Cal Roberts Delights Audience at Fenton's Concerts in the Park

The day was too hot for an outdoor concert, so audience stayed cool in the for the Concert in the Park.

Carol Lebert, of Fenton, attended the concert with her mother, Catherine Panigal.

"I thought it was wonderful," Lebert said. "It was entertaining. It brought back a lot of memories. He obviously sang to the age group."

Toes were tapping, people sang along and clapped, and some got up to dance as Roberts performed some old favorites and entertained his audience. When he sang, "The Twist," Roberts ended by saying he used to be able to do the twist. But now, at 70 years old, he can't do some of the things he used to.

The audience enjoyed Roberts' songs and sense of humor, snapping up DVDs of him performing as they left the show. Roberts, who has been staying in the area, said he'll be back in November if he can. He is traveling to Miami to see his mother, who will be 87.

"She had me when she was a baby," Roberts said. "We grew up together."

He's been performing for 56 years, he said. He formerly was a member of The Platters. The very last original member of The Platters died three weeks ago, so "I am no longer a Platter," Roberts said. "I am a paper plate."

But the paper plate is keeping the memories alive, he added.

The audience took a walk down memory lane with Roberts, who sang "Only You," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "I Need Your Love Tonight," and "Georgia on My Mind."

It's the appreciation in the faces of his audiences that keeps him performing, and he's going to keep on singing for as long as he can, Roberts said.

"It's fun," he said, after the concert. "I'm glad we didn't do it outside."

He hopes he can return next year, Roberts said.

Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl King, who is a friend of Roberts', said he's performed for Fenton's tree fundraiser that took place after the tornado in August 2007. A donor matched the money that the fundraiser produced, and the city used the funding to replace trees that were lost in the tornado.

In addition, Roberts has performed at fundraisers for the in Linden, which is raising money for a new building.

"You have been so much a part of my life, but duty calls," Roberts told the audience. "I've been doing this for 56 years, and sometimes it feels like it was last week. Sometimes it feels like it was a hundred years ago."

Wayne Tierney, of Flushing, performed Roy Orbison songs at the concert. He's been performing with Roberts for several years, Tierney said.

"It's different because he's done so much," Tierney said. "As an entertainer, he's done so much and you just want to get the experience he's already got."

Tierney said he's performed in The Sound of Music, sat in with Herman's Hermits, performed with Johnny Cash and been on The Gong Show.

Concerts in the Park

The Concerts in the Park in Fenton are on Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m., at the Fenton Gazebo near They are funded by the and coordinated by