Hitmakers of Beach and Soul Tour Coming to Savannah


Jerry “Iceman” Butler
Jerry “Iceman” Butler

Carolina Entertainment presents the Hitmakers of Beach and Soul on Saturday, September 17, 2011, 8 p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center. Hitmakers combines smooth style R and B hits like Jerry Butler’s “Only the Strong Survive,” “For Your Precious Love,” Gene Chandler’s classic “Duke of Earl,” and the 70’s “Groovy Situation”, and Candi Staton’s beach hit, “Young Hearts Run Free” and the dance-soul “Victim.”

Tickets are only on sale at the Civic Center Box Office, and online at etix.com.

Jerry Butler’s career spans four decades; he recorded more than 50 albums and his voice is one of the most distinguished voices in all of music. As soulful as ever, yet smooth as ice, his nickname “The Iceman” epitomizes his demeanor-and sound. Butler acquired his initial music lessons as a young boy while a member of the church choir in Chicago.

Gene Chandler is remembered by the rock and roll audience almost soley for the classic novelty and doo wop-tinged ballad “Duke of Earl;” the unforgettable opening chant of the title leading the way, the song was a number one hit in 1962. He’s esteemed by soul fans as one of the leading exponents of the 60’s Chicago soul scene, along with Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler.

Chandler never approached the massive pop success of that chart topper (although he occasionally entered the Top 20), but he was a big star with the R and B audience with straight forward mid tempo and ballad soul numbers in the mid-60’s, many of which were written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Carl Davis.

Born March 13, 1940 in Hanceville, AL, Candi Staton sang with the Jewell Gospel Trio as a teenager. They toured the traditional gospel circuit in the 1950s with the Soul Stirrers, C.L. Franklin and Mahalia Jackson.

In 1968, Stanton launched a solo career as a Southern soul stylist, garnering 16 R and B hits for Rick Hall’s legendary Fame Studios and gaining the title of First Lady of Southern Soul for her Grammy-nominated R and B renditions of the country tunes “Stand By Your Man,” and “In the Ghetto.”

In 1975, Stanton saw southern soul falling out of fashion and began collaborating with producer Dave Crawford, who propelled her into a disco diva with dance songs such as “Young Hearts Run Free,” and “Victim.” In 1982, she had been disgruntled with Warner Brothers’ passing interest in her career slump, and returned to the gospel field.

She has since recorded eight popular gospel albums, two of which have won Grammy nominations. In 1992, she returned to pop mainstream with a Top Ten British hit “You Got the Love,”

Following the release of a well-received compilation of her Fame era material (2004’s Candi Staton) Staton returned to secular music in the form of 2006’s His Hands. This night promises to entertain and bring back a flood of memories! Mark you calendars, and purchase your tickets today! That’s Hitmakers of Beach and Soul on Saturday, September 17, 2011, 8 p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center. See you there!


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