Sunday, August 18, 2002
Artists also will take part in a pre-induction dinner Sept. 16 at Avalon Inn & amp; Resort in Howland.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- The Temptations and a reunion of The 5th Dimension will highlight this year's induction concert for the Vocal Group Hall of Fame & amp; Museum on Sept. 18.
Unlike the past two years, the concert won't be in the Chestnut Avenue parking lot behind the hall at 98 E. State St. It will be at Cafaro Field adjacent to the Eastwood Mall in Niles, a larger venue better able to handle a concert of this size, said Bob Crosby, president and chief executive officer of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
The list of performers who have volunteered their services is a who's who of inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
The Temptations were inducted in 1999, and The 5th Dimension is being inducted this year.
Others slated to perform at the concert who are being inducted this year are Jay and The Americans, The Marcels, The Chantels and The Clovers.
Past honorees
Past inductees on the bill are The Dixie Hummingbirds (2000), Charlie Thomas' Legendary Drifters (original Drifters inducted in 1998), The Flamingos (2000), Frankie Lymon's Legendary Teenagers (original group inducted in 2000), The Modernaires (1999) The Ink Spots (1999), The Lettermen (2001) and Sonny Til's Legendary Orioles (original group inducted in 1998).
Mary Wilson of The Supremes (1998), Tim Hauser of The Manhattan Transfer (1998) and Herb Reed of The Platters (1998) will be special guests, and more artists are expected to participate, Crosby added.
Barbershop and Sweet Adeline national championship quartets also will perform, he said.
Gates open at 6 p.m. and show time is 7 p.m. The show is expected to end by midnight.
In addition to the concert there will be an informal reception dinner at Avalon Inn & amp; Resort in Howland Township at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16. Tickets are $100 and include table seats for the Sept. 18 concert.
The invitation-only induction ceremony will be Sept. 17.
Oak Ridge Boys to visit
As a prelude to this year's inductions, The Oak Ridge Boys, inducted in 2001, will visit the hall to greet fans and sign autographs from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Monday. Admission is free.
The Columbia Theater, recently purchased by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation, will be open for "sneak peak" tours immediately after The Oak Ridge Boys' visit, Crosby said.
The plan is to renovate and reopen the West State Street theater, closed since its entryway was destroyed in a fire in 1981. Crosby said various groups are offering their services in fund-raising concerts to help finance the renovation.
gwin@vindy.com