Filipino fans of the original Cascades must be delighted that they would be hearing the group’s hit compositions live from one of the founding members of the group, John Claude Gummoe, when he performs, together with Charles “Chuck” Crews and their band at the Heritage Hotel ballroom on Oct. 7. They will have for special guest John Ford Coley.

Another Cascades concert will be staged at the Pagcor Grand Theater in Sucat, Parañaque on Oct. 17, this time with Terry Sylvester as special guest performer.

In the Cascades’ website (which was long in coming but finally their presence on the web has been established), Gummoe said there had been groups claiming to be The Cascades.

“It has been said that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery,” Gummoe declared. “Still when we re-appeared on the concert scene in 2004, we were amused to find there were other groups claiming to be The Cascades who take credit for our compositions and recordings.”

The Cascades is the group behind the multi-million selling hit “Rhythm Of The Rain” in 1963. The song, along with another hit “There’s A Reason” which was their first single, were both written by Gummoe. These songs were included in the group’s first album which also featured their other well-loved hit songs “Shy Girl,” “The Last Leaf,” “Angel On My Shoulder,” and “Dreamin’.”

Cascades’ origin

In 1960, Gummoe was recruited by the Silver Strands, a group of US Navy personnel serving on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) based in San Diego, California. The group later became The Thundernotes, with Gummoe (lead vocalist), Eddie Snyder (guitarist), David Szabo (keyboards), Dave Stevens (bassist) and Dave Wilson (drummer).

Influenced by The Beach Boys, they became more interested in vocal harmony and recorded demos which ended up with Phil Spector at Valiant Records, a subsidiary of Warner Brothers who signed them up and also changed their name to The Cascades – supposedly inspired by a nearby box of detergent!

The group’s first release, “There’s A Reason,” became a small regional hit, and, in the summer of 1962 they went to Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California and recorded a song which Gummoe has written in his Navy days while on watch during a thunderstorm.

“Rhythm Of The Rain” rose to No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1963, and became a major hit in over 80 countries. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a Gold Disc.

Gummoe left the group in 1967 to pursue a solo career and later formed the band Kentucky Express. In 1999, a compilation CD of The Cascades best moments was issued. That same year, performing rights organization BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) announced the “Top 100 Songs of the Century” to receive airplay on radio and television in the US, with “Rhythm Of The Rain” as No. 9.

Presenting the Original Cascades Concerts this month are GMA-7, QTV 11, RJ100.3 FM and Steve O’Neal Productions in collaboration with Heritage Hotel (official residence of the group), Zest Air (official airline), PCSO, Business Mirror, Hard Rock Café, SM Supermalls, IFM, Wave 89.1, 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9 and Jam 88.3.

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Furne One in an exclusive show

Local budding designers, fashion design students and fashionistas will get the chance to see up close the extraordinary creations of international Filipino designer Furne One when he holds a special fashion show on Oct. 10, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

The show will feature One’s latest collection “War and Roses” presented at his first Philippine gala show entitled “First of One – A Fashion Presentation by Furne One” held the night before. One’s collection features lavish and intricately designed creations inspired by Queen Elizabeth I.

Since relocating to Dubai more than 10 years ago, One has successfully captured the hearts of the fashion elite in the Middle Eastern country with his imaginative, dazzling and over-the-top creations. His unique style has also been recognized by some of the fashion industry’s top names, most notably by supermodel Heidi Klum who asked him to design for the season finale of her shows, “Germany’s Next Top Model.”

At the recently held London Fashion Week, he became the first Filipino to present his creations in the event.

One’s exclusive show in Manila is presented by Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Kaye Tinga for the benefit of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Kapit Bisig Para Sa Ilog Pasig.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Oct. 6, go to the Queen of Jazz Annie Brazil, Ma. Victoria Araneta-Concepcion, Lou Bonnevie, Susan Joven, Elena Chiongbian Young, Marivic Tengco, Carmen Dy-Liacco, Rosario Agustin, Jiggy Cruz, Cory Gayon, Lilibeth Josue, Elena Dizer, Dona Rosatio Sevillano Aclan, Sonia Domingo Sadsad, Chef Joey Carbon, Letty M. Talag, and Justice Mila German… Happy wedding anniversary to Manny and Lulu Geslani...