Area teacher to perform at fair
AUGUSTA — Ready Steady Go, America's ultimate 1960's tribute band perform at The NJ State Fair on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1-2 p.m..
Ready Steady Go! specializes in recreating the authentic sounds of the music of the 1960s. It's real foot-stomping stuff; the kind of music that reminds you of mop top hairstyles, screaming girls, and riots whenever rock bands flew into airports.
Ready Steady Go features some of the most talented and experienced musicians from the East Coast's influential tribute and cover bands including The Party Dolls, The Sheatles, and Good Girls Don't. Members have played the top venues and private affairs in the area and with top national acts including The Bee Gees, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and more.
Bassist Kerri Parrott-Freda is a lifelong Sussex County resident and has been a teacher at the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District for 10 years, As a professional musician, Parrott-Freda has performed at some of the most recognizable venues on the East Coast including the NYC Palladium, The Roseland Ballroom, the PNC Arts Center, and appeared on MTV. As the founding member of America's only all-female Beatles tribute, Parrott-Freda won a Beatle's sound-alike contest, played Citi Field in 2010 to commemorate the Beatles' 1965 performance at Shea Stadium. and was featured in Billboard Magazine with the late Sid Bernstein; the man credited for bringing The Beatles to Shea in 1965. Fascinated with the music of The Beatles since high school, Parrott-Freda took up the guitar so she could play and be like her idol, John Lennon. Since 2005, Parrott-Freda has incorporated music into her social studies lesson plans as students write and perform songs and raps about government and historical events.
The Ready Steady Go founder and lead vocalist.guitarist, Manhattan resident Kevin Richards, became obsessed with 60s music when he heard The Beatles playing on the record player at a friend's house at the tender age of 9. Since then he's made it his life's work to study the music, the melodies and harmonies of the 1960s. A student of music and voice coach to some of Rock's biggest recording artists, Richards is the architect of Ready Steady Go's sound and stage presentation and is also a vocal instructor at the prestigious Rock the Stage in Manhattan.
Lead guitarist/vocalist Dave DiLorenzo, a veteran of the New Jersey music scene and Lincoln Park resident, has played with many well-known bands over the years. In the early 2000s, he earned his "tribute stripes" traveling around the country with the legendary all-girl vocal act "The Party Girls". Being on the road taught Dilorenzo how to deliver a great show with his easy going personality and great Rock guitar chops, When Westchester resident Steve Goodman, who tickles the organ and harmonica, walked through the door for his audition, the band knew he was something special. His passion for the deep cuts of 60s music, gives the band a nice balance of British Invasion, Garage Rock and Summer of Love. Not only is Goodman a great organist, he's also a powerhouse singer; lending a great vocal "edge" to the band. Goodman also is a middle school social studies teacher by day, and pens songs for his 7th grade students so they may recall and retain important Revolutionary war events.
Not only is Long Island resident Steve Lobmeier one of the most solid drummers in the business, he also is a walking encyclopedia of musical knowledge. Steve was the first member recruited for Ready Steady Go! not only because of his vintage drum kits, but because he makes every song rock! Lobmeier has worked with some legendary 60s artists like The Bee Gees, Chubby Checker, Ringo Starr, Johnny Rivers and Sir Paul McCartney.
Ready Steady Go! shares its name with a popular 1960's British entertainment show that featured the hottest musical acts of the decade. You'll hear music from 'Merseybeat', The British Invasion, The Beatles, the 'surf' sound of The Beach Boys, the rhythm and blues of The Rolling Stones to the folk-rock of The Byrds and The Mamas and The Papas to the psychedelic power of Steppenwolf.
>> Whether you're a 'Hippie', 'Mod' or a 'Rocker', as Sgt. Pepper says... "A splendid time is guaranteed for all!"
>> For more information about the Aug. 8 show, visit the fair website at http://www.njstatefair.org/fair/ or the Ready Steady Go website at http://goreadysteady.com/.