(ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- New shows on sale at bergenPAC include Ann Wilson (April 4), Christopher Cross (May 11), Brian McKnight (May 14), Brian Regan (October 20), and Eddie Palmieri’s 80th Celebration (October 27). Tickets go on sale Friday, January 13, 2017 at 11AM at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC’s Box Office at 201.227.1030.
Ann Wilson - TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 – 8PM
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Ann Wilson, has announced her 2017 solo tour – Ann Wilson of Heart! As a songwriter and lyricist, Ann Wilson has created a truly impressive body of work (“Crazy on You,” “Barracuda,” “Magic Man,” “Dog & Butterfly,” “Straight On,” “Even it Up,” “Mistral Wind,” and many, many more). However, Wilson says her greatest gift, and first “calling” is singing and with this tour she prepares to blow away her fans with up, close and personal, performances of blues and rock songs.
What will fans experience at these shows? “People can expect the unexpected in 2017,” Ann says. “A beautiful, classy set with an elegant artistic production… The music will be a mix of songs that have powered my life; iconic soul stirring covers, songs from my years of solo work and the unforgettable songs of Heart.”
Musicians on board for the tour include Craig Bartock on guitar (Heart member for a dozen years, who also performed in the Ann Wilson Thing for two years) from San Francisco; Andy Stoller on bass (the Ann Wilson Thing member for two years from Seattle; Denny Fongheiser of drums and percussion (Heart member in the 1990’s for two years) from Los Angeles. The name for the upcoming tour, explains Ann, “is to give people a point of recognition; to help people understand who I am and where I came from.”
Christopher Cross - THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017 – 8PM
Christopher Cross made history with his 1980 self-titled debut album, winning five Grammy Awards, including—for the first time ever—the four most prestigious awards: Record of the Year (for the single “Sailing”), Album of the Year, Song of the Year (also for “Sailing”), and Best New Artist.
Now, 30+ years after his extraordinary emergence into the music business, Cross continues his recording and performing career with his most recent album, Secret Ladder that evokes the artistry of such great singer-songwriters as Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman while addressing contemporary concerns head-on – a combination which is sure to please his loyal fan base.
Brian McKnight - SUNDAY, MAY 14, 2017 – 8PM
Brian McKnight has released 16 albums to date and he sold over 30 million albums worldwide. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and producer, McKnight has also hosted Soul Session Countdown with Brian McKnight on BETJ, The Brian McKnight Morning Show on KTWV the Wave Smooth Jazz radio station, and his own nationally syndicated TV show The Brian McKnight Show which was syndicated in over 200 markets.
McKnight’s musical career began in childhood when he became a member of his church choir and a bandleader for his high school, Sweet Home High School. By the age of 19, he signed his first recording deal with Mercury Records. In 1992, his self-titled album Brian McKnight was released followed by I Remember You (1995) and Anytime (1997). Anytime sold over two million copies and was nominated for a Grammy. In 1999 McKnight released Back at One on Motown Records, which sold over three million copies. During his career, McKnight has worked with Quincy Jones, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Diddy, Christina Aguilera, Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Vanessa Williams, Willie Nelson and Kenny G.
Along with 16 Grammy nominations, Brian McKnight has been the recipient of American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, NAACP Image and Blockbuster Awards, and Billboard Songwriter of The Year. He has successfully navigated the boundaries of every entertainment medium in an industry that is known for its revolving door of artists.
Brian Regan - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 – 7:30PM and 10PM
Releasing two critically acclaimed hour Comedy Central specials and DVD's in as many years – 2008's The Epitome of Hyperbole, and 2007's Brian Regan Standing Up – Brian has set a standard of excellence that others continually try to follow.
Critics and peers agree Brian Regan has distinguished himself as one of the premier comedians in the country. The perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality, Brian fills theaters nationwide with fervent fans that span generations. It is the quality of his material, relatable to a wide audience and revered by his peers, which continues to grow Brian's fan base.
Eddie Palmieri - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017 – 8PM
Known as one of the finest pianists of the past 50 years, Eddie Palmieri is a bandleader, arranger and composer of salsa and Latin jazz. His playing skillfully fuses the rhythm of his Puerto Rican heritage with the complexity of his jazz influences: Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner as well as his older brother, Charlie Palmieri.
Palmieri’s professional career as a pianist took off with various bands in the early 1950s including Eddie Forrester, Johnny Segui’s, and the popular Tito Rodriguez Orchestra. In 1961, Palmieri formed his own band, La Perfecta, which featured an unconventional front line of trombones rather than the trumpets customary in Latin orchestras. This created an innovative sound that mixed American jazz into Afro-Caribbean rhythms, surprising critics and fans alike. Palmieri disbanded La Perfecta in 1968 to pursue different musical endeavors, though he would return to the band’s music in the 2000s.
Palmieri perfected his arranging skills in the 1970’s releasing several impressive recordings that reflected his unorthodox approach to music. His unconventional style would once again surprise critics and fans with the 1970 release entitled “Harlem River Drive.” This recording was the first to merge what were categorized as “Black” and “Latin” music into a free-form sound that encompassed elements of salsa, funk, soul and jazz. In 1975, Palmieri won the first-ever Grammy for Best Latin Recording for The Sun of Latin Music (he’s won ten Grammys altogether to date), including two for his influential recording with Tito Puente, Obra Maestra/Masterpiece.
In 2013, Palmieri was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
Tickets for all shows are available at: www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Box Office (201) 227-1030.
bergenPAC is located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, NJ.
