Claudia Figueroa
Orange County Fair-goers might dance to the beat of conga drums at
this year's "Hot! Hot! Hot!" salsa-themed event, but music fans from
around the county also will be shakin' to classic sounds of the past.
Beginning July 14, the fair's entertainment lineup will feature
singers and musicians ranging from Jose Feliciano to "Weird Al" Yankovic,
and Freddy Fender to Rain, a Tribute to the Beatles.
Opening the two-week concert series will be Feliciano, who hit it big
in the 1970s with "Senor Bolero" and a folk/Latin rendition of the Door's
"Light My Fire." Feliciano will perform with Electric Light Orchestra
Part II, who will play new material, as well as its 1970s and '80s hits
"Don't Bring Me Down" and the film soundtrack "Xanadu."
World Class Rockers, which will perform a variety of rock rhythms on
July 15, features former Eagles member Randy Meisner and Ron Wikso of
Foreigner.
They may look and sound like the Fab Four, but aside from
"Beatlemania," Rain, a Tribute to the Beatles, is just about as real as
it's going to get. They will play July 16.
On July 17, Jaci Velasquez will perform "On My Knees," "God So Loved,"
and songs from "Heavenly Place," which launched the 20-year-old Christian
singer's career in 1996.
Early rock 'n' roll fans will get a chance to see the Everly Brothers
perform such classic tunes as "Wake Up, Little Susie" and "Walk Right
Back" on July 18. And classic rock enthusiasts may also catch John Kay
and Steppenwolf performing the anthem "Born to Be Wild" on July 19.
This year marks a turning point for Isaac Hayes, who will perform July
20. After a short absence from the music scene, Hayes took on the role of
Chef in the animated cartoon series "South Park," for which he received
an Academy Award nomination for Best Song score.
Hayes is enjoying the resurrection of his 1970s hit "Shaft," with the
recent release of the movie sequel.
Paul Rodgers will perform blues tunes, including "Can't Get Enough of
Your Love," on July 21.
Another artist making a comeback is Taylor Dayne. The Long Island-born
pop diva will present songs from her latest album, "Naked Without You,"
on July 22.
Fender will play a mix of Tex-Mex, country, blues, Cajun and
traditional ranchero July 23.
And Yankovic returns to the fair July 24 to perform "Amish Paradise,"
"My Bologna" and other rock 'n' roll parodies.
On July 25 soap opera fans from the eighties will catch Rick
Springfield (aka Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital) take the stage with
