St. Petersburg, Fla. (April 24, 2017) – For more than 50 years, The Isley Brothers have received acclaim as “the rocking soulful legends that started it all.” The iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and Grammy award-winning artists will bring inspiring sounds of soul and classic R&B to the Duke Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 at 7 p.m. The concert features award-winning soul singer Ronald Isley (known as Mr. Biggs) and guitarist extraordinaire Ernie Isley. Their concerts transcend generations.
After The Isley Brothers left their initial mark on R&B charts in 1959 with “Shout” – which would sell a million copies and become a standard – they scored the #1 R&B hit “Twist And Shout” (both songs were subsequently covered by The Beatles), in 1962. But it was 1969’s “It’s Your Thing” that cemented their fame, shooting to #1 on the Billboard R&B chart and ultimately selling more than five million copies. The song also earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance. “This Old Heart of Mine” was their only hit on Motown, funky “It’s Your Thing,” hit number two on the U.S. charts in 1969, and became their most successful record. The group began incorporating more and more rock material into its repertoire as the 1970s dawned, and scored hits with covers of Stephen Stills’ “Love the One You’re With,” Eric Burdon & War’s “Spill the Wine,” and Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay.”
Tickets, $59.50, $69.50, $79.50 and $94.50, go on sale to the public Friday, April 28 at 10 a.m. Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts members can purchase tickets starting at noon today. Tickets may be purchased online at themahaffey.com, charge by phone at 727.893.7832 or in person at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office.
The Mahaffey Theater
The Mahaffey Theater, under the management of Big3 Entertainment, is one of Tampa Bay’s top-rated performing arts venues. Home to the Florida Orchestra, The Mahaffey hosts top-quality national and international artists and performances – Broadway, pop, rock, comedy, dance, classical and interactive engagements and exhibitions.
Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the 2,031-seat cultural jewel boasts spectacular waterfront views and is located only minutes away from white sandy beaches and world-renowned museums. Additionally, the theater supports the highly successful Class Acts program, which enables school children to experience the performing arts through in-theater performances as well as in-school outreach and extension programs.
Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts
Founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2009, the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is dedicated to the success and future of The Mahaffey Theater and to the notion that through diverse programing and patron membership support, performing arts should be enjoyed by all of St. Petersburg’s citizens. It’s your theater!
The Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts is committed to supporting and presenting all genres of the performing arts at The Mahaffey Theater, funding arts education for school children through the Class Acts performance series and providing its member patrons with unequaled services, entertainment and cultural experiences.