rob Haerr (drums). Although the group specializes in old-time rock ‘n’ roll, don’t be surprised if they throw the audience a curveball or two with a ballad, jazz tune, or country song.
Next to take the stage on Monday at 2:30 p.m. will be Distant Cousins, a family group from Lake Forest, California. This bluegrass band includes guitarist Bridget Brennan and her daughters Veronica (violin) and Bernadette (bass). The trio, which often is joined by Celtic harpist David Harper, also has numerous Irish, folk, and traditional songs in its repertoire.
At 1:00 p.m. on Monday, get your first look at all the new motorhomes on display in Pomona during the “Motorhome Preview,” which will run until 5:00 p.m. in the outdoor exhibit area. A variety of bus conversions and production motorhomes in all sizes and price ranges will be open for inspection. In addition, don’t miss strolling through the “Type B/C Area,” a special display of type B and type C motorhomes.
Beginning Tuesday, February 27, convention attendees can start each morning with complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and doughnuts, while quantities last, at Morning Coffee Hour, commencing at 7:00 a.m. The morning refreshments are cosponsored by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., C9158, an FMCA Super Star sponsor, and Roadmaster Inc., C2952, an FMCA Five Star sponsor. The Coffee Hour Area will be adjacent to the daytime entertainment stage, located on Broadway across from the Grandstand.
Make sure to keep abreast of all the latest convention happenings by picking up the official FMCA “Rush To The Golden State” newsletter, sponsored by Monaco Coach Corporation, C2111, an FMCA Three Star sponsor, each Coffee Hour morning.
FMCA’s own Frustrated Maestros will perform tunes to start the day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the daytime entertainment stage. This eclectic ensemble, composed of members from FMCA’s 10 Frustrated Maestros chapters, has been a convention staple since the first Frustrated Maestros chapter was formed in 1981.
On Tuesday, get ready to enjoy a variety of big band and show tunes during the Karyn Overstreet Broadway & Tour Experience, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Karyn, who lives in San Diego, began performing in 1990 and made her Broadway debut in the 10th anniversary production of Les Miserables. Since then she has performed leading roles on national tours of Jekyll & Hyde and Barry Manilow’s Copacabana, and has performed concerts at Carnegie Hall and the New York City Center. During her show in Pomona, attendees will be treated to a variety of popular Broadway hits, big band classics, and perhaps a few jazz and pop tunes.
Later on Tuesday, at 2:30 p.m., take a trip back to the golden age of jazz with Kate Harris & The Jazz Kats as they perform favorites from the 1920s through the 1950s at the daytime entertainment stage. Kate has been singing in the style of songbirds such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, and Diana Krall since she began performing in 2000. The ensemble has performed at such locales as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, and The Palace (now Avalon) in Hollywood.
On Wednesday, February 27, guitarist Miguel Rivera will take the stage at 10:30 a.m. to perform a selection of Latin-influenced music. Miguel’s playlist includes traditional flamenco and nuevo flamenco songs; Brazilian bossa novas and sambas; classical Latin and European pieces; boleros; and Caribbean music. He also plays a variety of popular songs from artists such as Ricky Martin, Jose Feliciano, Marc Anthony, and Carlos Santana.
Make sure to mosey over to the daytime entertainment stage on Wednesday between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to hear Bob’s Cats, a select group of Frustrated Maestros, who will play Dixieland and other favorites during the ever-popular Ice Cream Social. The cool treats will be distributed in the Coffee Hour area compliments of National Interstate Insurance, C7160, an FMCA Four Star sponsor.
Rounding out the daytime entertainment on Wednesday will be the Top-Notch Quartet at 2:30 p.m. This award-winning barbershop group from Los Angeles delights audiences with its four-part harmonies. The quartet includes Larry Goodfried (lead), Art Taylor (tenor), Bob Heron (baritone), and Dan Place (bass).
Make sure to welcome a convention favorite and a couple of his friends when the Keith Longbotham Trio takes the stage on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Keith (guitar and banjo) has appeared at several FMCA conventions and area rallies, exciting crowds with his music and humor. He performed for several years at the Opryland Theme Park and has appeared numerous times at the Grand Ol’ Opry. In Pomona he will be joined by Chris Marion (keyboards) and T.J. Klay (harmonica, mandolin, and guitar).
Rounding out the daytime entertainment lineup will be One Way Ticket, a classic rock band from Chino Hills, California, that will storm the stage Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The four-piece band features Stu Foreman and Don Mogil (guitars, vocals), Sal Geraci (bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals), and Phil Daquioog (drums). While this group plays a variety of old-time pop and rock hits, they specialize as a Beatles tribute band, bringing to life the great songs by the Fab Four.
Energized Evenings
After enjoying all of the daytime activities, get ready for four great evenings of musical entertainment, beginning on Monday night with the Sock Hop in Seminar 8 at 7:00 p.m. A disc jockey from Energy Entertainment will spin hits from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. If you’re in the mood to dance or just listen to favorite songs from the past, you won’t want to miss this fun event.
Evening entertainment on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will begin at 7:00 p.m. and take place in the Grandstand, sponsored by Aqua-Hot Heating Systems, C2723, an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
Folks who fondly recall dancing the nights away during the 1970s will get a chance to relive those days when a pair of tribute shows take the stage on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., courtesy of ORA Las Vegas/Motorcoach Country Club, C10274, an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
ABBAMania is a Canada-based rock group that takes the audience back to the disco era with music from one of the top bands of the time, ABBA. The show features nine musicians and singers, with four performers who look and sound like the original group. ABBAMania will feature several top hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “SOS,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “Take A Chance On Me,” and “Money, Money, Money.”
Stayin’ Alive pays tribute to one of the best-known groups of the 1970s, the Bee Gees. For more than 40 years the brothers Gibb “” Barry, Robin, and Maurice “” were among the biggest acts in popular music. Stayin’ Alive chronicles the band’s rise and dominance, beginning with songs from the group’s 1967 debut album, “Bee Gees First.” During the 1970s, the Bee Gees were one of the pre-eminent bands of the disco era, knocking out hits such as “Nights On Broadway,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep Is Your Love.” The third era is highlighted by renditions of “Tragedy,” “Love You Inside Out,” and “Too Much Heaven.”
On Wednesday night, audience members will enjoy songs from one of the top bands during the 1960s when Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone take the stage, thanks to The Vineyards, C9327, an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
Peter Noone has been performing on stage or in front of a camera nearly all his life. As a child in England he appeared in a British soap opera while also acting in several television series. At the age of 15 he burst onto the music scene as the lead singer with Herman’s Hermits. The group produced numerous hit songs, including “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry The VIII, I Am,” “There’s A Kind Of Hush,” “The End Of The World,” and “Leaning On A Lamp Post.” Herman’s Hermits sold more than 52 million recordings, with 14 singles and seven albums going gold.
Peter’s musical fame led him back to acting, where he starred in several feature and made-for-TV movies, stage shows, and television series. During the 1990s he hosted VH1’s “My Generation,” a regular half-hour retrospective of pop/rock music. More recently he was featured in a recurring role on the daytime soap opera “As The World Turns.”
Today, along with his band, Herman’s Hermits, Peter plays more than 200 concerts a year.
On Thursday evening, one of the top country duos of all time, the Bellamy Brothers, will perform a selection of their hit songs, courtesy of Freightliner Custom Chassis, C1905, an FMCA Five Star sponsor.
Howard and David Bellamy have been performing together since 1968 when they played the Rattlesnake Roundup in San Antonio, Florida, with their father. After performing in small clubs and singing backup for the likes of Percy Sledge, Eddie Floyd, and Little Anthony and the Imperials, the brothers took their country/rock sound to Atlanta, Georgia, and formed a band called Jericho. While honing their skills at venues throughout central Georgia, David wrote the song “Spiders & Snakes,” which was recorded by Jim Stafford and became a huge hit.
In 1976 the Bellamys became a household name with their smash hit “Let Your Love Flow.” Their first big hit as a country duo came in 1979 with “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me).” A string of chart-toppers followed, such as “You Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie,” “Sugar Daddy,” and “Dancin’ Cowboys.”
Throughout the early 1980s the Bellamys continued to rack up hits, including “Do You Love As Good As You Look,” “For All The Wrong Reasons,” “Reggae Cowboy,” and “Redneck Girl.” In 2005 the brothers released “Angels & Outlaws Volume 1,” a compilation of their best-known songs recorded along with other country stars, and last year they put out their first gospel album, “Jesus Is Coming.”
So, strike it rich while you’re in Pomona by sampling one or more of these nuggets of great entertainment provided during the “Rush To The Golden State” convention.