2 For Fun Return to the Masonic Amphitheatre, Friday, August 18 at 7:00 pm
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Clifton Forge, VA (August 3, 2017) - Brian Bleakley and Steve Ambrose are 2 for Fun and will return for a summer event at the Masonic Amphitheatre on Friday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. Both Brian and Steve are lead singers with the international recording artists, “The Original Rhondels”. In addition to performing with the Rhondels, Brian and Steve have combined their talents and enjoy entertaining an even wider variety of audiences. Both musicians have travelled around the country and into the Caribbean, performing for audiences for more than 45 years.
From Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Original Rhondels are a music tradition who have performed their hit recordings in almost every major city in the United States. In 1969, Bill Deal and the Rhondels began a recording career that would take them to Madison Square Garden and across the country. With three top 10 hits, "May I", "I've Been Hurt", and "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am", the band hit the road, delighting their audiences with outstanding vocals, powerful brass, and exciting showmanship. These hits also topped the charts in Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Germany and Mexico.
Brian Bleakley is the lead vocalist, trumpeter and all-around showman with the Original Rhondels. Born in Newport News in 1949, he started playing trumpet at the age of 10, and before he graduated from Ferguson High School in 1967, he was the drum major for the marching band
Following high school, Brian played with several local bands including the Sheepherders International Trade Union where he recorded his first 45 rpm record. Duty called and Brian joined the Army in 1970 and was stationed at Ft. Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. While serving in the Army, Brian played with The Blue Eyed Soul, a popular Virginia Beach band.
Leaving the Army in 1973, Brian helped form the Sonny Days Review, a nine-piece showband that traveled from Canada to Florida. While with SDR, Brian recorded his first album and entertained audiences all along the East Coast.
By the late 70’s, Brian was anxious to slow down a little and travel a little less. He made his home base in Florida, where he performed with The Executives and worked part time as an entertainment agent. By the late 70s, Brian found himself working with Mike Carr and The New Carr Company, and with them he recorded his second album.
One of the highlights in Brian’s career was his trip to Hawaii to work with Bob Newhart. Other names with whom he worked include Mohammed Ali, Rich Little, Henny Youngman, and Bob Hope.
Finally, in 1988, Brian came back to Virginia Beach and joined Bill Deal and Ammon Tharp of Bill Deal and the Rhondels, and except for a tour with the band Undercover, has continued to perform with the Original Rhondels to this day.
Steve Ambrose studied clarinet, flute and saxophone in high school and in college and began teaching band and chorus in the Virginia Beach City Schools in the mid-70s after graduating from ODU. “I still remember fighting to stay awake in those 8 a.m. classes after playing until 2 a.m. the night before". Playing with bands like The Blue Eyed Soul and The Artistics kept Steve very busy in addition to his daily teaching schedule.
After 13 years of teaching and earning a Master’s Degree at VCU and a Doctorate degree at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Steve served as the Fine Arts Coordinator for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools until he retired. He now spends his days as a "fulltime musician", writing, recording, and playing music in a wide variety of styles including jazz, classical, and of course, with the Original Rhondels. "I'm having more fun than I could have ever imagined doing exactly what I want to do."
Tickets for 2 For Fun are $5 and may be purchased online, at the Historic Masonic Theatre box office, by calling 540 862 5655 and at the entrance tent prior to the show. The entrance tent opens at 6:00 on August 18. For more information on Masonic Theatre and Amphitheatre events, please visit ,a href="https://www.historicmasonictheatre.com">www.historicmasonictheatre.com. | | | | | |
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