Here's something you might be interested in.
Vintage doo-wop stars the Safaris, featuring original singer Jim Stephens, have recruited Peter King, Jim Carkagis, and Kevin Jones from the Royals of San Diego to perform with them at several shows. The Safaris will appear August 11 at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, Ca. Also on the bill are the Diamonds/David Somerville, the Olympics, Dick and Dee Dee, the Penguins/Cleve Duncan, Kathy Young, and the Vibrations.
That’s not the only new news from the Royals. “For a long time, many people have been asking us when we will be putting out a CD,” the band tells the Reader. “Well, we can now say that our first album is scheduled for release before the end of the year. We have been working with our good friend Stevie Dunham on his label Street Corner Entertainment. The first few tracks have been laid down, and we are working on a few more songs to record. The album will have some of your -- and our -- favorites from our repertoire, as well as a few new songs, including a couple of originals from Stevie Dunham.”
Formed in 2005, the Royals of San Diego say they're committed to the recreation of the East Coast street corner sound of the late '50s and early '60s. They refer to themselves as an "East Meets West" group because members hail from both the east and west coast. While the group performs mainly in the west, their recordings have earned them a global fan base, thanks to online oldies radio.
Originally from Boston, Peter King (baritone) began studying classical piano at the age of seven. Over the course of the next four years he was "corrupted" by the evils of early rock 'n' roll and started playing the guitar in 1964. His vocal debut at the age of fifteen was a highly acclaimed rendition of "Honestly Sincere" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie in the summer of 1968. After getting a bit tired of acid rock, Doo-wop became his specialty in the early '70s. His conversion to the bass guitar was influenced by Johnny Maestro. For a time, he returned to classical music and studied voice for nine years. In the early '80s, he sang with several opera companies in the New England area, including the Opera Company of Boston and the Providence Opera Theater in Rhode Island. In 1991, he relocated to San Diego and has continued to work with numerous groups both singing and playing bass guitar.
Kevin Jones (baritone, second tenor) hails from Hillsdale, NJ. He began singing in his church's choir at the age of seven, though the passion was with him long before that. While never studying voice professionally, Kevin was able to train his voice in the high school choir. In May 2004, Kevin moved to San Diego due to his involvement in the Marine Corps. Since that time, Kevin has had the privilege of singing the National Anthem for the San Diego Surf Dawgs, the Sea-to-Shining Sea Festival, and for former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Kevin left the Marines in 2007, and now looks forward to serving the public with his musical talents.
Jim Carkagis (bass) is a multi-faceted musician, both vocally and instrumentally, with many ties to the San Diego music and theatre scene. Since 1992, he has been singing with a number of a cappella groups ranging in styles from Doo-wop, jazz, and swing. As a solo artist, he has ten years of experience as his church's bass section leader and soloist.
UPCOMING DATES:
June 19, 2011 – 3-5 PM San Diego A Cappella Sing Off Del Mar Fairgrounds
June 25, 2011 – 8 PM Mitch Feingold presents THE DOO WOP SHOW with special opening act King & Duke! Swedenborg Hall, San Diego
Aug 7, 2011 – Time TBA 22st Annual Clairemont Family Day South Clairemont Rec Center, San Diego
Sept 9, 2011 – 8 PM The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego Performing with The Contours with Sylvester Potts, The Spaniels featuring Willie C. Jackson, Kathy Young, The Vibrations, The Olympics, The Volumes, Paul & Paula, The Pentagons/Joe Jones
Sept 10, 2011 – 8 PM The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Cerritos, Ca Performing with The Contours with Sylvester Potts, The Spaniels featuring Willie C. Jackson, Kathy Young, The Vibrations, The Olympics, The Volumes, Paul & Paula, The Pentagons/Joe Jones
Vintage doo-wop stars the Safaris, featuring original singer Jim Stephens, have recruited Peter King, Jim Carkagis, and Kevin Jones from the Royals of San Diego to perform with them at several shows. The Safaris will appear August 11 at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, Ca. Also on the bill are the Diamonds/David Somerville, the Olympics, Dick and Dee Dee, the Penguins/Cleve Duncan, Kathy Young, and the Vibrations.
That’s not the only new news from the Royals. “For a long time, many people have been asking us when we will be putting out a CD,” the band tells the Reader. “Well, we can now say that our first album is scheduled for release before the end of the year. We have been working with our good friend Stevie Dunham on his label Street Corner Entertainment. The first few tracks have been laid down, and we are working on a few more songs to record. The album will have some of your -- and our -- favorites from our repertoire, as well as a few new songs, including a couple of originals from Stevie Dunham.”
Formed in 2005, the Royals of San Diego say they're committed to the recreation of the East Coast street corner sound of the late '50s and early '60s. They refer to themselves as an "East Meets West" group because members hail from both the east and west coast. While the group performs mainly in the west, their recordings have earned them a global fan base, thanks to online oldies radio.
Originally from Boston, Peter King (baritone) began studying classical piano at the age of seven. Over the course of the next four years he was "corrupted" by the evils of early rock 'n' roll and started playing the guitar in 1964. His vocal debut at the age of fifteen was a highly acclaimed rendition of "Honestly Sincere" from the musical Bye Bye Birdie in the summer of 1968. After getting a bit tired of acid rock, Doo-wop became his specialty in the early '70s. His conversion to the bass guitar was influenced by Johnny Maestro. For a time, he returned to classical music and studied voice for nine years. In the early '80s, he sang with several opera companies in the New England area, including the Opera Company of Boston and the Providence Opera Theater in Rhode Island. In 1991, he relocated to San Diego and has continued to work with numerous groups both singing and playing bass guitar.
Kevin Jones (baritone, second tenor) hails from Hillsdale, NJ. He began singing in his church's choir at the age of seven, though the passion was with him long before that. While never studying voice professionally, Kevin was able to train his voice in the high school choir. In May 2004, Kevin moved to San Diego due to his involvement in the Marine Corps. Since that time, Kevin has had the privilege of singing the National Anthem for the San Diego Surf Dawgs, the Sea-to-Shining Sea Festival, and for former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Kevin left the Marines in 2007, and now looks forward to serving the public with his musical talents.
Jim Carkagis (bass) is a multi-faceted musician, both vocally and instrumentally, with many ties to the San Diego music and theatre scene. Since 1992, he has been singing with a number of a cappella groups ranging in styles from Doo-wop, jazz, and swing. As a solo artist, he has ten years of experience as his church's bass section leader and soloist.
UPCOMING DATES:
June 19, 2011 – 3-5 PM San Diego A Cappella Sing Off Del Mar Fairgrounds
June 25, 2011 – 8 PM Mitch Feingold presents THE DOO WOP SHOW with special opening act King & Duke! Swedenborg Hall, San Diego
Aug 7, 2011 – Time TBA 22st Annual Clairemont Family Day South Clairemont Rec Center, San Diego
Sept 9, 2011 – 8 PM The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, San Diego Performing with The Contours with Sylvester Potts, The Spaniels featuring Willie C. Jackson, Kathy Young, The Vibrations, The Olympics, The Volumes, Paul & Paula, The Pentagons/Joe Jones
Sept 10, 2011 – 8 PM The Ultimate Doo Wop Show Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, Cerritos, Ca Performing with The Contours with Sylvester Potts, The Spaniels featuring Willie C. Jackson, Kathy Young, The Vibrations, The Olympics, The Volumes, Paul & Paula, The Pentagons/Joe Jones