Get set for mesmerizing music at FMCA’s 91st Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase in Pomona, California.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
March 2015
In 1848, the discovery of gold in California launched an influx of eager prospectors hoping to strike it rich. This month, FMCA members will arrive in the city of Pomona, anticipating many pleasurable activities scheduled during the association’s “California Gold” Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase, March 26-29. That includes two nights of top-notch entertainment attendees won’t want to miss.
On Friday, March 27, the FMCA audience will be treated to a delightful evening of Western music from award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Kaye. The native-born Texan boasts a three-octave vocal range and a voice that has been described as sweet and haunting, which she complements with skillful guitar playing. During her solo act she will perform Western classics intermixed with original numbers.
Western Horseman magazine noted, “Some Western singers and musicians are all about preserving traditional cowboy songs. Others strive to write and sing songs about contemporary cowboy life . . . Mary Kaye does both well, and with an authenticity that appeals to not only purists, but also those seeking something fresh.”
Mary Kaye has recorded four albums and a Christmas EP. Her latest album, “The Dawn And The Dusk,” hit number 1 on the Western Music Charts and was nominated as 2013 Western Album of the Year by the Western Music Association. Her track “Jealous Of The Moon” from that album was selected by American Cowboy magazine as the Top Cowboy Song of 2013. That same year she was recognized as Female Performer and Songwriter of the Year by the Western Music Association, and Best Solo Musician by True West magazine. She also was nominated as 2014 Entertainer of the Year and 2014 Female Performer of the Year by the Western Music Association.
Mary Kaye’s music is rooted deeply in the Western landscape in which she lives. As a young woman, she moved to Utah, where she married a “cowboy” whose Western roots date back six generations. She and her husband, Brad, have 10 children and live on a century-old pioneer homestead in central Utah.
On Saturday evening, March 28, FMCA members will have the opportunity to enjoy a repeat performance by Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone. Peter and company drew rave reviews when they appeared on stage during FMCA’s 2008 Family Reunion in Pomona. Once again, they will invite audience members to sing, laugh, and, for many, to remember tunes from their youth. The group will appear in Pomona courtesy of the FMCA Tour Connection, powered by Fantasy RV Tours, C5644, an FMCA Super Star sponsor.
Peter was just 15 years old when he gained international fame as “Herman,” lead singer of the legendary pop band Herman’s Hermits. The group sold more than 52 million recordings; in the process, they earned seven gold albums and 14 gold singles. FMCA members likely remember many of their hits, such as “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” “Leaning On A Lamp Post,” “There’s A Kind Of Hush,” “Dandy,” and “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat.”
In ensuing years, Peter carved out an acting career as well. He starred on Broadway in “The Pirates Of Penzance” and on London stages in “Dick Wittington,” “Aladdin,” and “Sinbad The Sailor,” among other productions. He also guest-starred in numerous prime-time television shows, such as “Laverne & Shirley,” “Too Close For Comfort,” and “Married With Children.” In the 1990s, the entertainer hosted “My Generation,” a pop/rock music retrospective on VH1, and he enjoyed a recurring role on the daytime soap opera “As The World Turns.”
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone currently performs more than 200 concerts a year, attesting to the enduring appeal of the group’s music.
Daytime Notes
The perennially popular Frustrated Maestros, composed of members from FMCA’s various Frustrated Maestros chapters, will reprise their convention ritual as they entertain each morning during Coffee Hour. They’ll also provide an upbeat accompaniment as crowds gather for the Ice Cream Social on Saturday, March 28.
In addition, FMCA members could be singing a victory song as they participate in sessions of card bingo, beanbag toss, and pickleball, which are also scheduled during the Family Reunion.
Look for more entertainment and activity options, which will be outlined in the “California Gold” event program.