Ron Dante, the voice behind The Archies and the Cufflinks, is putting bubblegum back into Vegas.
Ron Dante's Bubblegum Bonanza will be a feast of the Bubblegum hits the 60s and 70s including music from the 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express, The Heywoods, Andrew Gold and Alan O'Day.Dante is planning the 3-4 hour Popfest for a summer launch at the Cannery Hotel and Casino in Vegas on September 1.
"It will be one big show," he tells Undercover News. "I'll do my hits from The Archies, The Cufflinks and The Detergents. The Heywoods will act as the backing band and three guys from the 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Ohio Express will sing their hits".
The 1910 Fruitgum Company are best known for the hits 'Simon Says' and '123 Redlight'. The Ohio Express charted with 'Yummy, Yummy, Yummy' and 'Chewy, Chewy, Chewy'. Andrew Gold's songs include 'Lonely Boy' and 'Thank You For Being A Friend'. Alan O'Day had 'Skinny Girls' and 'Undercover Angel' and Bo Donaldson, out front of the Heywoods will perform 'Billy Don't Be A Hero'.
Dante's was a faceless popstar in the 60s because the face belonged to the comic book character Archie. Ron wrote and sang all of the big hits like 'Sugar, Sugar' and 'Jingle Jangle'. At the same time, his face was not so hidden when he had the hit 'Tracy' with The Cuff Links.
He was also the frontman for the novelty band The Detergents in the mid-60's and went top 10 with 'Leader of the Laundromat'. That song is expected to be a part of his set.
In the 70's, Ron turned to the role of producer and was behind the success of Barry Manilow with the songs 'Mandy', 'I Write The Songs' and 'Copacabana'. In fact, this month he has been in the studio again with Manilow working on his next album.
Ron Dante also recently completed producing a new CD for Trini Lopez. "He is ready to make a major comeback," Ron says. "He just had his 70th birthday".
