Joy To You And Me

One might be the loneliest number but not for those who take advantage of their one chance to see the legendary band Three Dog Night on Sunday, July 28, at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center at 8 PM as the group brings joy to the world and the stage.

Danny Hutton (founder/lead vocalist) and Michael Allsup (guitar), Paul Kingery (bass/vocals), Pat Bautz (drums), Howard Laravea (keyboards) and David Morgan (vocals) will all rock the theater as past generations walk down memory lane and a new generation creates soulful memories of its own.

The band’s name, Three Dog Night, refers to “native Australian hunters in the outback who huddled with their dogs for warmth on cold nights.” The band became popular with the hits “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Joy to the World,” “Black and White,” “Shambala,” and “One.”

From 1969 through 1974, the band “achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records, and sold more concert tickets” than any other band, according to TDN’s website. They had 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, with three number one singles and 11 top 10 hits. They sold seven million singles and 12 RIAA Certified Gold LPs. Their music cross genres of pop, rock, and country, and the band has performed more than 2200 shows since 1986.

In May 2002, Three Dog Night and the London Symphony Orchestra released scores to coincide with the band’s 35th anniversary. It was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.

Three Dog Night will celebrate five decades of music at WHBPAC, as the band pairs classic songs with more recent ones. It might not be classic vinyl, but releases from the past decade have sold over a million copies, as new listeners and existing fans purchase music on iTunes, Amazon, and additional digital retailers. The band released its first double-A sides single in over a quarter of a century, with “Heart Of Blues” and “Prayer of the Children.” As time rolls on, so does the band’s continuous touring, with 70 dates a year.

“We’re in the studio between tour dates working on our first new album since ‘It’s a Jungle’ in 1983. We’ve got 11 songs already, including six that I wrote,” said Danny Hutton. “Basically, I have the templates for the stuff and then bring in the band and they’ve all added their innovations. They’re fabulous professional musicians but you have to get all the rules out of them by throwing them in the water. They’re so good, they don’t drown.”

The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center is located at 76 Main Street in Westhampton. Call the box office at 631-288-1500 or visit online at www.whbpac.org.

nicole@indyeastend.com