STATEN ISLAND, NY – The St. George Theatre will celebrate its 89th anniversary with their annual Red Carpet Gala and Benefit Concert starring the iconic R&B group The O-Jays, Saturday, March 30.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Katharine McPhee will no longer be the featured performer -- she’s starring in the London run of “Waitress,” a production that’s been extended through May.
Note the gala event will still take place on the same date with headliners The O’Jays. Gala ticket prices and sponsorship levels will all remain the same.
For patrons who purchased Katharine McPhee concert tickets only, refunds will be available at the original point of purchase, via Ticketmaster or the St. George Theatre box office.
Icons of the legendary Philadelphia soul sound for more than five decades, The O’Jays have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. With legendary songs such as “Love Train,” “Backstabbers,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl,” “Now That We Found Love,” “For the Love of Money,” and more, The O’Jays have been one of the most successful vocal groups of all time.
“We are very excited to host The O’Jays as we celebrate the Theatre’s 89th anniversary in grand style”, says Doreen Cugno, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit theater, before adding:
“The gala is such an important fundraiser for us as we strive to fulfill our mission of both restoring the historic Theatre and offering the Staten Island community a wide variety of programming.”
The annual Red Carpet Gala is the principal fundraiser for St. George Theatre Restoration Inc. and features a pre-show cocktail reception, Georgie Award presentation, followed by the concert with The O’Jays, in addition to an after- party in the grand and mezzanine lobbies with open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and dance music.
Tickets to the gala are $300 and include the pre-show reception, prime seating for the performance, and after-party.
Show only tickets are available for $150, $75, and $45 and are available by phoning 718-442-2900 or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.
To purchase gala tickets or for more information, call 718-442-2900 x 504 or visit the following link: http://www.stgeorgetheatre.com/red-carpet-gala/
ABOUT THE O’JAYS
Walter Williams and Eddie Levert first met when they were the ages of 6 and 7 respectively. As teenagers in Canton, Ohio, they formed a band originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. In 1963, the band took the name “The O’Jays” in tribute to Cleveland radio disc jockey Eddie O’Jay. Several members have changed, but the core, original lead singers Eddie Levert and Walter Williams, continue to front the group.
In 1972, Gamble & Huff, a team of producers and songwriters with whom the O’Jays had been working for several years, signed the group to their Philadelphia International label. With this unique formula, often called The Sound of Philadelphia, The O’Jays scored the first number 1 and million-seller, “Backstabbers.”
Subsequently, they succeeded with various chart-topping pop and R&B singles including “Love Train”, “Put Your Hands Together”, “For The Love of Money”, “I Love Music”, “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)”, “Livin’ For The Weekend” and “Use Ta Be My Girl.” This success propelled The O’Jays to be the first black vocal group to perform in arenas throughout America during the 70s and 80s.
Levert and Williams have a rare lifelong bond that few of us will ever experience; friends and partners for almost 65 years.
“We still appreciate our friendship, dedication to each other and the group and our love for good music," Williams says. “We probably could have had great solo careers, but I don’t think either one of us could have ever have been as big as The O’Jays.”
Levert, Williams and Eric Nolan Grant, who joined the group in 1995, continue to thrill fans today. Throughout their career The O’Jays have achieved 10 gold albums, nine platinum albums and 10 number one hits.