ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES CHANGES
TO ESSEX COUNTY FREE 2003 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Essex County is Ready to Host Legendary Recording Artists
Lesley Gore to perform on Monday, Aug. 18th;
The Famous Shirelles to Take the Stage on Tuesday, Aug. 19th;
Gary U.S. Bonds Cancels Essex County Appearance
Newark, NJ – The persistent rainy weather has forced the cancellation of several
performances in the Essex County Free 2003 Summer Concert Series, but
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that new concert
dates have been set.
DiVincenzo thanked singing legend Lesley Gore, famous for her 1963 smash hit
“It’s My Party,” for rescheduling her performance for Monday, August 18 th and for
The Famous Shirelles to agree to perform in an added concert for Tuesday,
August 19th. Despite Rock n’ Roller Gary U.S. Bonds had to cancel his
rescheduled visit to Essex County because of new date conflicts.
The new dates that have been added to the concert series are as follows:
 Lesley Gore: Monday, August 18th, 7:30 p.m., Brookdale
Park, Bloomfield/Montclair.
 The Famous Shirelles: Tuesday, August 19th, 7:30 p.m.,
Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair.
The County Executive invited the public to attend the concerts and enjoy a
relaxing evening in Essex County’s Brookdale Park. The Essex County 2003
Free Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Lesley Gore has more than two dozen hits to her credit, including “Judy’s Turn to
Cry,” “She’s A Fool,” “That’s The Way Boys Are” and “You Don’t Own Me.” “It’s
My Party” catapulted her to fame at the age of 16 and she recorded 17 hits from
1963 to 1967 on the Mercury label. She has expanded her successful career as
a songwriter and actress. She has earned an Oscar nomination for co-writing the
song “Out Her On My Own” for the movie “Fame” with her brother, Michael Gore.
Her acting credits include portraying herself on “The Donna Reed Show” and as
Catwoman’s sidekick on “Batman.”
The Famous Shirelles came together as school girls in New Jersey and have
been performing for more than three decades. Recognized as Rock n’ Roll’s first
female supergroup, their long string of hits includes “Soldier Boy,” “Will You Still
Love Me Tomorrow,” “Dedicated to the One I Love” and “Mama Said.” The
Famous Shirelles also have achieved several milestones: They are the first
female group to sell a million records, they were the first group to headline an
integrated show in Alabama and they were the first pop act to record a radio
commercial for Coca-Cola. Their lasting appeal is so strong they continue to be
heard daily on a wide variety of radio formats and featured in scores of films and
television shows.
Singer and songwriter Gary U.S. Bonds cancelled his Aug. 18th performance
because of new scheduling conflicts. Bonds originally was scheduled to perform
earlier this month before rain forced a cancellation and had rescheduled his
concert for Aug. 18th.
Anyone who requires special accommodations or assistance are asked to notify
the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs about their
needs prior to the concert. There is a $2 donation for on-site parking at
Brookdale Park.
The program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State
Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National
Endowment for the Arts, and Presenting Sponsor Commerce Bank. For more
information about the concert, call the Essex County Division of Cultural and
Historic Affairs at 973-268-3500 Ext. 4.
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