'Opening Act' Back In The Day

When I was in my local band, Raw Soul, back in the early 70's we played all around Ohio. We even won a trophy for the #1 band in Akron.

One of the highlights 'back in the day' was being the opening act for some pretty big concerts that came to Akron. There's a theater in Akron, called the Akron Civic Center and we played at that theater and we were able to open up for Rufus featuring Chaka Khan and the Hues Corporation. At that time the Hues Corporation were the headliners because they had the big hit 'Rock The Boat'. 

We were excited to be around people of that caliber backstage that had hit records and were living the dream that we wanted for ourselves.

We met the band members of both groups, Rufus and the Hues Corporation. It was pretty exciting. Of course we were doing cover tunes and they were performing their own songs. I remember especially enjoying Rufus,because Chaka was sanging that day. So it was a special time for our local group.

Hues Corporation

We were also excited to listen to the Hues Corporation as well because the song Rock The Boat was a huge hit.

Rufus

Another highlight for our local band, Raw Soul, was to be able to play at the Blossom Music Center opening up for Three Dog Night. This was a unique concert. When we opened up for the Hues Corporation and Rufus, Raw Soul was an R&B cover band and it worked playing for predominantly a black audience. When we opened up at Blossom Music Center for Three Dog Night we were playing for a predominantly white pop audience. But the crowd seemed to enjoy it.

Three Dog Night

We opened up for Three Dog Night on a school night and I was still in High School. What was funny one of my class mates, Mary Payorle, was at the Three Dog Night concert and was very surprised that our local band was opening up for such a huge group. We talked about that concert the next day in school.

For a local band it was pretty exciting meeting these bands that were already doing what we wanted to do. I look back on all of this as part of the journey that has brought me to where I am today.

I have to admit that it was great being an 'opening act' for these three hit artists 'back in the day'.

Until next time - Phillip