The Spinners to headline Soul Fest

The Spinners will headline the 2012 River City Soul Fest set for Aug. 17 and 18 at Festival Park on Peoria's riverfront.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame quintet of R&B artists will perform Saturday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.etix.com, at all area Co-Op Record stores and at the RiverFront Visitors Center.

On Friday Aug. 17 nationally known Gospel artists Isaac Caree and Byron Cage will perform. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate.

Also available that night will be a pre-show meet-and-greet with Byron Cage with seating in a special section for $30. Those tickets are available online only at www.etix.com.

Most often thought of as a Motown recording act, The Spinners have universal appeal. Throughout the years they have sold millions of records and topped both the Pop and R&B charts with smash hits like "I'll Be Around" and "Then Came You."

Today, original members Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough are joined onstage by lead singer Charlton Washington, high tenor Marvin Taylor, bass singer Jessie Peck and a soul-infused 5-piece band.

The Spinners have six Grammy nominations and have performed twice during the awards ceremony. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, they have also been awarded the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Award for their contribution to R & B. The group has performed for presidents, received a star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame," and has appeared in numerous network and cable television specials paying tribute to the music of the 70's.

River City Soul Fest was started in 1999 as a way to provide a unique event that celebrates African-American culture and heritage.

The event is sponsored by Power 92.3, WVEL-AM 1140, Caterpillar Inc., the Par-A-Dice Hotel/Casino, Comcast, PBC, Budweiser, Illinois Central College, Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Peoria Progressive Golf Club and the Journal Star.

About the Author

Paul Gordon is the editor of The Peorian after spending 29 years of indentured servitude at the Peoria Journal Star. He’s an award-winning writer, raconteur and song-and-dance man. He also went to a high school whose team name is the Alices (that’s Vincennes Lincoln High School in Indiana; you can look it up).