THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 TAG: 9608280040
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUE VANHECKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 112 lines
Who's who at the American Music Festival, Thursday through Monday at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront:
CHUCK BERRY
Friday, 4 p.m. at the Fifth Street Stage
Advance tickets: $5
Chuck Berry remembers when rock was young - he was busy making it. His amplified guitar style, bold boogie woogie rhythms and flashy stage strutting have influenced a whole host of contemporary rockers, including the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and is as exciting today as when he first astounded teen-age audiences in 1955.
WILLIE NELSON ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION
Saturday, noon at the Fifth Street Stage
Advance tickets: $10
Where would country music be without Willie Nelson? As a songwriter he gave us standards like Patsy Cline's ``Crazy.'' As a most distinctive singer the outlaw's brought us crossover classics like ``On The Road Again'' and ``Always On My Mind.'' Nelson appears at the American Music Festival in support of his latest album, ``Spirit.''
Formed in the mid-'70s by a group of accomplished session players, the six-man Atlanta Rhythm Section found late '70s success with easy rocking hits like ``So Into You'' and ``Imaginary Lover.''
HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
Sunday, noon at the Fifth Street Stage
Advance tickets: $10
With album sales of more than 12 million and more than a dozen Top 10 hits to their credit, Huey Lewis & the News are one of America's best loved rock bands. Make that rock 'n' roll bands - ``Four Chords and Several Years Ago,'' the group's 1994 collection of classic R&B and rock and roll covers was a critically applauded labor of love.
THE TEMPTATIONS THE FOUR TOPS
Monday, noon at the Fifth Street Stage
Advance tickets: $10
Beginning in 1962, for two decades the Temptations were Motown Records' top male vocal group with classics pop and soul hits like ``My Girl,'' ``The Way You Do The Things You Do'' and ``Ain't Too Proud To Beg.''
The Four Tops were the only group during Motown's heyday to sidestep any personnel changes and found fast fame with a long run of smash '60s hits including ``Baby I Need Your Loving'' and ``I Can't Help Myself.''
PERCY SLEDGE
Thursday, 6 p.m. at the 24th Street Stage
Free
At age 55, big-throated tenor Percy Sledge - best known for ``When A Man Loves A Woman'' - is still recording, releasing and recycling his steamy soul. Last year's all-new ``Blue Night'' drew critical raves; this year's ``Best Of Percy Sledge'' is the singer's umpteenth greatest hits compilation.
KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND
Friday, 6 p.m. at the 17th Street Stage
Free
No, KC doesn't stand for King of Commercials, though perhaps it should. Both Burger King and General Motors have recently co-opted the Sunshine Band's funky opus ``That's The Way (I Like It)'' and Budweiser's borrowed their disco anthem ``Get Down Tonight.'' And with his TV appearances on everything from ``Geraldo'' to ``Entertainment Tonight,'' looks like KC's riding that '70s nostalgia wave for all its worth.
STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
Saturday, 11 a.m. at the 24th Street Stage
Free
Appointed Starship frontman in 1979, Mickey Thomas co-piloted the group to the lofty heights of the pop charts with hits like ``Jane,'' ``Sarah'' and ``We Built This City.'' Thomas reprises his Starship role plus his early days with the Elvin Bishop Band with former members of both groups.
JOHNNY RIVERS
Saturday, 5 p.m. at the 17th Street Stage
Free
Dubbed Johnny Rivers by legendary disc jockey Alan Freed, the spirited singer and guitarist scored a string of pop hits in the '60s and '70s largely by remaking country and R&B gems. Among his hits: retreads of Chuck Berry's ``Memphis'' and ``Maybellene,'' Huey Smith's ``Rockin' Pneumonia - Boogie Woogie Flu'' and ``Swingin' To the Music (Slow Dancin').''
EDDIE MONEY
Saturday, 7 p.m. at the 24th Street Stage
Free
Ten albums and 11 million in sales since his 1977 hit singles ``Baby Hold On'' and ``Two Tickets To Paradise,'' husky-throated rocker Eddie Money gives it another go with his latest LP ``Love & Money,'' which features his version of soul man Isaac Hayes' ``Run Your Hurt Away.''
ORLEANS
Sunday, 11 a.m. at the 17th Street Stage
Free
On the strength of a pair of '70s Top 10 hits - ``Dance With Me'' and ``Love Takes Time'' - Orleans found a following for their mainstream mix of disparate genres from rock and soul to country and calypso.
THE GUESS WHO
Sunday, 7 p.m. at the 17th Street Stage
Free
It's only fitting that the folks who brought you ``American Woman'' decades ago will play the American Music Festival on Sunday night. Their show is sure to include other Guess Who staples like ``No Time'' and ``These Eyes,'' as well as songs from their latest release, ``Lonely One.''
THE RASCALS
Sunday, 5 p.m. at the 24th Street Stage
THE BOX TOPS
Monday, 11 a.m. at the 24th Street Stage
Free
Baby boomers rejoice! The sounds of the '60s return as the Rascals (``Good Lovin,''' ``A Beautiful Morning'') and the Box Tops (``The Letter'') close down the festivities by reliving their glory days. ILLUSTRATION: SHOWTIME, TIM TYE ENTERTAINMENT
The Temptations, left, Motown Records' top male vocal group in the
'60s and '70s, featured such pop and soul hits as ``My Girl'' and
``Ain't Too Proud To Beg.'' The Guess Who's staples include
``American Woman'' and ``These Eyes.'' by CNB