The 13th annual springtime event at Epcot, the International Flower and Garden Festival, is definitely worth a visit if you are lucky enough to be in Orlando between April 3rd to June 11th, 2007.
However, for us, the highlight of this amazing event has to be the Flower Power Concert Series which is due to start on April 5th and runs until June 3rd 2007. For those of us who are of a ‘certain’ age it will bring back heady memories of ‘flowers in your hair,’ girls in long floral dresses, men with flowing locks wearing caftans, and, of course, a myriad of wonderful and memorable songs.
Here is the proposed schedule of events which will take place 3 times a night at the American Gardens Theatre, opposite the American exhibition area in Epcot’s World Showcase. Please note, the list is subject to change. Amongst the expected artists are some of our favourites, and a few who were one-hit wonders.
April 5th– 9th Paul Revere and The Raiders - still around after 43 years! ‘Indian Reservation,’ which sold nearly 4 million records, was their last hit in 1971. Despite not having had a hit in decades they are still filling concert halls
April 10th– 14th Tony Orlando in Concert – some may remember his hit song of October 1961, ‘Bless You’
April 15th– 18th The Buckinghams – this popular American group sold more records in 1967 than any other American artist except the Monkees.
April 19th– 21st The Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddy – ‘Happy Together’ was their big hit of March 1967
April 22nd– 24th The Box Tops – ‘The Letter,’ September 1967, and ‘Cry Like a Baby,‘ March 1968
April 25th– 28th The Tokens - you cannot fail to recognise their hit song of December 1961 if you have been to the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom. Few of us have not joined in the energetic rendition of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ otherwise known as ‘Wimoweh’ which is the climax of the show.
April 29th– May 1st Peter and Gordon – lots of great hits from this pair – Peter Asher (sister of Jane Asher) and Gordon Waller were the British answer to the Everly Brothers– ‘A World Without Love,’ written by Paul McCartney, went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic, in March 1964, followed by ‘True Love Ways,’ April 1965. ‘To Know You is to Love You,’ June 1965, and of course, ‘Lady Godiva,’ September 1966
May 2nd– 3rd Jose Feliciano – who can forget ‘Light My Fire,’ September 1968
May 4th– 5th Petula Clark – this amazing lady is still going strong despite being born in 1932! She was the first female UK female to win a Grammy and be named Top Female Vocalist of the Year in the US in 1966. Her list of hits spans several decades, starting with The Little Shoemaker in June 1954, and includes ‘The Other Man’s Grass is Always Greener,’ December 1967, ‘Don’t Sleep in the Subway,’ May 1967, ‘This is my Song’ February 67, ‘I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love,’ June 1966, and of course, maybe her most famous song, released in 1964 and 1988, ‘Downtown.’
May 6th– 10th Nelson, featuring the songs of Ricky Nelson, who was a TV star turned teen idol. In 1950 he enjoyed sales on a par with Pat Boone and Elvis. His song, ‘Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart,’ was a hit in 1961 and 1991.
May 11th– 15th Davy Jones of the Monkees. For those of you who can’t remember that far back they were the world’s top act of 1967. The four band members, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz were an Anglo-American group who were picked for a Beatles-style TV series which rocketed them to fame. The show was modelled on the Beatles film, ‘Hard Day’s Night’ and featured the antics of this fictitional pop group. The show was so successful that the Monkees even won 2 Emmy Awards in 1967 for ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ and ‘Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy.’ Who can forget ‘I’m a Believer,’ Jan 1967, or ‘Last Train to Clarksville,’ January 1967, ‘A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You,’ April 1967, or ‘Daydream Believer,’ November 1967.
May 16th– 19th BJ Thomas. If you ever saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – and how could I forget the first film my husband ever took me to in our ‘courting’ days? – you will have seen that iconic moment when Katherine Ross goes bicycling with Robert Redford to the accompaniment of ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,’ February 1970. A good year that one!
May 20th– 22nd Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill – a highly successful rock and roll group in the US in 1965-7
May 23rd– 26th The Guess Who, a Canadian male vocal and instrumental group, who had 2 hits with ‘His Girl,’ in February 1967, and ‘American Woman,’ May 1970
May 27th The S.O.S. Band – a US Rhythm and Blues band, popular in the 80’s
May 28th– 30th Gary Puckett from the Union Gap. This American vocal group won our hearts with ‘Young Girl,’ a number one hit in the UK in April 1968, which was re-issued in 1974 and spent 13 weeks in the charts.
May 31st– June 3rd Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone. This Manchester quintet, lead singer Peter Noone, were popular in the US in the mid 60’s and rivalled the Beatles. The band sold more than 40 million records, and at times had 3 singles simultaneously in the US Top 20 charts. Their number one UK hit, ‘I’m Into Something Good,’ August 1964, was followed by ‘Silhouettes,’ in February 1965, ‘No Milk Today,’ in October 1966, and ‘There’s a Kind of Hush,’ in February 1967. Magic!
The concerts are free and seats fill up quickly, so get there early.
However, for us, the highlight of this amazing event has to be the Flower Power Concert Series which is due to start on April 5th and runs until June 3rd 2007. For those of us who are of a ‘certain’ age it will bring back heady memories of ‘flowers in your hair,’ girls in long floral dresses, men with flowing locks wearing caftans, and, of course, a myriad of wonderful and memorable songs.
Here is the proposed schedule of events which will take place 3 times a night at the American Gardens Theatre, opposite the American exhibition area in Epcot’s World Showcase. Please note, the list is subject to change. Amongst the expected artists are some of our favourites, and a few who were one-hit wonders.
April 5th– 9th Paul Revere and The Raiders - still around after 43 years! ‘Indian Reservation,’ which sold nearly 4 million records, was their last hit in 1971. Despite not having had a hit in decades they are still filling concert halls
April 10th– 14th Tony Orlando in Concert – some may remember his hit song of October 1961, ‘Bless You’
April 15th– 18th The Buckinghams – this popular American group sold more records in 1967 than any other American artist except the Monkees.
April 19th– 21st The Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddy – ‘Happy Together’ was their big hit of March 1967
April 22nd– 24th The Box Tops – ‘The Letter,’ September 1967, and ‘Cry Like a Baby,‘ March 1968
April 25th– 28th The Tokens - you cannot fail to recognise their hit song of December 1961 if you have been to the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom. Few of us have not joined in the energetic rendition of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ otherwise known as ‘Wimoweh’ which is the climax of the show.
April 29th– May 1st Peter and Gordon – lots of great hits from this pair – Peter Asher (sister of Jane Asher) and Gordon Waller were the British answer to the Everly Brothers– ‘A World Without Love,’ written by Paul McCartney, went to number one on both sides of the Atlantic, in March 1964, followed by ‘True Love Ways,’ April 1965. ‘To Know You is to Love You,’ June 1965, and of course, ‘Lady Godiva,’ September 1966
May 2nd– 3rd Jose Feliciano – who can forget ‘Light My Fire,’ September 1968
May 4th– 5th Petula Clark – this amazing lady is still going strong despite being born in 1932! She was the first female UK female to win a Grammy and be named Top Female Vocalist of the Year in the US in 1966. Her list of hits spans several decades, starting with The Little Shoemaker in June 1954, and includes ‘The Other Man’s Grass is Always Greener,’ December 1967, ‘Don’t Sleep in the Subway,’ May 1967, ‘This is my Song’ February 67, ‘I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love,’ June 1966, and of course, maybe her most famous song, released in 1964 and 1988, ‘Downtown.’
May 6th– 10th Nelson, featuring the songs of Ricky Nelson, who was a TV star turned teen idol. In 1950 he enjoyed sales on a par with Pat Boone and Elvis. His song, ‘Hello Mary Lou, Goodbye Heart,’ was a hit in 1961 and 1991.
May 11th– 15th Davy Jones of the Monkees. For those of you who can’t remember that far back they were the world’s top act of 1967. The four band members, Davy Jones, Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz were an Anglo-American group who were picked for a Beatles-style TV series which rocketed them to fame. The show was modelled on the Beatles film, ‘Hard Day’s Night’ and featured the antics of this fictitional pop group. The show was so successful that the Monkees even won 2 Emmy Awards in 1967 for ‘Outstanding Comedy Series’ and ‘Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy.’ Who can forget ‘I’m a Believer,’ Jan 1967, or ‘Last Train to Clarksville,’ January 1967, ‘A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You,’ April 1967, or ‘Daydream Believer,’ November 1967.
May 16th– 19th BJ Thomas. If you ever saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – and how could I forget the first film my husband ever took me to in our ‘courting’ days? – you will have seen that iconic moment when Katherine Ross goes bicycling with Robert Redford to the accompaniment of ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,’ February 1970. A good year that one!
May 20th– 22nd Grass Roots featuring Rob Grill – a highly successful rock and roll group in the US in 1965-7
May 23rd– 26th The Guess Who, a Canadian male vocal and instrumental group, who had 2 hits with ‘His Girl,’ in February 1967, and ‘American Woman,’ May 1970
May 27th The S.O.S. Band – a US Rhythm and Blues band, popular in the 80’s
May 28th– 30th Gary Puckett from the Union Gap. This American vocal group won our hearts with ‘Young Girl,’ a number one hit in the UK in April 1968, which was re-issued in 1974 and spent 13 weeks in the charts.
May 31st– June 3rd Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone. This Manchester quintet, lead singer Peter Noone, were popular in the US in the mid 60’s and rivalled the Beatles. The band sold more than 40 million records, and at times had 3 singles simultaneously in the US Top 20 charts. Their number one UK hit, ‘I’m Into Something Good,’ August 1964, was followed by ‘Silhouettes,’ in February 1965, ‘No Milk Today,’ in October 1966, and ‘There’s a Kind of Hush,’ in February 1967. Magic!
The concerts are free and seats fill up quickly, so get there early.