COURT HOUSE – The Middle Township Performing Arts Center is set to open the summer concert season with Linda Gentille & The Jersey Shore Pops orchestra July 12 at 7:00 p.m. The opening concert for the Summer Concert Series will be Mark Preston, formerly of The Lettermen. Preston will perform standards from The Letterman which they made famous, as well as classics which he considers his favorites. Preston is a high energy dynamic stage entertainer and will make his debut at the Middle PAC in this concert.
Music director for the orchestra, Linda Gentille comments, “I saw Preston perform on a Regent Cruise last year and was amazed at his talent and rapport with the audience. He is a consummate entertainer and reminds me a lot of Wayne Newton and Liberace. I knew in 5 minutes why he is considered one of the most in-demand entertainers on the high seas right now. I know our audiences will love him.”
Growing up in Indiana gave Preston plenty of opportunity to perform and grow with his talent. Starting at the age of 11, Preston carried his singing through school and then decided to enlist. Joining the Air Force was Preston’s first stop on his way to being a top performer. His talent earned him accolades when he was selected as the Air Force’s finest vocalist of 1975, and then toured with Tops in Blue. This elite group is made up of the Air Force’s top 20, most versatile entertainers. During his time in the Air Force, Preston was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal as well as the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Preston ever flew under the radar when it came to his career and talent. Country Music Hall of Famer Tennessee Ernie Ford so aptly put it, “Cock your pistols, there will be no stopping this young man”, and there hasn’t been. After his Honorable Discharge from the Air Force and a string of impressive performances at one of Los Angeles’ oldest clubs, The Horn, Preston decided to make his next career move to Las Vegas. Preston became a featured performer at The Dunes, The Silverbird, The Marina and The Sahara hotels. Preston also performed on Harrah’s stage in Reno and in Lake Tahoe. None of these performances went unnoticed as he continued to receive reviews that described him as “an extraordinary singer, being able to belt out a song, filling you with eye watering emotion”. Variety magazine dubbed him “one of the finest entertainers in show business”.
The young man from South Bend then found another dimension of his career to expand upon, television. With several appearances on the hit series Vegas, as well as being the stand-in and photo double for the show’s star, Robert Urich, Preston went on to do guest appearances on several network specials. Again, none of this went unnoticed as Preston would find himself moving again for another opportunity to expand his already growing career. Because of his acting on television and his singing, the Indiana native was asked to co-host The Bob Braun Show, a syndicated variety show originating in Cincinnati, Ohio. Preston proved his versatility when he joined the Braun Show. The Bob Braun Show was filmed live each day, and they were known to shoot from different sites in the cities where the show was broadcast. Preston proved to be an all-around entertainer as he interviewed guests on the show, worked in places like the Ohio State Fair and different remote tapings. He sang his heart out for people coming in from the tri-state area to see him perform.
Preston’s star was not yet shining bright enough. While he was performing on the Bob Braun Show, he was asked to open for the First Lady of Comedy, Phyllis Diller. “I love to refer to Mark Preston as my protégé”, said Ms. Diller. “He has one of the strongest, most beautiful voices I have ever heard. He really gets to an audience. He sings, acts, emotes, is handsome…everything.”
Preston’s unique talent preceded him again, and he was asked twice to join the world famous recording group, The Lettermen. With the second invitation, Preston accepted and spent 10 years with the group. During that time, Preston recorded several CDs. The group’s most recent recording “New Directions 2010” with the Les Brown Jr. Orchestra, was put forward for 3 Grammy Nominations. In 2001, Preston’s contributions to The Lettermen were recognized when the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. The late, great, Tennessee Ernie Ford was right when he spoke of Mark Preston. Today his comment would be “Cock your pistols, there IS no stopping this talented singer”…
Preston was excited to comment, “This will be the first time in years that I have performed in South Jersey. I am so looking forward to performing with The Jersey Shore Pops and meeting old friends and fans from the shore who remember me when I was with The Lettermen. The Jersey audiences were always so wonderful for us, and I am excited to once again share that tremendous energy and enthusiasm. I was so impressed with the orchestra’s conductor Linda Gentille when I saw her show on the Regent ship last year. We have a mutual admiration and professional respect for each other. It will be an awesome collaboration next summer and I am so looking forward to it.”
The complete Jersey Shore Pops 2014 Summer Concert Series will include 4 concerts with a focus on variety entertainers from around the United States and Canada including the following:
July 12 at 7:00 p.m.: Mark Preston of The Letterman
July 19 at 7:00 p.m.: Sinatra Sizzles
Aug. 9, at 7:00 p.m.: Broadway On Tap
Aug. 23 at 7:00 p.m.: Great Balls Of Fire, Legends of Piano
This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. The funds were administered by the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission, under the authority of the County Library Commission, for the Board of Chosen Freeholders. This program is also made possible by generous support from our sponsors: The Avalon Golf Course, The McMahon Agency, Doug Heun, Friedman L.L.P, Shore Veterinarians and The Jessie Creek Winery.
Individual tickets are $25- $40 and the group rate for groups of over 20 is $22 a ticket. The discount Season Ticket Pass is only $100 for all 4 concerts and includes VIP seating and all the after concert receptions including the opening night VIP Champagne Artist Meet and Greet at the Avalon Golf Course. To purchase either individual tickets or passes for the 2014 Jersey Shore Pops Summer Season, please call the BPT Ticket Office at 800-838-3006. You can also choose your own seats online by going to www.JerseyShorePops.org. Tickets are also now available once again at the PAC for walk up purchases for individual ticket sales only. The theater is located at 212 Bayberry Ave, off exit 10 off the Garden State Parkway. There is convenient and free parking at the facility.
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