Bringin’ back that old-school feel

Suzie Harrison

Before the 1960s’ era of the hippie, free love, mind-expanding

drugs and music icons such as Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, there

was another kind of performer, seemingly on a different plane than

Jefferson Airplane -- whose music appealed to families, not communes.

Those were the days when American Bandstand ruled and pop was top

with groups like the Shirelles and the Association.

That era is being brought to Orange Coast College with

performances by the real deal. The Shirelles and the Association take

the stage in a concert titled “Juke Box Giants” on Saturday, Feb. 1,

at 8 p.m. at the Orange Coast College’s Robert B. Moore Theatre.

The Shirelles have been an indelible part of the music scene as

rock ‘n’ roll’s first female super-group. Their status has earned

them a place in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

Jim Carnett, director of community relations at the college, is

looking forward to the concert.

“They’re out of my era,” Carnett said. “I’m sort of a product of

the ‘60s. The Association and Shirelles are groups I particularly

liked in my youth.”

The number of hits these groups have produced would make even

Roger Maris blush. The Shirelles have songs such as “Will You Still

Love Me Tomorrow,” “Mama Said,” “Baby It’s You,” “Soldier Boy,”

“Foolish Little Girl,” “Sha-La-La” and “Maybe Tonight.” And the

Association was driving them out of the park with home runs like

“Never My Love,” “Windy,” “Cherish” and “Along Comes Mary.”

“I think looking at the “Juke Box Giants” groups will grab an

audience of people growing up in the 1960s, ranging from people in

their 30s to their 70s,” Vicki Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman is one of six college staff members on the selection

committee that decides what groups to book at the college. She said

she is looking forward to this performance because it is reminiscent

of her days as a youth growing up in Ohio.

“Girl groups like the Shirelles bring back the feelings of teenage

love,” Zimmerman said. “The Association and Shirelles bring back a

recollection of enjoyable times -- the pre-turbulent ‘60s. It will be

nice having that part of the ‘60s, the early ‘60s back again. It was

a comfortable time.”

In addition to the headliners, the concert will include popular

1970s vocalist Al Wilson with the backup group the Flashback Band.

Wilson in ’61 was a member of the Rollers who recorded the hit “The

Continental Walk.” As a soloist later in the ‘70s, he produced “Show

and Tell” and the hit “I’ve Got a Feeling.”

Advance reserved tickets are $37 and can be purchased at the

Orange Coast College Community Education Ticket Office, adjacent to

the library. There are advance discount tickets priced at $35 for

senior citizens, Orange Coast students and children under 12. Tickets

are available on-line at www.occtickets.com. and if available for $41

at the door.

The college is at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa. For

information, call (714) 432-5880 or (888) 622-5376.