TOWN OF GEDDES -- The New York State Fair is putting together its lineup of free concerts to be held at Chevy Court. The Fair today announced Darius Rucker, rick Springfield and Boyz II Men will join the lineup at Chevy Court. Here are all the details in a release provided by the New York State Fair.
Darius Rucker, Rick Springfield and Boyz II Men will play evening concerts at the New York State Fair’s Chevy Court this summer, adding their voices to an all-star lineup that will be available to Fairgoers for free.
Rucker, the lead singer for the Grammy-Award-winning rock band Hootie and the Blowfish, will bring his solo, country music tour to the Fair on Sunday, Aug. 30. That date had originally been scheduled for country singer Sara Evans. Evans, one of country music’s most popular female vocalists, will now perform at Chevy Court on the opening day of the Fair, Thursday, Aug. 27.
Springfield, the ageless pop/rock star with a dual career as an actor in the daytime television drama “General Hospital,” will perform on Wednesday, Sept. 2, which is also Women’s Day at the Fair. Boyz II Men, the best-selling rhythm & blues male vocal group of all time, will bring its smooth harmonies and synchronized dance routines to Chevy Court on Friday, Aug. 28.
“All of these performers are talented stars who pack venues across the country,” New York State Fair Director Dan O’Hara said. “We are delighted to be able to give families an opportunity to enjoy them for the price of Fair admission.” The State Fair has also announced that Motown legend The Four Tops will play Chevy Court on Monday Aug. 31, and alternative rock band Switchfoot will play on Friday, Sept. 4. More will be announced in the future.
This summer, the Fair is providing twice as many national acts on Chevy Court – the Fair’s “free” stage – as it has in the past. Darius Rucker has been lead singer and rhythm guitarist for Hootie and the Blowfish since its formation, and his distinctive voice helped the band win a Grammy in 1996, produce four top 20 hits, and make one of the best-selling albums of all time.
In 2008, Rucker began a second musical career as a country singer and songwriter. His debut country album, “Learn to Live,” sold more than half a million copies as of February, making it a certified gold record. A song from that album, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” hit No. 1 on the country charts in September, making Rucker the first African-American to top the country rankings since 1983.
Rick Springfield began his music career as a teen sensation in the early 1970s, singing on “American Bandstand” and gracing the cover of Tiger Beat magazine. He became a mainstream, Grammy Award-winning rock and pop star in the 1980s, with his No. 1 hit “Jessie’s Girl.” Other popular Springfield songs include “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “I’ve Done Everything For You,” “Love Somebody” and “Affair of the Heart.” Springfield is also a successful actor, most notably in the role of Dr. Noah Drake in the ABC television soap opera “General Hospital.” Springfield established the role in the early 1980s, and then left the show to focus on music. He returned to “General Hospital” in 2005 and continues to have a recurring role.
Boyz II Men dominated the pop music charts during the 1990s as one of the most popular R&B and soul singing groups of all time. Their smooth sound – a harmony-filled combination of traditional Motown and rap that the group dubbed “Hip Hop Doo Wop” –helped them sell more than 60 million records. Between 1992 and 1997 the Grammy-winning group topped the Rhythm & Blues chart with five No. 1 songs, including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You” “On Bended Knee,” “Motown Philly” and “One Sweet Day.” The group’s most recent album, “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA,” is a collection of cover songs from traditional Motown favorites like The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson.
In addition to Chevy Court, the Fair has begun announcing 2009 Fair concerts scheduled for the Mohegan Sun Grandstand. Country superstar Kenny Chesney and singer/songwriter Jake Owen will take the grandstand stage on Friday, Aug. 28. Tickets cost $65 and $55 and are available online through Ticketmaster.com or by phone by calling 1-800-745-3000 or 1-866-448-7849.
