Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Believe it or not, there was a window when The Young Rascals were just as popular as The Beatles, and if Steven Van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band has anything to say about it, they could arguably be considered America’s first full-fledged rock n’ rollers. In other words, those that packed the Memorial Opera House just over the state line to benefit Hospice of the Calumet Area (who’ve thus far collected Hospice Honors from 2015-2018) were in the presence of a true trailblazer when Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals brought loads of “Good Lovin’” to the hopeful affair that put the emphasis on music’s integral role in patient therapy.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Felix Cavaliere rounded the bases with “Slow Down,” a track cut by both The Rascals and The Fab Four, which offered yet another proclamation of his pioneering place in rock, while giving donors lots of bang for their buck.

Cavaliere and company of course stuck mostly with the main selections from his 50-plus year career, including such genre cornerstones as “A Girl Like You,” “Love Is A Beautiful Thing” and “A Beautiful Morning” with a much looser, improvisational feel compared to The Rascals’ “Once Upon A Dream” Broadway engagement and reunion tour from a few years back. He also brought a welcome sense of nostalgia for a world before the internet, indulging the audience of fans and dedicated care workers with Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour,” Sir Mack Rice’s “Mustang Sally,” plus several spontaneous snippets spanning Jackie Wilson’s “Higher And Higher” to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”

Throughout his headlining slot, the 75-year-old exuded an optimistic attitude, soulful vocals and a nimbleness on the keys, especially throughout “Groovin’,” “People Got To Be Free” and the band’s aforementioned calling card that never needs any introduction and incited a grown folks’ version of “Animal House” in the aisles. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer rounded the bases with “Slow Down,” a track cut by both The Rascals and The Fab Four, which offered yet another proclamation of his pioneering place in rock, while giving donors lots of bang for their buck.

As an added bonus, Gary, Indiana’s own The Spaniels Forever continued the legacy of the famed doo-wop group that was the flagship act for Vee-Jay Records (long before Motown) at the height of its popularity throughout the 1950s and ‘60s. A tribute to fellow vocal groups The Temptations and Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, along with the original “Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite,” were just a few of the silky smooth flashbacks that had guests humming along as they aided such a worthy cause.

For additional information on Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, The Spaniels Forever and Hospice of the Calumet Area, visit FelixCavaliereMusic.com, Facebook.com/TheSpanielsForever and HospiceCalumet.org/Events/.

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