NEWS RELEASE
CASINO RAMA
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Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, two legendary founders of The Rascals, are teaming up for the first time in five years for an international tour that will bring them to Casino Rama Aug. 17.
Joining the guys on this new journey will be Hall of Fame drummer, Carmine Appice (Modern Drummer Hall of Fame, 2014, and Classic Drummer Hall of Fame, 2013).
Cavaliere and Cornish cite the fans and their love of the group’s timeless songs as reasons for going on tour.
“I had an epiphany while performing in Hawaii last year,” says Cavaliere (singer/songwriter/keys). “It’s not about me - it’s about the fans. It’s about the music. I spoke with Gene and he agreed that we can’t take any of this for granted anymore.”
Cornish, who first worked with Cavaliere and future Rascals singer, Eddie Brigati, in Joey Dee & The Starlighters in 1964, echoed those feelings.
“There’s something magical that happens when we’re on stage together,” shares Cornish (guitar). “We’re going to celebrate these songs for as long as the fans allow us to and give the fans a chance to see us perform live.”
Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Rascals are widely considered the best ‘blue-eyed soul’ group to come out of the 1960s and their music, the soundtrack of a generation. The Rascals have 17 Top 20 hits, seven Top 10 hits, and three No. 1 hits, including Groovin’, Good Lovin’, and People Got To Be Free, the latter of which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its release this year.
“Gene and I both thought there’s no way we can replace our brother Eddie, and Dino expressed that he didn’t want to do it,” Cavaliere adds. “We both thought of Carmine at the same time.”
During his first phone call with Cornish, the iconic drummer, whose resume includes Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Rod Stewart, Beck Bogert and Appice, Ozzy Osbourne and Pink Floyd, wasted no time saying “I’m in.”
“I grew up watching The Rascals on Ed Sullivan, I’m a huge fan,” says Appice. “These songs are the soundtrack to so many peoples’ lives. I’m looking forward to sharing the music with life-long Rascals fans, and to new generations of fans.”
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