As I have become older, I've realized that life is short and that I had better have some fun while I can enjoy it. For over 30 years, I've had my nose to the grindstone creating ad campaigns for clients. My specialty has been TV, but also created radio, print, and web sites for clients throughout North America. I've done well and still create TV for select clients. While I enjoy helping businesses become successful, I've rediscovered a passion I thought was long gone.
During the 60's I was lead singer in a rock 'n roll band known as The Invictas. The band became popular, there were fan clubs, police escorts and we shocked parents with a song and dance that made the charts. The song was called "The Hump." We were considered the bad boys of rock 'n roll in upstate NY, and drove a 1955 Cadillac hearse with racing stripes and our name was painted on the sides. Our events were attended by thousands of fans.
A few years ago, I was visiting the drummer of the band, Dave Hickey and his wife Marilyn in Rochester, NY. After dinner we visited a blues bar for some drinks. A band was playing there and heard that Dave and I were in the crowd. They invited us to do a song with them. I sang one song and the crowd started yelling for us to play "The Hump." That became my 'Blues Brothers moment.' I went up to Dave and said, "we have to put the band back together." No one ever thought it would really happen and I did not know if I could do it.
It took over 6 months to find band members and practice. The band was based in Rochester, NY and I live in Charlotte, NC so I was investing a lot of time flying in for practice. The first weekend we played we were all concerned. Would anyone show up, did anyone care that we had the band back together? To our surprise, the bar was packed and the band was off and running.
The band is now over 45 years old, and we know there's a limited window as to how long we have to play, but we are out there rocking and plan to continue for as long as we can. We have three of the original band members on stage, and we're all in our 60's. Jim Kohler plays bass, Dave Hickey is on drums, we picked up our former lead guitarist- Dave Profeta, on keyboards we have Sammy Gruttadauria, on guitar Dick Calarri, I also play guitar, sing and go out into the crowd to dance and have fun. We are not your typical old rock 'n roll band.
Since reuniting a few years ago, we have played with The Beach Boys, been on the Today Show, been featured in USA Today and in papers across the country. We are doing interviews on the radio and rocking thousands at festivals and events. Most important, we are inspiring others to believe that they can also follow their dreams and passion like the band is doing.
I invite you to have some fun and visit the band's web site at: www.theinvictas.com
Since starting the band, I have been inspired to write a book about the band entitled Rock Till Ya Drop, we recorded a song with the same name, and now I want to create a TV show that travels to the biggest parties in America. The show would share the fun of what others are doing, The Invictas would rock the crowd, I would interview other classic rockers and show and that no matter how old or young you are, you are never too old to rock.
So get out there, rediscover your passion have fun and Rock Till Ya Drop! Ther's also a web site: www.rocktillyadrop.com
If you know of a huge party where people want to dance and have fun e-mail me at: herb@herbgross.com
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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