The Tokens and other Doo-Wop Legends Headline July 18 Concert

“The Golden Era of Doo-Wop” will bring together four legendary doo-wop groups and solo artists from the 1950s and 1960s for an evening of classic vocal harmony, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll music at the Highlander Auditorium in Upland, Calif., on Saturday, July 18.

The Tokens, Jimmy Clanton, Kathy Young and The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson will take to the stage beginning at 7 p.m. as part of the Affordable Music Productions concert series in Upland.

Legendary radio personality Dave Hull – aka “The Hullabalooer” – will serve as the evening’s special guest master of ceremonies. Considered one of the top Los Angeles radio personalities of all time, Hull entertained Southern California audiences over the airwaves for nearly half a century.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.affordablemusicproductions.com or by calling 1-888-718-4253 Monday-Friday from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Tokens, four boys from Brooklyn, recorded “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” on the RCA label in 1961. The song (originally a Zulu folk song called “M’bube” and Anglicized to “Wimoweh”) soared up the charts to become the No. 1 hit in the nation. To date it has sold more than 15 million copies, and in a survey conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Record Industry Association of America, The Tokens’ classic recording of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” placed 159th in the top 365 records of all time.

True rock pioneers, The Tokens were among the first to successfully use the falsetto lead voice, a sound that later influenced groups that followed. The group also recorded hits “Tonight I Fell In Love,” “I Hear Trumpets Blow,” and “Portrait of My Love.” In 1998 The Tokens became the first group to sing the National Anthem in all major league ballparks in one season, which landed them into the Guinness Book of World Records. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005.

Another group of Hall of Famers, The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson trace their roots to Chicago’s south side, circa 1950, where they gained widespread popularity largely from their cover of “I Only Have Eyes for You.” Johnson joined The Flamingos in 1956 and wrote the group’s first pop chart hit, “Lovers Never Say Goodbye,” in 1958. The Flamingos featuring Terry Johnson received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award in 1996 and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2004.

A guest appearance on “American Bandstand” in 1958 brought Jimmy Clanton national fame with the song “Just A Dream.” That was followed by a series of popular recordings, including “Another Sleepless Night,” “Go Jimmy Go,” and his huge smash hit, “Venus In Blue Jeans.”

Kathy Young recorded what quickly became a No. 1 hit and a standard in rock and roll, “A Thousand Stars.” That earned her the nickname, “The Cinderella of Show Business.” She followed with singles “Happy Birthday Blues” and “Magic Is The Night.” She also recorded hits with Chris Montez as the duo “Chris and Kathy.”

Tickets for “The Golden Era of Doo-Wop” are $39, $49, $59, $69 and $79. There are no service fees and parking is free. Highlander Auditorium is located at 850 N. San Antonio Ave. (at Foothill Blvd.) in Upland.

For more information, contact Don Goethals at (951) 317-2155 or affordablemusicproductions@aol.com.