Final concert in summer series

60’s ROCK BAND THE DOUGHBOYS IN SPARTA

The Sparta Summer Concert Series, in its season finale, presents the NJ rock band The Doughboys to The Nicholson Pavilion this Friday evening. The Doughboys are a blues, rock-oriented band that began back in the early 1960s. They rode the wave of the British Music Invasion throughout their high school years. The music they play today reflects back early days but brings an energetic rawness that captivates young and old audiences.

Fervent fans of The Doughboys know their history, detailed on the Rock N’ Raw DVD – they first got together in ‘64 and played in various permutations through the rest of the 60s. They opened for every act imaginable including The Beach Boys, and released two 45s, Rhoda Mendelbaum and Everybody Knows My Name, on Bell Records before splitting up for what they thought was for good.

The band members went their separate and interesting ways – Myke Scavone fronted hard rock ensemble Ram Jam who scored an international hit with Black Betty; Richie Heyman played drums for the likes of Link Wray, Brian Wilson and Jonathan Richman while simultaneously pursuing an acclaimed career as a singer/songwriter (under his full moniker Richard X. Heyman); Mike Caruso landed session work with such notable producers as Bo Gentry and Kenny Laguna, and jammed with Jimi Hendrix. Since the band re-formed in 2000 at a surprise birthday party for drummer Richie Heyman’s birthday, The Doughboys have released six albums (Is It Now?, Act Your Rage, Shakin’ Our Souls, Hot Beat Stew, Front Street Rebels and Running For Covers), numerous singles, and a documentary film with accompanying live disc (Rock N’ Raw).

They’ve sharing bills with The Pretenders, The Yardbirds, The Electric Prunes, Roberta Flack, Robin Trower and others.

Lead singer Myke Scavone is now also a member of The Yardbirds, touring the world. Dave Grieco is a Jersey born singer-songwriter of gritty American music. His style is lyric-centric and draws heavily from folk, country and blues traditions.

Dave perform songs from his debut album and from his forthcoming release, Dog Days, due out later this year. This free concert is a family friendly, rain or shine event. Show begins 7 p.m. at George Dykstra Park, 22 Woodport Road, Sparta. Next door at The Mohawk Avenue School if the weather demands.

Visit www.spartaarts.org for more information and updates.