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Now Taking Reservations for New Year's Eve
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Stuart Avig, second from left, was an original Valadier. He now sings with

the Shades of Blue, a group that will sing Valadier hits at the Holiday
Motown Concert.

Motown Holiday

Concert revives the sounds
of the original Valadiers.

"I was a member of the Valadiers
when I was at Oak Park High School,
but we didn't stay together very long:'
tuart Avig recalls when each Avig says of the quintet, whose mem-
Motown singing group was hers included students from Mumford
advised to keep its members High. "Our biggest hit was 'Greetings
culturally matched. As he worked
(This Is Uncle Sam), which sold
with the Valadiers in the early 1960s,
nearly 300,000 records?'
the quintet had only Jewish vocalists.
The group's other releases included
Not so as the group's music is
"While I'm Away;' "I Found A Girl"
revived with four performers in a
and "Because I Love Her."
Holiday Motown Concert.
Avig, who defines the music of the
Avig will be the only Jewish —
original Valadiers as blue-eyed soul,
and original — Valadier appearing
went on to accept solo engagements
Friday evening, Dec. 9, at the Marquis
and become part of the Latin Counts.
Theatre in Northville. He will be
Most of Avig's singing now is with
joined by Donald ReVels, Charles
the Shades of Blue, which will have
Davis and Carlos Valverde. Besides
concerts in Ohio, Wisconsin and New
recalling the sounds of the Valadiers,
York as the singers recall the group's
the four regularly perform together
biggest hit, "Oh How Happy."
as the Shades of Blue, an R&B quartet
"We've loved the music and the
that also has gone through member
expressiveness of the Motown sound,
changes and years away from music.
and that's why we've kept with it," says
Today's Valadiers will be on a
Avig of Farmington Hills, the only
program additionally spotlighting
Valadier still singing professionally.
Martha Reeves ("Heat Wave" and
"We followed the basic rhythm."
"Dancing in the Street") and the
Other Valadiers of the 1960s were
Contours ("Do You Love Me?"). The
Art Glasser, Gary Frankel, Jerry Light
singers will be backed by a six-piece
and Marty Coleman.
band.
After meeting and harmonizing at
"The world has changed, but the
teen parties, the five sought profes-
music stays strong:' says Avig, 68,
sional opportunities. Besides making
whose daytime occupation involves
recordings, they did shows at Jewish
running a precious metals refining
resorts in South Haven, where earn-
company. "We're going to be singing
ings simply covered room and board.
some Christmas songs as well as the
While Avig is saddened by the
Motown sounds."
deaths of Light and Coleman, he
The show, organized with the help
reports that Glasser lives in Arizona
of Scott Avig, the singer's son, was
and Frankel is in Waterford. The rela-
planned to feature authentic Motown
tionship with Frankel remains strong.
acts still doing some performing.
"My wife, Penny, and I introduced
There will be plenty of doo-wop
him to her twin, Candy;' Avig explains.
mixed with the R&B.
"He's become my brother-in-law." 1_ 1

Suzanne Chessler
Contributing Writer

S

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This holiday season, isn't it time for a little ":

JET presents the Midwest Premiere of the Tony Award winning comedy...

DAY
DATE

SAT
WED. THURS. WED. THURS. SAT.
DEC. 14 DEC. 15 DEC. 17 DEC. 18 DEC. 19 DEC. 20 DEC. 21- DEC. 22 DE. 28 DEC. 29 DEC. 31 JAN. 1
7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 5 p.m. & 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. & 7:30 RM 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. & 2 p.m. &
8:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m. °Ir Series
9:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

.

Two schoolchildren get into a fght. Now their parents are set to have
a cordial discussion. Yet there is little cordiality about it...

1

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2 Shows! 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Celebration Package: 9:30 p.m. show followed by food, dancing and a midnight champagne toast

.70

The Holiday Motown Concert starts 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, at the Marquis
Theatre, 135 E. Main, Northville. $30. (248) 921-7000.

21-113.7813.2900

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This production will be presented in The Berman Center for the Performing Arts in the JCC

17 23710
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December 8 u 2011

47