RONNIE SPECTOR
When The Beatles arrived in 1964, RONNIE SPECTOR was one of the first U.S. singers they met up with. They had already become friends as the Ronettes toured in the UK with the Stones. We are so very thrilled to welcome Ronnie as our SPECIAL GUEST for this FEST. Ronnie was the lead singer of the Ronettes, whose Be My Baby is one of Rock and Roll’s all time biggest hits.
Ronnie was particularly close with both John and George. The Beatles personally invited The Ronettes for their 1966 U.S. Tour, which turned out to be their final tour. George wrote and co-produced Try Some Buy Some for her Apple Records single. George liked it so much, he took the exact version, but with his vocals, and put it on his Living In The Material World album in 1973.
Ronnie credits her friendship with John for leading her to record with Bruce Springsteen. Ronnie,! a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, will be joining us on Saturday and Sunday, speaking of her experiences, signing autographs, and showing that the Beehived Bad Girl still knows how to rock. Ronnie was certainly one of the highlights at the NY METRO FEST in March, and we are ecstatic she can join us again in Chicago.
EARL SLICK
Making his first Chicago FEST appearance, guitarist EARL SLICK's connection to the Beatles story is during their solo careers.
Earl played on John and Yoko’s Double Fantasy and
Milk and Honey sessions, and then on Yoko’s next album. He also joined George and Ringo on the legendary Carl Perkin's "Blue Suede Shoes" sessions from 1985.
Earl is a member of David Bowie’s band, and played on FAME, Bowie’s duet with John Lennon from 1975. Earl was a super guest in March and we are so glad he is coming to Chicago to Rock Out! Earl will really add greatly to the live jams and to Sunday's Musician’s Forum.
GREG HAWKES
After a long and illustrious career as the keyboardist in The Cars, GREG HAWKES has pursued solo projects. The latest is called The Beatles Uke, which he says was influenced by George’s
interest in the Ukulele. Greg will be performing 2 showcases with many selections from the new CD.
He also did a session with Paul for the Flowers in the Dirt album, on the song Motor of Love. Paul wanted a Cars sound, so Greg was brought in. Greg will join Liverpool for a Cars song or two and participate in the jam. Greg was a terrific guest at the NY METRO FEST and we are thrilled he will be with us in Chicago.
MARK HUDSON
MARK HUDSON has been part of the FEST Family for the past 7 years. His knowledge of the entire spectrum of music is truly remarkable. Plus, he is an admitted Beatlemaniac. During his 10 years as Ringo’s Producer, Mark had the chance to work with Paul, George and dozens of other music legends. Mark also produced Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Ozzy Osbourne.
Joining Mark in Sunday's always fascinating Musician's Forum will be Steve Holley, Earl Slick and Greg Hawkes. Mark will have his excellent new CD, called The Artist available at the show.
BRETT HUDSONWe are happy to announce that BRETT HUDSON has been added as a Special Guest in Chicago. Brett will be treating us to about an hour of exclusive, never before seen footage of his next film project - The Story of Chris Montez. The Beatles were third on the bill when Chris toured the UK in 1963. Brett has uncovered Beatles and related material and it will be the first time he is showing it anywhere! He will also participate in the Musician's Forum with Brother Mark and jam with Liverpool.
NANCY LEE ANDREWSIn 2008, we presented NANCY LEE ANDREWS, who had just published her exquisite photo book A Dose of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
She proved to be very popular and we have invited her back this year.
Nancy was Ringo’s girlfriend in the 1970’s and has taken photos of Ringo, George, Donovan, Keith Moon and many others.
This year in addition to speaking she will be briging her Photo Exhibit. It will be great to see those images in a large format. She also was a recent guest in Joe Johnson's BBC Live Chat Room.
LIVERPOOL: INCREDIBLE LIVE CONCERTSLIVERPOOL, the World’s Finest Beatles Sound-Alike Band, is an integral part of our ‘FEST family’ and has been our exclusive house band for nearly every FEST. Their dedication to the spirit of The Beatles music is unmatched, playing both Beatles and solo songs, plus performing with dozens of great musical guests over the years. They are working on special surprise sets for our 35th Anniversary!! Of course, they will be playing at the Friday Night Dance as well as Concerts on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
STEVE HOLLEYLiverpool Drummer Chris Camilleri sends his love and regrets that he cannot make it to Chicago this summer. In his place, will be former Wings Drummer STEVE HOLLEY.
DREW HILL, GLEN BURTNIK, JOHN MERJAVE and STEVE will be backing Special Guest Artists for lots of high energy jamming. In addition to sitting in for Chris, Steve will join in the Sunday Musician's Forum with the other musical guests. It's been 26 years since Steve has been on our Chicago stage and we welcome him back.
ALLAN TANNENBAUMALLAN TANNENBAUM – Photographer and Author of John & Yoko: A New York Love Story.
Allan will be talking about his experiences with a beautiful Audio Visual Presentation as one of the few who had access to John & Yoko in late 1980. He will also be returning to set up another amazing Photo Exhibit at The FEST.
Allan joined us for all three conventions in 2008
and we are delighted he is able to return to Chicago in 2009!
BRUCE SPIZER
After 6 amazing and authoritative books over the past 11 years, BRUCE SPIZER returns for two very entertaining Slide Shows this year.
The topics will be The Beatles are Coming and The Get Back/Let It Be Sessions. Bruce wrote all the questions for the upcoming BEATLES TRIVIAL PURSUIT GAME, scheduled to be world premiered in Chicago. We are going to be doing something special for this event. More details to come. (The Game is now available for pre-orders at our webstore).
JUDE SOUTHERLAND KESSLERJUDE SOUTHERLAND KESSLER, author of the 800 page novel on the life of John Lennon up to 1961, Shoulda Been There, joins us again. The second edition of her book has just come out
and it includes a bonus CD with an exclusive interview with Allan Williams, The Beatles first manager in the early Liverpool days.
JONATHAN POLK
JONATHAN POLK is putting out a new coffee table book that will be a must for all collectors. The book is called The Beatles Box of Vision and will house the new digitally remastered CDs in a beautiful casing with full sized images of all the Beatles albums, and stories to go along with them. Jonathan first showed the book at the NY METRO FEST, and it will be world premiered for sale in Chicago.
JERRY LEVITAN is a musician, actor, filmmaker, writer and lawyer living in Toronto. He produced the 2008 Academy Award and Emmy nominated film "I Met The Walrus" about the day he spent with John Lennon at age 14, winning praise and festival awards from around the world. Most recently, he is the author of the new book, also titled "I Met The Walrus". Jerry is joining us in Chicago for the first time and will be talking about his book and that unforgettable day in the life - 40 years ago.
JORIE GRACEN -Chicago native and photographer, whose book Paul McCartney: I Saw Him Standing There is a classic.
JEFF AUGSBURGER heads up the annual Collecting Beatles Memorabilia Discussion on the Friday evening.
STUART SHEA & ROBERT RODRIGUEZ - Chicago natives discuss their recent book Fab Four FAQ.
AL SUSSMAN, Executive Editor of Beatlefan, will be featured in two new discussions with Bruce Spizer - Mythbusters Take on the Beatles First U.S. Visit, and The Beatles - Buddy Holly Connection.
TERRI HEMMERTTERRI HEMMERT has been an important part of WXRT in Chicago for 35 years. Now that the station has been streaming live, she can be heard all over the planet! Terri has been to every Chicago FEST since we began in 1977 and has been our MASTER OF CEREMONIES Extraordinaire ever since. Her musical knowledge and love for the music shows every day on here mid day shows, Monday thru Friday, 10:00AM-1:00PM and especially on her Sunday morning Breakfast With The Beatles Show 8:00AM-10:00AM
MARTIN LEWISMARTIN LEWIS - humorist-writer-producer and leading Beatles scholar. His Fab-related work started 40 years ago (as a teenager!) when he compiled the discography for their authorized biography by Hunter Davies. He started his career as a protege of Beatles publicist Derek Taylor in the early 1970s. His multiple Beatles-related credits include producing and marketing the DVD editions of “A Hard Day's Night" and “The Beatles On Ed Sullivan”. He was consultant for "The Beatles Anthology", "Live At The BBC", Paul McCartney's "Music & Animation", George Martin's "In My Life", Michael Lindsay-Hogg's "Two Of Us" and Julie Taymor's "Across The Universe". He instigated the Rutles reunion and produced their "Archaeology" album. He has been Master of Ceremonies at all our NY and Western USA (L.A./Vegas) conventions since 1992 and a Special Guest at our Chicago Fests since 1995. Martin hosts the Sound-Alike Contest, Musician's Forum, Late Saturday Night Revelry and assists Terri from time to time. This will be his 47th convention with us.. See: www.MartinLewis.com
WALLY PODRAZIK
Local Beatles Historian WALLY PODRAZIK has been our PANEL DISCUSSIONS MODERATOR at almost every Chicago FEST since 1977.
He had to miss last year and other leap years because of his job as head of Media for Democratic National Conventions!
Wally also hosts the always exciting Trivia Competitions.
JOE JOHNSON
Beatle Brunch Host JOE JOHNSON is now on 120 stations nationwide (including 3 in Illinois and one in nearby Milwaukee).
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He has also recently launched a new website, the Beatle Brunch Club, which is an extension of the Beatle Brunch Radio Show. Become a member today to take advantage of all the Beatle Goodies this has to offer!
Joe heads up the Annual Live Name That Tune Contests and assists Wally in some of the Panel Discussions. There will be separate contests for the younger experts as well, so bone up on yer Beatles Trivia, as he pulls contestants from the studio audience.