The warm up act, The Diamonds, was perfect for this stroll down Memory Lane. They rocked!
When Pat Boone, resplendent in all white, came on stage, the audience gave a true American musical icon his due. He opened with his first #1 hit, "Ain't That a Shame." Rockin' good! Pat proved that being 77 is just a number for him, as he turned back the clock with "Bernadine," "April Love," "Don't Forbid Me," "Almost Lost My Mind," and "Moody River." The White Bucks kid followed up with his number one and number two biggest hits, "Love Letters in the Sand" with some fun audience participation, and "Speedy Gonzalez." The latter's rating was a big surprise to me, as April Love seemed like it was surely Number Two for Pat.
Then it was time for some good ole gospel music with Neil Diamond's "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" and Pat's "Wonderful Time Up There." Pat sang his heart out and the audience was on its feet. Wow!
After the audience cheered Mr. Boone back on the stage, he acquiesced to a request for my personal favorite, "Friendly Persuasion" which was just as hauntingly beautiful as when he first recorded it back in 1956.
The finale was a partriotic song written by the night's shining star entitled "Under God" which was written in response to the movement to remove this phrase from the pledge of allegiance. Foks were on their feet, cheering, as Pat sang. What a night!