Backstage with Ron Onesti: Doo Wop, Dion and Dem Days
I was recently watching one of those Doo Wop shows on PBS. So many groups that began A Capella on streetcorners of New York and Philadelphia in the late forties and early fifties. Most were…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Sad Vibrations
The co-founder of the band “The Beach Boys,” Brian Wilson, left us back in June. He was 82 years old, but his music, remains timeless. There is so much that can, and will, be said…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Joey Dee and the Starliters, forever “Twistin”
I have been putting on shows since I was a Junior at Weber High School in Chicago. That was in 1977 and classic rock (which wasn’t classic yet) was my thing. CHICAGO, STYX, RUSH, Led…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: The Loss of Another Legend
“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” arguably the biggest hit for Neil Sedaka, is about the pain and misery of separating. “If you go, then I’ll be blue,” is a prominent lyric of the song. …
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Night Ranger…Still “Motoring”
Even after close to forty years in the biz, I still get giddy and excited when my Rock and Roll heroes play on one of my historic stages. Many of them have been performing also…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Paul Shaffer…A “Behind The Scenes Icon”
For thirty-three years, America’s number one musical side-kick, Paul Shaffer, took us to commercials and tossed in a quip or two during David Letterman’s opening monologues. After it all ended, Paul appeared at The Arcada…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Just like Ronnie Sang
In my humble opinion, few individuals embody the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the way ’60s girl-group superstar Ronnie Spector did. We lost Ronnie to cancer last Wednesday. She was 78. What I mean…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Memories of Andy Hardy and Boys Town
My typically insane days usually end with some hot tea, maybe some pistachio nuts or chips, and a dose of late-night television. For me, there is nothing more relaxing than the old black and white…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: Here’s To My Heroes
Ron Onesti: Here’s to MY Heroes! Ever since I was a young boy, I have enjoyed watching biographies on TV. I think it started with Frazier Thomas and “Family Classics”. Although the first thing that comes…
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Backstage with Ron Onesti: ZZ King? Still the “TOP” Look in Rock and Roll
Ron Onesti: ZZ KING? Still the “Top” look in Rock and Roll Legends and icons…how lucky am I to be able to host these megastars at The Arcada Theatre and now the Des Plaines Theatre who…
