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On Oct. 1, 2014, Paradise Artists booking agency shared the new tour poster for the 2015 Happy Together Tour on their web site, which is great news for the classic rock lovers across the country, who can’t wait to see this tour back in their home towns. Thirty years after the Turtles launched the first “Happy Together” tour based on the song with the fun, upbeat “bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah” chorus, they’re back “one more time” to do it all over again.
For the first time, the 2015 Happy Together Tour will feature six groups, featuring music of and by The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Buckinghams, The Association, The Cowsills, The Grass Roots, and Mark Lindsay. Classic rock lovers keep showing up to see Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, aka Flo & Eddie, aka The Turtles and all of their friends on their tremendously successful annual tours of fun and music.
New to the Happy Together Tour for their debut year are the wonderful Cowsill siblings, Susan, Paul and Bob, whose hits include “The Rain, the Park and the Other Things,” “Hair/Let the Sunshine In” (from “Aquarius”) and “We Can Fly,” to name just a few. Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna, The Buckinghams, return in 2015 after having been on the original Happy Together early tour in 1985, plus back for the 25th anniversary year (2010), then in 2011, and 2012. “Kind of a Drag,” “Don’t You Care,” “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song,” and more will make you remember falling in love for the first time.
Mark Dawson and Dusty Hanvey, also return to carry on the music of the Grass Roots (when they tour together with Joe Dougherty and Larry Nelson) after a similar hiatus. Everyone appreciates “The River is Wide,” “Bella Linda,” “Midnight Confessions,” and more. When Rob Grill was alive and on the tour, he always used to say, “You guys really know how to throw a party!” and that was always true.
Good-natured fun and remembering when takes place as not only Baby Boomers but a new generation of fans joins in to fill arenas, casinos, festivals and fairs, frequently selling out the places they go well in advance of the concert. Autograph sessions after the concerts happen often, but pay attention to where and when those will happen, because the concert dates go night after night after night and they have to keep the show on the road!
Cherokee nation and singer Mark Lindsay will both return, as no New York Radio City Rockette can kick as high as Mark can when he takes the stage. Talk about “I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone” or “Kicks” that Mark Lindsay is “Hungry” for, he’s at the top of his game and shares stories and songs as the former lead singer of beloved band Paul Revere & the Raiders.
Bringing the music you love and fell in love to and with continues from The Association are Del Ramos (brother of the late Larry Ramos), Jim Yester, and Jules Alexander (who also tour also with Bruce Pictor and Jordan Cole in full concert settings). “Never My Love,” “Windy,” and “Cherish” always have the crowd singing along.
It has not yet been announced who the touring band will be, but since 2010, the skillful musicians who’ve been rolling down the roads with them include Godfrey Townsend (guitar), John Montagna (bass), Steve Murphy (drums) and Manny Focarazzo (keyboards). These talented tour guys, who used to tour with the Alan Parsons Project many years ago, and each who pursue their own individual careers, know all the words to all the songs. Because fans definitely love seeing every member of the full band on tour, the fast pace of featuring six different musical acts requires that you simply must have one band behind the artists to keep the show flowing.
Concert dates are being finalized and the full touring schedule will be released when it becomes available. Despite what Gene Simmons said a few weeks ago, classic rock is alive and well, at least if you’re a Baby Boomer. Let the good times roll, one more time!
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