Triple treat: America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley

The three of them have performed here separately several times before, playing before sold-out audiences enthralled and inspired by their extraordinary talents, vocal qualities and styles as they sang their great hits.

Despite the huge appeal and attractiveness of such a musical act, America, Ambrosia and John Ford Coley have yet to appear together on the same stage in a rare show combining their distinctive sounds and styles.

This dream concert will now become a reality when the three singing legends gather together in a special concert tour that will be highlighted by a major performance on July 31 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Dubbed America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley Live!, the Big Dome show to be mounted by Ovation Productions will kick off a four-night concert series that will also include shows at the Nueva Caceres University in Naga City on Aug. 1; Subic Convention Center, Aug. 2; and Summit Center, Zamboanga City, Aug. 4.

Ambrosia, for its part, is scheduled to perform a longer set during a dinner-show at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City on Aug. 1.

America returns to the concert scene almost two years after its successful five-night SRO tour in 2007 which was capped by a big show at the Big Dome in a major comeback after more than two decades since its 1981 debut at the Folk Arts Theater (now Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas).

The musical career of America reaches back to 1972 when a group of three talented, young musicians harmonized its way to the top of the charts with A Horse With No Name.

The classic made America a global household name and launched Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek as superstars for their timeless sound that assimilated strands of rock, pop and folk elements into an exciting musical brew.

Other hit songs popularized by America were All My Life, Sandman, Only In Your Heart, Muskrat Love, Daisy Jane, Inspector Mills, Riverside, California Dreamin’ and I Don’t Believe In Miracles.

Ambrosia, on the other hand, was a Los Angeles quartet whose fusion of symphonic art rock with a slightly-produced pop sound led to its discovery in 1971 by Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Zubic Mehta, who featured it as part of the All-American Dream Concert.

In 1975, it released its self-titled debut album, which spawned the chart singles, Holdin’ On To Yesterday and Nice, Nice, Very Nice, the latter based on Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat Cradle.

It continued in its progressive rock style with the 1976 album, Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled, which earned for it and the album a Grammy Awards nomination.

The band is presently composed of Joe Puerta, Christopher North, Burleigh Drummond and David Cutler-Lewis.

A favorite of Pinoy fans because of his tremendous appeal, warmth and wit, John Ford Coley is on his seventh visit to the country since his debut performance here in the ‘70s at the height of the popularity of the duo of England Dan and John Ford Coley.

He skyrocketed to worldwide popularity with such hit songs as Tell Me You Love Me, Love Is The Answer, Gone Too Far, I’d Really Love To See You Tonight, Nights Are Forever, We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again, Come Back To Me, Soldier In The Rain, Sad To Belong, Simone, Westward Wind, Part Of Me, Part Of You and many more.

He has performed with top-hit makers like Elton John, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Carole King, Bread, Loggins and Messina, Led Zeppelin, Carly Simon, Bill Cosby, Dave Mason, Steve Miller Band, Randy Bachman, Jesse Colin Young, Air Supply and Gordon Lightfoot, to name a few.

(Note: Tickets to America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley Live! are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Department Stores. Call Ticketnet at 911-5555. For inquiries regarding the Hard Rock Cafe show of Ambrosia on Aug. 1, call 893-4661.)

Rx ’80s band main attraction at Conway’s Bar in July

Rx ’80s, one of the country’s leading bands today, is the featured performer at the Conway’s Bar of Makati Shangri-La Hotel for the month of July.

For five consecutive Fridays starting July 3 until July 31, at 10 p.m., Conway’s Bar guests and habitués shall be treated to the group’s exquisite mix of the great hits of the last half century and the latest contemporary songs that have become its trademark sound.

Music enthusiasts can also catch the band on all Thursdays of July starting July 2 at Bar One, Holiday Inn, Ortigas Center, Pasig City and every Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at 7 Pecados at Sofitel-Philippine Plaza, Pasay City.

Since it was formed almost three years ago by a group of seasoned musicians and singers, Rx ’80s has gained wide acclaim and popularity for its wonderful line-up not only of hits from ‘80s but also timeless tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’90s as well as contemporary songs that it performs with distinctive skill, artistry and style.

The group is composed of Aaron Dignos (lead guitar), Redgy Latade (bass guitar), Chen La Madrid (keyboard) and CJ La Madrid (drums) and fronted by top vocalists Jay Javier, Jazee Manuel and Baldo Navarro, with Joan Sevilla as band manager (0917-8121537).

(Note: Rx ’80s is available for performances at private parties and functions. For reservations and bookings, contact Joan Sevilla at 0917-8121537.)

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