he Brooklyn Bridge will perform Friday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m., at Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo.

Tickets range from $29.50 to $44.50 plus service fee. Visit LargoArts.com or call 727-587-6793.

According to Karduna Talent Associates, the Brooklyn Bridge was formed in March of 1968 in New York. “The Worst That Could Happen,” the first of many hit records, was released in 1969. Since their initial chart success, they have performed at every major concert venue, entertaining adoring fans at places such as Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, the Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall.

The Brooklyn Bridge has shared the stage with a diverse group of legendary artists such as Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Dion, the Righteous Brothers, the Beach Boys and Steppenwolf. They have also made many classic television appearances, performing on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Della Reese Show,” among others.

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The band currently features vocalist Les Cauchi, an original member and also a member of the Del-Satins. The Del-Satins recorded all the background vocals on all of Dion Di Mucci’s greatest hits, which included “Run Around Sue” and “Ruby Baby.” Other original Brooklyn Bridge members include James Rosica on bass and vocals and Joe Ruvio on vocals. Both Rosica and Ruvio were members of the local Long Island, New York, garage band called the Rhythm Method.

Louis Agiesta serves as the band’s drummer. He toured with the cast of the famous ”Jesus Christ Superstar” show before becoming a member of the band in the early 1970s. Others who joined the band in the early 1970s are Martin D’Amico on keyboards and vocals, and James Sarle on lead guitar. Rounding out the ensemble is lead vocalist Joe “Bean” Esposito, a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter whose career spans the 1970s to the present day. His songs have been recorded by Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Labelle, Stephen Stills and others. Esposito was a member of the band Brooklyn Dreams, best known for their collaboration with Donna Summer on “Heaven Knows” and “Bad Girls.”

​Michela and the eight member band Cantamos will highlight their musical dexterity by flowing seamlessly between arias, traditional Latin songs, musical showstoppers, and contemporary favorites. Michela leads this eclectic band by singing in English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Hawaiian or German. Sometimes she will even sing classical songs in Latin, having explored Baroque music exclusively for ten years before she expanded her singing world to the realms of jazz, pop, and Latin sounds.

Michela is backed by Ron Schaner on (Bass and vocals), Gunther Huse (Keyboards and Trumpet), Fred Treece (Guitars and vocals), Ray Price (Drums & percussion), Ras Beeken Dan (Sax, Clarinet, Flute & vocals), Matt Albright (Trombone & vocals) and Tonja Peterson (vocals & percussion).

LAURIE LEWIS AND THE RIGHT HANDS
Sunday, February 9 2020
​3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

For fiddler, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and Grammy-winner Laurie Lewis, the traditions of bluegrass and folk aren’t so much tools in her hands, but burning sources of inspiration that have driven her through a 30+ year career at the forefront of American roots music. A pioneering woman in bluegrass, Laurie has paved the way for many young women today, always guided by her own love of traditional music and the styles of her heroes that came before.

Since her debut in 1986, Laurie has recorded over 20 albums. She’s been a founding member of the Good Ol’ Persons and the Grant Street String Band, twice been voted IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year, her classic rendition of Kate Long’s song, “Who Will Watch the Home Place?” won International Bluegrass Song of the Year, and her latest album with her band the Right Hands, The Hazel and Alice Sessions, was nominated for the Best Bluegrass Recording Grammy in 2017.
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Laurie’s upcoming album, …and Laurie Lewis, is due out later this year and features intimate duets—among others—with Molly Tuttle, Mike Marshall, Nina Gerber, Tom Rozum, Tatiana Hargreaves, and Todd Phillips.