A show with Eric Kearns was presented in the community center on Jan. 20. The residents and visitors (161 total) who attended were treated to a wonderful show.
The show was a tribute to stars, and while Eric sang their big hits, he also performed it in their voice with special antics and facial expressions. He did a marvelous job.
He started off the show by singing “Chantilly Lace,” which was a big hit for the “Big Bopper.” He not only sounded like him, but he had all his moves He did a fantastic job.
For each song, or I should say most of them, he had a story of the particular star that he presented.
He followed with “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” by Paul Anka.
He did a marvelous job on “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles, which was done in a deep voice that sounded like Ray Charles. There was also some audience participation as Eric walked among the audience.
If you closed your eyes, you could just imagine the original performers.
He did a fine job on a Johnny Mathis song called “Chances Are,” and he did a perfect job on a Chubby Checker song called “The Twist.” He also danced the twist with someone from the audience; I am telling you that he was terrific.
He did a wonderful rendition of “Release Me” by Engelbert Humperdinck and also “Twistin’ the Night Away” by Sam Cooke.
After going through the audience and presenting a rose to a woman, he performed some country tunes such as “Gentle on my Mind” by Glen Campbell, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash and more.
He then performed a masterful job of “Woman, Woman” by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap.
Of course, no show would be complete without Elvis, and he did several songs like “Suspicious Minds” and more, with all the facial expressions and his eyes closed on parts of the songs. He also treated us to a very cute story about Elvis that touched all of us.
He performed the song “ Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” by Don McLean and did a great job of it.
At one point in the show, he did the song entitled “Me & Mrs. Jones,” where he walked out to the audience and sang it to a “Mrs. Jones.” That was a cute moment.
“Copacabana” originally performed by Barry Manilow was done, and it was lovely.
He also sang a medley of four Neil Diamond songs. When he performed “Sweet Caroline,” the audience sang the appropriate parts in different places.
He also performed Rod Stewart songs, along with Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias, and “The Gambler,” which is a Kenny Rogers song. He did it so well with the gravelly voice and all.
Also, he performed a medley from the Rat Pack. When he did the “Candy Man,” which was a Sammy Davis Jr. hit, the facial expressions were superb.
There was a cute part in the show when he brought Barb Livingston up front, as it was her birthday in a few days. Everyone joined in on the “Happy Birthday” song.
He then proceeded with another medley of The Beatles and also Tom Jones.
There were several other songs, such as Al Jolson and Hank Williams, along with “Shaving Cream” by Benny Bell that he performed, but when he did Jimmy Durante, it was terrific.
He did a fabulous job at “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. His eyes were closed during parts, and his voice was so low that it sounded just like Louis Armstrong.
The show was closed out with Eric singing “God Bless the U.S.A.,” which is a Lee Greenwood song. This song he did in his own voice.
Everyone went home knowing they saw a great show.
Our thanks go out to Gary Wilcox and Ed Goldstein who planned the event. Records were broken at Grand Horizons.
By Helene Rubenstein, Grand Horizons
