By Frank “Smokin” Truat
We attended another great concert over the weekend. For years, the “Happy Together Tour” brought back some great artists from the 1960’s and the 1970’s. It has become an annual tradition now for us at the Mayo Performing Arts center in Morristown, New Jersey. The concert is put together by the Turtles, that 1960’s pop music band formed in 1965 featuring Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. In 2018, Howard retired from the tour due to health issues. I remember going to this tour when Howard was still in the band, so I guess I’ve actually been to the Happy Together Tour for more than six years! I’m not one to see the same artist more than once. So, what makes this tour so compelling that it has become an annual event? It’s a celebration of some of the greatest music of all time performed by several bands from that era. This year, once again, the Cowsills opened the evening and sang four songs, as each band in the lineup was scheduled to do. This band, the inspiration for televisions Partridge Family sounded amazing. Of course, they are not as old as we think because they were just kids when they had their hits. What made their appearance more special to me was that I had just watched an autobiographical movie about the Cowsills and, to my surprise, their abusive father. It was a shock to learn of how difficult a childhood they had because of family problems, addiction and the constant control of their father. I would say that this film is a must see for all fans of the band. The Vogues were back again with their tight harmonies, as were the Association. A new addition this year was Joey Molland. Joey was a member of the legendary group Badfinger. I had seen Badfinger when I was a freshman in college on February 11, 1973, right after their last charted hit. Back then, all the original members made up the band. Hard to believe that was over 51 years ago! Jay and the Americans sounded great with the latest “Jay” on lead vocals and local resident and on background vocals and guitar, original member Marty Kupersmith, aka Marty Sanders. The Turtles ended the evening with their biggest hits and with newest member Ron Dante singing his song with the Archies, “Sugar, Sugar.” Ron was also with the Cuff Links and the Detergents and produced most of the Barry Manilow albums and sang background on the hits as well. In the final moments, all the performers gathered on stage, singing snippets of their songs with the finale being “Happy Together.” Yes, they are aging performers, but the talent in the room far surpassed what time could ever erase. The music was uplifting, from a time when the music brought us all together, and it was great to see some old friends on the stage again, and from their smiles on stage and in the audience to the standing ovation, it was obvious they were more than happy to see us cheering them on once again.
