Take a spin back in time with this Friday night’s show at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg.
The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters and The Platters will perform for a night full of classic tunes and amazing vocals. The three groups boast dozens of hits between them, and all three have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“We go out and we do all we can to make people happy,” Early Clover, current lead singer of Cornell Gunter’s Coasters, told TribLive. “We’re carrying on the legacy of the original Coasters.”
All three groups began their journeys in the 1950s and have undergone many lineup changes in the intervening decades, always bringing new talented members into the fold. Clover is related to Cornell Gunter, one of the original members of The Coasters. He’s had decades of stage experience and worked with big names, including James Brown.
While all three vocal groups are representative of early rock, R&B and doo-wop sounds, Clover described what made their music individually special.
“The Drifters’ music was about love and happiness. The Coasters’ music was about family and fun. The Platters’ music was about love, too, but as a whole family.”
He’s excited to bring big songs, including “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown” to the Palace Theatre. The Drifters brought the world songs, including “Under the Boardwalk,” “Up on the Roof” and “This Magic Moment,” while The Platters are known for “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Only You,” among many others.
Clover said that of the many songs he enjoys singing with his fellow Cornell Gunter Coasters, his favorites to perform are “Searchin’” and “Love Potion No. 9.”
While great music is obviously the goal, Clover said that fun is a major part of the show.
“We get along really well and we have fun. We were talking about … maybe we should have a reality show,” Clover laughed.
The Drifters, The Platters and Cornell Gunter’s Coasters will perform at the Palace Theatre, 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in cost from $52 to $102.
Clover had a message for the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania: “I want to tell all the people out there, go out and get your tickets because we’re going to give you the time of your life that you will not forget.”
