1 Trenchard Pl, South Orange, NJ
Time: 7:00 pm
Two Country Rock Legends Perform & Sign Guitar for Auction
Richie Furay helped invent country rock music as a founding member of Buffalo Springfield & Poco. Furay, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee brings his great band and timeless tunes – plus that crystal clear tenor voice to SOPAC on June 16. Performing with Furay for an exclusive appearance is Paul Cotton, a four decade alumnus of Poco and led the band with several hit songs including Heart Of The Night. Both performers will sign a guitar by D’Angelico Guitars that will be available in a silent auction. This concert event is a benefit show with proceeds donated to area nonprofit organizations and SOPAC.
The show will open with a video tribute honoring the life & career of rock historian Pete Fornatale, who died suddenly in April 2012. Fornatale was a Buffalo Springfield fan and huge supporter of Poco playing their music frequently on the radio. He referred to their music as “Foot stomping, toe tapping, hand clapping, feel-good happy music that puts a smile on your face!”. Fornatale said shortly before he died, “There are only a handful of performers that started out in the 60’s who are still at the TOP of their game. Richie Furay heads the list”.
Buffalo Springfield is considered by many to be one of the most influential groups in the history of rock music, which Furay founded along with Stephen Stills & Neil Young. According to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, “It would be hard to imagine the careers of the Eagles, Jackson Browne and others without Buffalo Springfield as a precursor”.
After Buffalo Springfield disbanded, Furay co-founded POCO along with renowned musician Jim Messina(Loggins & Messina). Some music critics consider Furay’s tune “Pickin’ Up The Pieces” on POCO’s debut album the world’s first country-rock song. It was the sound that, in turn, influenced today’s country music that is heard from artists coming out of Nashville.
David Stone, co-owner of Nancy And David Fine Jewels in downtown Millburn, NJ is longtime friends with Richie Furay, as was Pete Fornatale, who was friends with both of them and Paul Cotton. Stone is on the Board of Governors at SOPAC. When the opportunity came up to host Furay in concert for the third time in three years, Stone coordinated the exclusive appearance of Cotton to reunite with Furay for this performance only and decided to make it a tribute to honor Pete Fornatale who encouraged Stone to continue coordinating and presenting fundraising concerts that Fornatale previously co-hosted with Stone the past few years.
In addition to tickets, there is limited availability to purchase dinner with the performers, attend a pre-show dessert reception, and a post-show meet & greet.
This event is presented by Nancy And David Fine Jewels and sponsored by D’Angelico Guitars, Investors Bank, WFUV-FM. For additional event information or to purchase tickets, please go to www.SOPACnow.org
