Lead Singer for The Association Joins The Jersey Shore Pops

COURT HOUSE – Linda Gentille and The Jersey Shore Pops will be continuing their 8 concert season on July 28 at 7:00 p.m. with “Swingin’ Sixties” Starring Jim Yester and YesterDaze. The popular orchestra will open with music of the 60’s including music of the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Lovin Spoonful, Mama and the Papas, and The Association.
Yester was the founding member and original lead singer of the successful singing group: The Association. Their legendary hits included Windy, Never My Love, Along Comes Mary and the beautiful classic Cherish. In 1967, The Association had the distinguished honor of outperforming The Beatles and became the number one group of the year. They performed on over 50 major television shows in a period of four years.
Jim started his career in 1960 with his brother Jerry and performed throughout California as The Yester Brothers. While fulfilling service obligations with the US Army in Germany, he toured Germany and France for 1 years entertaining troops with a folk-comedy trio called The Yester Years. The Yester Years won many commendations and lifting the spirits of many troops stationed far from home.
In 1965, Jim returned to LA and formed the popular group The Association. In 1966 the group earned their first gold record for Along Comes Mary. In 1967 The Association was voted the number one vocal group in the USA. 1967, Cherish became the second gold record for The Association and Windy the third gold record. In 1968, Never My Love became the groups fourth gold record. Yester left The Association in the 70’s and joined his brother in the group The Lovin Spoonful. He reunited with The Association in 2009 to rave reviews and the group continues to tour the United States performing over 80 concerts a year. The Association is one of the few “oldies” groups that still has several original members in the band.
Although many bands of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s emphasized instruments over vocal harmonies, The Association came across more as a vocal group than a band, even though they were both. The Association began with the break-up of an 11 man group “The Men” in 1965. The Men was the first of what was called folk-rock, drums, electric guitar, electric bass, plus the usual banjo, 12 and 6 string acoustic guitars.
Yester was also nominated for a Golden Globe for writing the title song for the movie “Goodbye Columbus” and a Grammy for “Never my Love”. Yester has 7 gold records and one double platinum album with a total of over 70 million records sold! A recent television appearance on the P.B.S. special, ”My Music, the 60’s” has generated a renewed interest in Yester’s music.
The Jersey Shore pops is led by conductor and pianist Linda Gentille. The orchestra is the newest orchestra in the state and is gaining in popularity each season. One of the attractions of the orchestra is the popularity of the music director and conductor Gentille. Kay Aspell, managing director of the Middle Township Performing Arts Center states, “The Jersey Shore Pops has become a huge attraction here in Cape May County because of the outstanding shows produced and arranged by Gentille. The shows have grown each year and are now the most popular concert series we have ever hosted here at the PAC. Gentille is a charismatic entertainer and conductor who also arranges most of the music for the orchestra which sets her apart from the other orchestra leaders in the state.”
What has made the Jersey Shore Pops the most successful new big band orchestra in New Jersey is Gentille along with her unique on stage showmanship. As a major headliner, she has performed on stages around the world. Pops president Dr. Nick Holland sums it up:” Gentille’s unique musical style of conducting while performing amazing feats on the piano has made this a must see show in Cape May. Her unique and original orchestrations sets her apart from all the other pianist conductors in the nation.”
The Jersey Shore Pops 2013 Summer Concert Series will continue with the following shows:
Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m. “Classics Rock” starring conductor & pianist Linda Gentille :
“This is a brand new show that Linda performs on cruises around the world with all her own arrangements of the most popular classics of all time.
Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m.: “Music of “The Glenn Miller Orchestra” This show is going to be one of the highlights of the season that will feature all of the great hits of Glenn Miller.
August 17, 7:30 p.m.: “Sinatra and Friends” starring Peter Oprisko: “ Back by popular demand yet again is this amazing singer of Sinatra standards. He performs the music of Sinatra and the Rat Pack with additional songs by Judy Garland. This show will close the 2013 summer concert series with a bang.”`
The individual tickets will range from $25 for balcony seating to $40 for VIP orchestra center seating. Tickets at the door will increase to $30-$45 so advance purchases are encouraged to avoid long will call lines. The Middle Township PAC has large convenient parking lot and the parking at the venue is free of charge. There are limited free tickets available to qualified veterans only by going to www.vettix.org. You must sign up with the website in order to receive this free service.
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.
To purchase either season or individual tickets, please call the JSP Ticket Office at 800-838-3006 . For online purchasing and to find out more information about any of the shows, please go to www.JerseyShorePops.org. Mail-in orders are accepted by sending check or money order to Jersey Shore Pops, 88 Route 610, Petersburg, NJ, 08270.
Please put your seating preference and price level of either $40 Orchestra Center, $30 Orchestra Wings, or $25 Balcony Seating. The PAC is located in Cape May Courthouse at the Middle Township High School , Exit 10 off the Garden State Parkway.