KC's
music has been featured at EVERY major sporting event
in the world including the Super Bowl, World Series,
Conference Championships, The NBA, Collegiate Bowl
Games National Championship Games, the NASCAR racing
Circuit and Championships, The World Cup, The Indianapolis
500, The Kentucky Derby, EVERY Holiday Parade include
the famous Macys Thanksgiving Day parade, and the Tournament
of Roses Parade, Political Party Conventions, Presidential
Campaigns and nearly EVERY wedding, confirmation, and bar
mitzvah in the world.
This is the music that got people out of their seats
and onto the dance floor, but, originated with humble
beginnings in Hialeah, Florida. KC has never moved farther
than 10 miles away from his birthplace and the birthplace
of his legendary music underlines the fact that he is
proud that his "Sunshine Sound" has flourished
continuously for over 37 years.
"I remember that I always wanted to do something that would
make people forget about their problems and be happy,” recalls
KC. “I always loved music and I was fortunate
enough to grow up in a multi-ethnic area that exposed
me to a lot of different cultures and music...from Pop
to Reggae to Latin. I experimented at trying to put all
three types of music together and the Sunshine Sound
was born. Why move from an area that not only do I love,
but owe so much to?' |
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the early days
Let's "rewind" back to
1973. The price of an average home was $32,500. The price
of an average automobile was $2,900. The price of
a gallon of gasoline was 40 cents a gallon. The United
Stales was still involved in the Vietnam conflict, Richard
Nixon was the target of the Watergate investigation, University
Students were protesting and rioting, and there was discontent
all over the world with rising unemployment and inflation. Just
as it is today, during tough times, people find themselves
looking for something to divert their attention
from the negative aspects of everyday life surrounding
them and leave it all behind if just for a little while.
Growing up in South Florida,
Motown was a huge influence on KC with their constant string
of great hit songs and artists that dominated AM radio
at the time. Music
was all over the sunny streets and could be heard
on the beachs, blasting out of car windows and acting as
the soundtrack for everyone that lived in the area during
the sixties. Punchy
horns and tight arrangements were one of the signatures
in these sounds that captured listeners of all kinds, throughout
the world. Strangely enough the sound that KC became known
for came together in a round about way, after KC was attending
a party with another recording artist he was then managing. Timmy
Thomas was fresh
off his own hit "Why Can't We Live Together" at that time
and both artists were absorbing the energy of the night.
Performing at the party was a lively, Bahamian style Junkanoo
band that caught the ears of the soon to be creator of
the memorable music the Sunshine band would be known worldwide
for. Many of the songs surprisingly came together very
quickly as KC spent time between other acts recording sessions
tinkering on a piano kept in a side room of the studio.
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During this period, young Harry Casey did anything
and everything that he could do to further his
passion for music. He worked at a local record
store, opened boxes at Tone Record Distributors
and hung around a local recording studio just hoping
that somebody would give him the opportunity to
fulfill his biggest dream of releasing his own
record.
That "dream" was answered by a man named Henry Stone
who owned both Tone Distributors and TK Recording Studios.
KC recalls the early days of TK Records: "It was like
a big family and Henry was our Dad." Stone had
recorded Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker and James Brown
at the TK Recording Studios and took a liking to the
energetic and optimistic Harry Casey. Henry decided
to finally give him a chance to make his dreams a reality
with the chance to record and produce his own music
at last.
Back then, KC And
The Sunshine Band were the most successful promulgators
of the boisterous, tropically funky dance music known
as The Miami Sound. Formed in 1973 in Hialeah, Florida
and originally named KC And The Sunshine Junkanoo
Band. Tthe first single incorporated horns, whistles
and maintained the energy and fun associated with
these Caribbean sounds. From the first record the
band ruled both the Pop and R&B charts, as well
as the dance floors throughout the '70s.
With funky
warm and vibrant tones, the brass oriented disco
flavor that comprised the backbone of KC And The
Sunshine Band's sound was flexible enough to incorporate
the hodgepodge of additional styles that KC soaked
up in Miami; Motown, Funk, Latin percussion, Caribbean
spice, Southern soul, and groovin' pop hooks all
seeped into the mix to create a tasteful blend of
homegrown music that is purely KC. |
Nobody would have thought
that Henry Stone's insight and Harry Casey's talent and
enthusiasm would make history and make Miami, Florida the
hottest music city on the planet. The "birth" of
KC and the Sunshine band was about to happen and nobody
knew that its birth would not only bring the world legendary
music, but influence a whole generation. From clothing
to hairstyles to dance styles to new acceptable words in
the English language, KC and the Sunshine Band had arrived! And
what an arrival! Four Number one Records in a row,
and the focus of the music world became Miami, Florida.
Things have changed drastically since 1973. One thing hasn't
changed, though. The infectious, feel good happy music
of KC and the Sunshine Band. What started out as a "dream" is
now "legend." Their first record, BLOW YOUR WHISTLE, made
the top 15 on the R&B chart. Their second album,
KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND, was released
in 1975, went triple platinum and contained the #1 hits
GET DOWN TONIGHT, THAT’S THE WAY (I LIKE IT), BOOGIE
SHOES and ROCK YOUR BABY. Also in 1975 he won the
American Music Award for Best R&B Artist.
In 2002 KC received the coveted Star on
the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
KC's music is now being sampled by rappers, and whole
new generations of fans have been introduced to his music.
Harry Wayne Casey, a true icon of so many generations,
gets people up and dancing, making everyone happy, his
place at the top in the music world is secure and that
is as it should be.
In 2008, KC celebrated
35 years in the entertainment industry. He’s
been honored with a Grammy Awards,
Peoples Choice Awards, American Music Awards and
countless others. Over the years, KC’s
songs have been heard internationally in commercials, at
sporting events and Olympic Ceremonies and in such TV shows
as Desperate Housewives, American Bandstand’s
50th Anniversary Party, American Idol and Dancing
with the Stars as well as numerous blockbuster movie
features. KC and the Sunshine Band continue to perform
to sold out concerts all over the world. The music KC and
the band created can be felt in much of the pop music currently
being heard today. This influence crosses over genres
and truly transends time as most of their fans would aggree.
KC and The Sunshine Band
are performing at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis on December
31st. Tthis is in association with the great work done
by St.
Jude Children’s
Research Hospital. KC
recently visited the hospital and it was a great and rewarding
experience which brought smiles and joy to everyone's faces.
The Band have been entertaining audiences
around the world for over 37 years, and have sold in excess
of 100 million records so far.
"That's The Way They Like
It" uh-huh uh-huh! We couldn't agree more,
KC and The Sunshine Band, brings happiness and smiles to
fans every they perform as they continue to spread the
joy. Keep it going for a long time to come and don't stop
cause your millions of fans like it too.
KC and The Sunshine will be appearing
LIVE
at the Seminole Hardrock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida
on Jan 3rd.
Special guest Tavares will also be appearing
Be sure to come out and leave all your cares behind for a great night of fun
Tickets cost $39, $49, $59 and $69*; all seats are reserved
and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online
at www.ticketmaster.com or
charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour
prior to show start time.
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