Just when I thought I wasn't going to be able to see the sold-out "Hitmen" show at Prairie's Edge casino, I got a call from them asking if I would intro the band on-stage! "Yes! How often do I get to rub shoulders with some heavy "hitters" in rock and roll history?!
The Hitmen bill themselves as the "original stars of mega-hit acts like The 4 Seasons, The Shondells, The Critters and more. It turned out to be a very fun show, many hit songs, and a fun bunch of guys! L-R:
* LARRY GATES (Carole King, Janis Ian, Rick Derringer, plus commercials for Nestle, Kodak, Toys "R" Us and others),
* DON CICCONE (The 4 Seasons (lead vocal on "Who Loves You" and co-lead on "Oh What A Night"), The Critters, Tommy James and the Shondells),
* GERRY POLCI (The 4 Seasons (co-lead on "Oh What a Night"), Barry Manilow)
* (Me, TIM BURNS...humbled)
* JIMMY RYAN (The Critters, Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Elton John, Rod Stewart and played on soundtracks from "Sleepless in Seattle," "Postcards From the Edge," "Working Girl," and others)
* RUSS VELASQUEZ (Carole King, Sting, The Ramones, LL Cool J, Luther Vandross, Chicago and others. Emmy nominated for his work on Seasame Street)
* LEE SHAPIRO (The 4 Seasons, Barry Manilow, Paul Schaffer, and is the inventor of "Rock N Roll Elmo!")
Our interview with Lee Shapiro a couple days before the show:
