Legendary drummer Hal Blaine, who recently turned 90, will be celebrated in his hometown of Holyoke, Massachusetts at Holyoke Community College’s Leslie Phillips Theater on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
Blaine has performed on 40 No.1 singles, 150 Top 10 hits and played on, by his own count, more than 35,000 recorded tracks. A member of the fabled Wrecking Crew, he has backed such stars as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, Steely Dan, The Byrds and many others.
He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Organized by Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts’ Victory Theater, the HCC celebration will feature a screening of the 2008 documentary about “The Wrecking Crew.”
The film will be followed by cake, conversation and a special video/Skype message from Blaine.
“We have been working on this project for a few years now,” said Donald Sanders, MIFA’s executive artistic director. “We can’t wait to celebrate a music legend from Holyoke in Holyoke for his 90th birthday.”
“The Wrecking Crew” film was produced and directed by Denny Tedesco, son of the late Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco. The film tells the story of the “unsung musicians that provided the backbeat, the bottom and the swinging melody that drove many of the number one hits of the 1960s and 70s.”
Visit www.mifafestival.org for more details or to make a reservation.