Hall of Fame footsteps: Vocal group inductees cite predecessors

Oct 27, 2008 (The Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- TKTM | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- SHARON, Youngstown -- For many of the singers who'll perform at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame's 10th anniversary induction concerts Nov. 6-9 in Youngstown, the night will be a chance to take the stage with their own idols.

"It's a very, very big honor," said Tony Orlando of being inducted to the hall in a recent phone interview from his home in Branson, Mo. "You've got great groups in there."

Orlando and inductee Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters are taking time out from their busy schedules touring the world to come to the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown in November.

"I hope everyone has a good time. I'm damn sure I'm going to," Ms. Pointer said of the upcoming concert in a recent phone interview from her home in Boston.

Tony Orlando and Dawn, 2007 inductees to the hall, are known for their hits "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ol' Oak Tree" and "Knock Three Times." The group will be the final act before the all-inductee finale on that Sunday night, Nov. 9.

Dawn member Joyce Vincent and her sister Pam Vincent, who also sang with the group, should be at the concert, Orlando said, noting Dawn member and successful actress Telma Hopkins isn't able to make it. The group broke ground as the first multi-ethnic group with their television show on CBS from 1973 to 1977.

Orlando cited several hall of fame groups as his influences, including The Drifters, The Dells, The Heartbeats and The Flamingos, who will perform Thursday at Youngstown's Chevrolet Centre.

The singer recalled the thrill he got when he found himself following a Flamingo down the streets of New York when he was 14.

Many of Ms. Pointer's musical influences are also members of the hall. She named The Supremes, The Shirelles and The Marvelettes as girl groups who inspired her.

"I'm talking about girls that can really sing," she said, noting that vocally-driven female groups don't get as much recognition today.

One of the 2005 inductees as part of The Pointer Sisters, Ms. Pointer is performing Saturday, Nov. 8.

She said they feel great about being honored after 35 years in the business.

"It's something that we didn't expect," Ms. Pointer said. "We're always happy to be acknowledged."

Perhaps most well known for their early 1980s string of hits including, "He's So Shy," "Jump" and "I'm So Excited," the sisters branched into all genres, including jazz, gospel and country.

They won a Grammy for the country song "Fairytale" in 1975.

"We didn't even realize we were nominated," Ms. Pointer said. "We were on the road so much. Someone called and told us. We said 'What? For what?' "

The sister also did a stint on Broadway, performing daily in 1995 in "Ain't Misbehavin'."

"That's the hardest work I've ever done in my life," Ms. Pointer said.

The four concerts set from Nov. 6 through 9 will begin at 7 p.m. at the Chevrolet Centre. Hall of Fame inductees from the classes of 2005 through 2007 will be featured at the concert, the first one the hall has held since 2004.

"I think music is very important ...," Ms. Pointer said. "I don't know what kind of world would exist without it. I wouldn't want to be in it. Music is magical. It really is."

Tickets for the concerts vary in price from $25 for general admission to $60 for individual table seats. They are available through the Vocal Group Hall of Fame at 724-983-2025 or www.VocalGroup.org, at the Chevrolet Centre box office or through Ticketmaster vendors.

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