Billy Ocean to make waves at Thrasher-Horne in October

ORANGE PARK – Billy Ocean, the award-winning recording artist best known for a string of pop and soul anthems in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Grammy Award-winning “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run),” “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” will appear at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Ocean is Britain’s most commercially successful Black artist, having sold more than 30 million records worldwide.
Ocean’s first hit was the 1976 hit single “Love Really Hurts Without You.” In the following year came another UK No. 2, “Red Light Spells Danger.” And there were more hits in the 1980s, including three United States No. 1s: “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run),” “There’ll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)” and “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car,” but he is probably best known for “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going,” which was a hit for Ocean in 1986 and Boyzone 13 years later.
Tickets start at $39 and can be found at thcenter.org.

Melissa Etheridge’s tour to make stop on May 9

ORANGE PARK – Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show.
For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy in 1992. Etheridge, who will play at the Thrasher-Horne Center on May 9, hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, “Yes I Am” in 1993.
The collection featured the massive hits, “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” a searing song of longing that brought Etheridge her second Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance. In 1995, Etheridge issued her highest charting album, “Your Little Secret,” which was distinguished by the hit single, “I Want to Come Over.” Her astounding success that year led to Etheridge receiving the Songwriter of the Year honor at the ASCAP Pop Awards in 1996.
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. In February 2007, Melissa Etheridge celebrated a career milestone with a victory in the Best Song category at the Academy Awards for “I Need to Wake Up,” written for the Al Gore documentary on global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth.” As a performer and songwriter, Etheridge has shown herself to be an artist who has never allowed “inconvenient truths” to keep her down. Earlier in her recording career, Etheridge acknowledged her sexual orientation when it was considered less than prudent to do so.
Tickets, which start at $39, are available at thcenter.org.

Rick Springfield to hit Thrasher-Horne stage on May 26

ORANGE PARK – During the past four decades, Rick Springfield has worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest power-pop of the 1980s, a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician who has sold 25 million albums and scored 17 U.S. Top 40 hits, including “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I’ve Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody” and “Human Touch.”
He’s an accomplished actor who starred opposite Meryl Streep in the feature film “Ricki and the Flash: and gave a chameleonic performance as the creepy Dr. Irving Pitlor in HBO’s prestige drama “True Detective,” earned great reviews for his portrayal of Lucifer on the CW hit “Supernatural” and most recently played the insane Pastor Charles on FX’s worldwide hit series “American Horror Story.”
It has been a long and fruitful affair, and one that has gifted him with a powerful connection to his legions of devoted fans, who pack his annual fan getaway events, as well as the nearly 100 shows a year he performs both with his band and solo in an intimate “storyteller” setting that he captured on the 2015 CD/DVD and concert film, “Stripped Down.” Though too self-deprecating to discuss his immense appeal, he will acknowledge that the fans connect with him through the music. “I guess they think I’m honest,” Springfield said. “They must like my approach, what I write about. I think they like that I have a sense of humor in it at times. Because the ‘cute’ thing isn’t going to last forever.”

John Michael Montgomer signed for Aug. 18 show

ORANGE PARK – John Michael Montgomery turned an uncanny ability to relate to fans into one of country music’s most storied careers.
Behind the string of hit records, the roomful of awards and the critical and fan accolades that have defined his phenomenal success lies a connection that goes beyond his undeniable talent and his proven knack for picking hits. Since the days when “Life’s A Dance” turned him from an unknown artist into a national star, Montgomery’s rich baritone has carried that most important of assets--believability. Few artists in any genre sing with more heart than this handsome Kentucky-born artist.
Montgomery will at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Aug. 18 for a show that starts at 7:30 p.m.
It is readily apparent in love songs that have helped set the standard for a generation. Songs like “I Swear,” “I Love the Way You Love Me” and “I Can Love You Like That” still resonate across the landscape – pop icon and country newcomer Jessica Simpson cited “I Love The Way You Love Me” as an influence in a recent interview. It is apparent in the 2004 hit “Letters From Home,” one of the most moving tributes to the connection between soldiers and their families ever recorded, and in “The Little Girl,” a tale of redemption that plumbs both the harrowing and the uplifting. It is apparent even in the pure fun that has always found its way into John Michael’s repertoire--songs like “Be My Baby Tonight” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident),” where John Michael’s vocal earnestness takes musical whimsy to another level.
Tickets start at $39 and are available at thcenter.org.

Jay White’s Sweet Caroline Tour headed to Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – The Sweet Caroline Tour is a Neil Diamond Concert celebration starring the No. 1 Diamond performer in the world – Jay White. It is
without question, the most authentic Neil Diamond Concert Experience on the planet.
Conceived in response to Diamond’s retirement from the concert stage and the huge demand from audiences worldwide to enjoy the music of the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame icon in a live music setting, Jay and the dynamic Sweet Caroline Tour Band pays homage to Neil Diamond by performing the hits and beloved gems with the same energy and artistry Diamond delivered during his incredible 50-year career.
White will bring his legacy tour to the Thrasher-Horne Center on Aug. 13.
During the past three decades, White has performed more than 10,000 concerts worldwide, reflecting the stage persona of an American Music Legend. Each expression of every Neil Diamond song performed by White evokes the power and the passion of a live Diamond performance.
Jay is grateful that his years of dedication and devotion has convinced tens of thousands of Diamond fans that he is the closest thing to the Real Deal – and he’s also humbled to have been acknowledged and embraced by Neil, Neil’s family and Band for performing the Brooklyn-born singer/songwriters’ music live in concert in the most respectful, convincing way possible.
“Neil’s kindness and acceptance has always been greatly appreciated and I’m honored to have appeared with him on his ‘Stages’ Box Set DVD. Now, more than ever, I will continue to pay homage, through each and every performance, to the man who has meant so much, to so many, for so long. Especially me,” White said.
Tickets, which start at $29, are available at thcenter.org.

Tippin, Ray, Kershaw to bring Roots & Boots to Thrasher-Horne

ORANGE PARK – What a show this will be: Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Collin Raye – three terrific country artists are teaming up for a performance filled with stories and songs and getting back to the roots of their music.
The trio will bring their Roots and Boots Tour to the Thrasher-Horne Center on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at thcenter.org.
On stage together, with one band, they’ll play 40-plus Top 10 hits, like “You’ve Got to Stand For Something,” “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Love, Me” and so much more.
These are the voices that defined country music in the 1990s.

Lonestar to shine at Thrasher-Horne on Oct. 20

ORANGE PARK – Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals ), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar) are taking a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs.
The streak started in 1996 with the band’s second single, the rock-edged “No News,” and continued with the following year’s “Come Cryin’ to Me” and “Everything’s Changed.” The band’s quadruple-platinum 1999 album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits (including the beloved global smash “Amazed”) and established Lonestar as music’s preeminent pop-country band—a status they’d maintain through the 2000s and beyond.
Lonestar will play many of their iconic hits on Oct. 20 at the Thrasher-Horne Center. Tickets, which start at $29, are available at thcenter.org.
With these re-recordings, the band members were mindful of striking a balance between preserving the sonic elements fans were familiar with – and not repeating them. Such talent has contributed to the band winning many of music’s top honors, including Academy Of Country Music awards for New Vocal Group in 1996, Single and Song Of The Year in 2000, along with Humanitarian Of The Year in 2002. They also won Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year and International Artist Achievement award in 2001. All told, Lonestar have sold more than 10.5 million records since their formation.
“It’s amazing that we’re still standing and putting on great shows after all these years,” Sams said. “The fans are still coming out to our shows night after night to see us and hear our music. That’s almost 30 years of touring, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am – and I’ve never once taken it for granted.”

Warrant to rock Thrasher-Horne on Nov. 3

ORANGE PARK – At its core, WARRANT is an American rock band through and through. Hitting it big in 1989, the Hollywood, California-based band rose through the ranks of the local Sunset Strip scene to the level of multiplatinum-selling, chart-topping success.
The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich.” The album produced radio and MTV chart-toppers “Down Boys,” “Sometimes She Cries,” and the massive hit “Heaven,” which reached #1 in Rolling Stone and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in a row.
The band will bring its hard-rocking act to the Thrasher-Horne Center on Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at thcenter.org.
Warrant’s sophomore album Cherry Pie debuted in September 1990. This album, which spawned the MTV and radio hits “Cherry Pie,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and “I Saw Red,” all reached the Top 10 in the United States and went on to sell 3 million copies, getting Platinum sales in Canada and Australia. The band has played 200 shows in support of Cherry Pie it wound up being one of the top-grossing tours of 1991.
Warrant’s signature style of rock music is very catchy and yet very melodic and remains the band’s signature sound today. In September 2008, Robert Mason replaced Jani Lane as lead vocalist joining the other four original members, Jerry Dixon, Steven Sweet, Joey Allen and Erik Turner. Their current album Louder Harder Faster, released on Frontiers Records, has been highly regarded in reviews and embraced by fans.

Greatest Piano Men to perform in January

ORANGE PARK – The electrifying production The Greatest Piano Men from Jeff Davis, Executive Producer of Broadway’s “Rock of Ages,” debuted to rave reviews at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, celebrating the world’s greatest pianists and showmen, like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Liberace and Billy Joel.
The show, which will feature performances from Donnie Kehr, Pete Peterkin. Bill Connors and David K. Miaocco, will make a one-night stop at the Thrasher-Horne Center on Jan. 12. Tickets, which started at $29, are available at thcenter.org.
The show features storytelling, video, female backup singers, a great band and 25 hit songs including, “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Superstition,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer” and “New York State of Mind.”