[WATCH] The boys are back for one night only

Does the 1968 recording of the Staccatos hit Cry To Me take you back in time? Fifty years later and ‘the boys are back’ to bring it back to life for one night only at The Barnyard at Silverstar! The Staccatos Revival Show will take audiences on a trip down memory lane and all the way to today.

Many South Africans fondly recall the days of happy Springbok Radio listening, so get ready for the nostalgic show of all time. The show takes place on Saturday, 3 August at 8pm.

The band was formed by Brian Le Gassick in 1961, while he was studying. During 1962 and 1963, the band played many sessions and other gigs around Johannesburg and the Reef.

In the latter part of 1963, a competition was organised where they became known as the Beatles Of South Africa, and the band played with many other groups at cinemas on the East Rand, throughout Johannesburg and also on the West Rand. All the competing bands would appear before interval and the main feature movie. This culminated in the finals, featuring four bands at the Colosseum Theatre in Johannesburg in April of 1964.

The Staccatos won and part of the prize was a recording contract with EMI.

Come back silly girl entered the charts on 17 December 1965 and reached the number two position on the Springbok Hit Parade.

The song put the band on the map, as this was also their first chart-topper.

The Staccatos entered the Springbok Radio hit parade in August 1968 with the Terry Dempsey composition Butchers and Bakers. ‘B&B’ spent 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at number two. A few months later Billy Forrest took them into the studio and recorded Cry to me.

The song went to number one, and spent 38 weeks on the chart during 1969. No other local or international hit featured on the Springbok Radio Hit Parade could ever improve on this exceptional chart run of 38 weeks. The song’s popularity surged after the Staccatos performed the song live in the controversial movie, Katrina.

They were the first band in SA to receive four Gold Records for Cry to me, for sales in excess of 400 000 at the time. The band also received a Sarie Award in 1970 as Top Beat Group.

The band disbanded at the end of 1999. To this day, though, most radio stations still play this monster hit, and it’s a crowd favourite at any function.

The cast bring their production to the stage, sharing a unique repertoire filled with magical solos and a flow of duets in harmony.

The band features the legendary founder, Brian (guitar and vocals) and the phenomenal Steve Ashley (a former lead vocalist of the Staccatos on vocals again) with a four-piece supporting band consisting of keyboards, saxophone and vocals, drums, bass guitar and a lead guitarist.

The show has it all – beautiful melodies, lyrics filled with nostalgia and arrangements that will give you chills. Famous old songs and new stories will keep the audience spellbound.

Tickets cost R150 and are available at https://www.barnyardtheatre.co.za.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lxWQtmmJdE