Disco down with KC and the Sunshine Band

Wipe out the summertime blues with a shot of disco flash led by KC and the Sunshine Band, live Friday at the Old Town Amphitheater, Rock Hill. The band is led by none other than Harry Wayne Casey (aka KC) with his Sunshine Band cohorts, who together willingly invoke the whirling funk, R&B, and pop sounds of disco madness.

Originating in Hialeah, Fla., KC says his forte has always been to get people up and onto the dance floor with his “Sunshine Sound” that brought him fame and record sales upwards of 75 million including four No. 1 records in a row, an avalanche of awards from Grammys, to People’s Choice, American Music Awards, and more.

Since first shaking up the scene in the ’70s, the hit songs from KC and company have become part of the American psyche, well-suited to crank up any scene: sporting events, parties, parades, conventions, wedding receptions – anything goes.

Timeless tunes rush forth with their message of wild abandon. “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “I’m Your Boogie Man,” “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” and many more tell the disco story.

Then, with plenty of razzle in his dazzle, the “Boogie Man” himself KC brings it together, leading a stage full of talented cohorts in their high-energy spectacular. Add lots of lighting, glittering production plus costumes, cool choreography keeping the “dance dance” soundtrack pumped and there’s definitely a party going on with KC and his ensemble of horn players, backup singers, dancers and more.

KC’s onstage ensemble features Maria De Crescenzo and Anika Ellis, backing vocals; Steve Lashley, bass; Kennetha Morris and Janell Burgess, dancers; David Simmons, drums; Chris Cadenhead and Robert E. Lee, keyboards; Jeffery Reeves, lead guitar; Fermin Goytisolo, percussion; Miles Fielder, trombone; John Reid and Francisco Dimas, trumpet and Fernando Diez, saxophone.

Now, there’s nothing left to do but “put on your boogie shoes” to release your inner dancing queen or king to hustle, bump, jump and jive to the dynamic disco sounds of KC and the Sunshine Band live, Friday at the Old Town Amphitheater, at City Hall, 144 E. Black St., Rock Hill. Call 329-7090 or check onlyinoldtown.com. For more on the music, visit heykcsb.com and find them on Facebook.

Upcoming

Friday:Weekends at Empire Pizza-Newport, Rock Hill; Rodney & Daniel Taylor, JS Edmonds, Dale Smarr at Sylvia Theater, York; Cro-mags, Queen City Rejects, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Hair Nation, Out of the Cellar-Ratt Tributem, Mr. Scary-Dokken Tribute at Amos Southend, Charlotte; Randy Franklin & The Sardines at Smokey Joe’s, Charlotte; Abbey Road Live-Beatles Tribute at Visulite Theatre, Charlotte; Ghost-Note at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Brave Baby, Susto, Octopus at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Community Center, The Menders, more at Milestone, Charlotte; Mitch Hayes at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Tattermask, Angwish, Hookay Hey, Cylearian at Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte; Deniz Koyu at Label-NC Music Factory, Charlotte; Dirty Grass Soul at Bootlegger’s Saloon, Charlotte; Willy Porter at Evening Muse, Charlotte; Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Frankie Ballard at PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte.

Saturday: PJ Brunson at Ledo Pizza, Rock Hill; Shotgun Saints at Pineville Tavern, Pineville; Whipporwill String Band at Sylvia Theater, York; Ancient Cities at US National Whitewater Center, Charlotte; Clever-Con with Something Clever, SkinKage, Osara, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Smokin’ Arena Rock Tribute at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Shannon Lee at Eaglespeak Café, Charlotte; Josh Daniel & Mark Schimick Project, Heart of a Ghost at Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Lindi Ortega, Charlie King at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Serfs, Jackson Scott, Dear Blanca at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Poor Blue CD Release Party, David Childers & The Serpents, Zack Joseph & The Society at Petra’s Piano Bar, Charlotte; The Feral, Hour 24, Racing On The Sun, more at Milestone, Charlotte; Dave Aude at Label-NC Music Factory, Charlotte; Valient Thorr, Dirty South Revolutionaries, more at Chop Shop, Charlotte; Party Thieves, Danny B, Boy Beats World at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Ricky Gunn at Bootlegger’s Saloon, Charlotte; The Icarus Account, Austin Smith at Evening Muse, Charlotte

Sunday: 32 Pints, Rothschild, more at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; LJTT Acoustic Duo at Mac’s Speed Shop-Southend, Charlotte; Balsam Range, Chuck Johnson & Charlyhorse, John Gaar Trio at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Trevor Hall, Tubby Love at Visulite Theater, Charlotte;Sunshine Festival at Comet Grill, Charlotte; Ghost Wolves at Milestone, Charlotte; Americana Showcase at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Camila at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Big Freedia at Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte;

Monday: Open Mic with 3-Piece Buckett at Puckett’s Farm Equipment, Charlotte; Highly Suspect at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Open Mic with Dara Sisterhen at Evening Muse, Charlotte.

Tuesday: Permanent Vacation at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Love Moon, Sweel Friends, Mall Goth at Milestone, Charlotte; Treehouse, Sun-Dried Vibes, Of Good Nature at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte.

Wednesday: All About a Bubble at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Jim Quick & Coastline at Romare Bearden Park , Charlotte; Will Jackson Band at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Robert Childers, more at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Lyle Lovett & His Large Band at Knight Theater, Charlotte; Ry Cooder, Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs at McGlohon Theater, Charlotte; Ghosting, Accidental Seabirds at Milestone, Charlotte; Breaking Benjamin, Young Guns at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Carl Thomas at Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte.

Thursday: Mike Strauss Band at US National Whitewater Center, Charlotte; Kerry Brooks at Comet Grill, Charlotte; Same As It Ever Was-Talking Heads Tribute at Visulite Theatre, Charlotte; AM Exchange at Double Door Inn, Charlotte; Bucky Harris, Black Irish Texas at Milestone, Charlotte; Umphrey’s McGee, J. Roddy Walston & The Business at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Aaron Lee Tasjan, Lilly Hiatt at Evening Muse, Charlotte;

“And that was all she wrote.”

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Disco down with KC and the Sunshine Band."