Monday, July 13, 2009

There’s A Party Goin’ On At Suffolk Downs

Classic R&B recording artist Kool & The Gang, whose prolific resume of hits includes party favorites Celebration, Ladies Night and Get Down On It, will be performing live at Suffolk Downs at the track’s “Commitment to Community” concert on Saturday, August 22, which is also “East Boston Day.”

The concert is the culmination of the track’s 2009 “Commitment to Community” program which celebrates individuals and organizations that make a positive difference in eight surrounding communities: East Boston, Revere, Winthrop, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Saugus and Salem. Each of these cities and towns is being recognized with its own day at the track this summer.


Tickets for the show are $10, with all sales to benefit charitable organizations in the eight cities and towns that are being recognized in the “Commitment to Community” program. These organizations will be given tickets in advance to sell for their own fundraising purposes. Proceeds from walk-up ticket sales will also be allocated to charitable organizations.

Kool & The Gang’s performance will follow an afternoon of live racing. Special first post time will be 3:00 p.m. with the concert slated for 7:30 p.m. In addition to a full card of racing, the track will provide free family entertainment, including pony rides, carnival games, face painting and a balloon artist. Patrons can have their picture taken with a racehorse and jockey at the track’s “Fan Photo Experience.” Oldies 103.3 FM in Boston will be broadcasting live from the track throughout the day.

Kool & The Gang has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of three generations. They have earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Kool & The Gang has performed continuously for the past 35 years, longer than any R&B group in history. Additional hits include Jungle Boogie, Fresh, Too Hot, Joanna and Cherish.

Suffolk Downs boasts a rich musical history, which includes the final Boston-area appearance by the Beatles in 1966, a performance by Aerosmith in the 1970s, and a variety of shows and festivals in the last decade featuring acts such as Elvis Costello, Hootie and the Blowfish, the Goo Goo Dolls and the Dropkick Murphys.

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