The stars from The Platters, The Coasters, The Drifters and The Temptations will present the "Farewell Tour" for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 844 in Williamsport, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 348 Market St.
For Myles Savage, lead singer from The Platters, it's hitting those first three notes of that golden oldie "Only You" that reminds him of why he loves to perform.
"As I hit those first three notes, people just go crazy," he said. "I love being able to look out in the audience and see their faces, and see the tears in the eyes of the ladies. It grabs you from way back to a time when you first discovered love. It's always a special time when you can touch on a memory from those tender years.
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The stars from The Platters, The Coasters, The Drifters and The Temptations will present a concert for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 844 in Williamsport, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 348 Market St.
"I must say it has been a wonderful career. Along the way, I have had the pleasure to perform with not only great friends in the industry, like Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, The Penguins and other great Doo-Wop acts, but also old friends like Cab Calloway in the Broadway show, 'Bubbling Brown Sugar,' and many, many more. I had a barrel of fun as the 'Tin Man' in 'The Wiz.' Once I got a call to go on a tour all over Europe with George Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' and play Robins. The breaks between The Platters were nice, but my heart will always be interwoven with songs like 'Twilight Time,' 'My Prayer,' 'The Great Pretender,' 'Harbor Lights' and 'Only You.' "
For the Scottish Rite auditorium concert, Savage will be joined by bass lead singer Wolf Johnson from the Richard Street's Temptations, lead singer from The Cornell Gunther's Coasters, Barry , and lead singer from The Beary Hobb's Drifters, Ira Greig. Each of the performers will perform his group's classic songs, while backed by members of the other groups. "We've all taken time to learn each others routines and adapt to each other's styles," Savage said. "The difference between The Platters and The Drifters is that The Drifters are very flamboyant with the style of their dance steps. With ours, everything is very cool and elegant. But it's fun to get kind of wild."
Being able to perform the other groups' hits, such as "Charlie Brown," "Under the Boardwalk" and "My Girl" - is something he really enjoys.
Savage says that, while their shows tend to draw primarily an older crowd, the younger audiences will find something to appreciate, as well.
"Young people love the music, too," he said. "We have the old style routines and choreography ... none of the hip-hop stuff. It's the old Las Vegas flair. Younger people call it 'old school,' but they can see that their parents and grandparents are hip and cool people."
Tickets are $40 for general admission and $60 for VIP tickets. Funds will be raised for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For more info, visit www.platterscoastersdrifterstemptations.com or call 326-2752.
