Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Saturday, January 23, 2016, 8:00 PM

In 1995, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford, two of the original members of Creedence Clearwater Revival, launched the Creedence Clearwater Revisited project. The band performs live for audiences all over the world who love the music of CCR. Their shows are vibrant and exhilarating. Although they may not have intended it, Creedence Clearwater Revisited has taken on an interesting life of its own.

Surprisingly, the members of CCR did not grow up south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Clifford, Cook, and John Fogerty met in a junior high school near San Francisco, California, and formed a trio known as The Blue Velvets.  The band played standards and provided backing for Fogerty's older brother, Tom. In 1964 they signed up with Fantasy Records, a jazz label, and changed the band’s name to The Golliwoggs.

In 1966, Doug Clifford  and John Fogerty received their draft notices. Since they weren’t the sons of any Senator, they couldn’t escape the draft. Fogerty joined the Army Reserve and Clifford joined the Coast Guard Reserve. In 1968, the band changed its name yet again, to Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). According to Wikipedia, the name can be attributed to three sources:

• Tom Fogerty's friend Credence Newball
• A television commercial for Olympia beer ("clear water")
• The four members' renewed commitment to their band.

Some considered the name a tad weirder than Buffalo Springfield or Jefferson Airplane. Other names that the band considered were Muddy Rabbit and Gossamer Wump.

In 1968, Doug Clifford and John Fogerty received their discharges from military service. With Tom Fogerty and Stu Cook, they began an intense schedule of rehearsing and performing at nightclubs. CCR’s debut album included the song Susie Q which received substantial airplay in San Francisco and Chicago.  

In 1969, CCR began touring and worked on their second album, Bayou Country, at RCA Studios in Los Angeles. That record was their first in an incredible string of hit albums and hit singles over the next three years. Bad Moon Rising peaked at No. 2.  Proud Mary also reached No. 2 and it became the group's most-covered song. Ike and Tina Turner’s unforgettable version came out in 1971 and reached number 4.

Later in 1969, CCR released its third album, Green River. The title song reached No. 2. CCR toured a lot, including performances at the Atlanta Pop Festival and Woodstock. After Woodstock, CCR released its fourth album, Willy and the Poor Boys. Down on the Corner reached No. 3 and Fortunate Son reached No. 14.

1969 was a remarkable year for CCR. They had three Top Ten albums and four hit singles. Capping off the year, they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on November 16, 1969. In February of 1970, CCR was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. Run Through the Jungle reached No. 4. Later that year, they had another big hit with Have You Ever Seen the Rain? The single's flip side, Hey Tonight, was also a hit.

Members of CCR parted ways in 1972, and they never formally reunited. Surprisingly, the group never had a No. 1 hit. However, they did make their musical mark.  In 1993, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Creedence Clearwater Revival, which disbanded in 1972, was progressive and anachronistic at the same time. An unapologetic throwback to the golden era of rock and roll, they broke ranks with their peers on the progressive, psychedelic San Francisco scene. Their approach was basic and uncompromising, holding true to the band members' working-class origins. The term 'roots rock' had not yet been invented when Creedence came along, but in a real way they defined it, drawing inspiration from the likes of Little Richard, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and the artisans of soul at Motown and Stax. In so doing, Creedence Clearwater Revival became the standard bearers and foremost celebrants of homegrown American music." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Get tickets to see Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

Coming Soon to the Thrasher-Horne Center

Thodos Dance Chicago presents A Light in the Dark:
The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, Thursday, January 28^th.

Thodos Dance Chicago was founded in 1992 by Artistic Director, Melissa Thodos, as a hub for dancers to grow, not only as performers, but as well-rounded dance artists. The company’s unique mission of inspiring expression through dance education, dance creation, and dance performance has established TDC as an original force in modern dance.

TDC will present a touring production of A Light in the Dark: The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater On Thursday, January 28^th. This inspiring story ballet explores how a caring teacher helped guide a blind and deaf girl into a career as an internationally acclaimed writer and political activist.

Choreographed by Melissa Thodos and Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, this performance is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. As part of the Dance Touring Initiative program, South Arts awarded three regional touring grants to Thrasher-Horne Center.

Two of these grants were completed in 2015 with the Eisenhower Dance Company in February and Koresh Dance Company in April. A Light in the Dark is the third Dance Touring Initiative grant. South Arts strengthens the South through advancing excellence in the arts, connecting the arts to key state and national policies, and nurturing a vibrant quality of life.

Get tickets to see A Light in the Dark.

Gladius Flamenco Guitar in Thrasher-Horne Center Cabaret Theater Sunday, January 31 at 4:00 p.m.

In an era when expertise and originality are often overlooked in lieu of fleeting flash and flare, Gladius defines innovation as a composer and mastery as an instrumentalist—perpetually pushing the boundaries of his Baroque-Ethnic-Metal fusion: on both the classical and electric guitar.

Inspired by the great composers, Spanish guitar maestros, and much more, this musical mad scientist fuses the elements into a refreshing formula—evoking the Spanish spirit, yet distinctly unorthodox, mixing influences ranging from classical to rock and beyond. 

Annie, Thursday, February 4^th, and Friday, February 5^th  

The world's best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original Lyricist and Director Martin Charnin and Choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of ANNIE will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original.

Featuring book and score by Tony Award® winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE includes such unforgettable songs as It's the Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don't Need Anything But You, plus the eternal anthem of optimism, Tomorrow.

"Spectacular on every count." Newsweek

ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE, Friday, Feb. 12^th,
and Saturday, February 13^th

This play is based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger. The story comes complete with true emotion, and down home country humor. With 27 songs in the show, it includes many of Patsy's unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams, and Walkin' After Midnight. ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE was Written and Originally Directed by Ted Swindley.

Melissa Etheridge: This is M.E. Solo
Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Melissa Etheridge has won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. On February 17^th, she will take the stage at Thrasher-Horne Center to perform songs from her new album, This is M.E., as well as some of her greatest hits like Come to My Window, I'm The Only One, and I Want To Come Over. Known for her iconic voice, profound lyrics, and riveting stage presence, Melissa will share personal stories about her remarkable journey through life and the inspiration behind some of her most beloved songs.

Moscow Festival Ballet presents The Sleeping BeautySunday, February 21^st, at 3:00 p.m.

Marius Petipa is widely regarded as the most influential ballet master and choreographer in ballet history. The Sleeping Beauty was the crowning jewel of his legendary career, and it is often considered the finest achievement of the Classical ballet. The ballet is based on Charles Perrault's well-known fairy tale. Tchaikovsky, one of the greatest composers of them all, wrote the music.

The Sleeping Beauty has been produced many times all over the world. On Sunday, February 21^st, The Moscow Festival Ballet will perform The Sleeping Beauty at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater. The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 when Sergei Radchenko, legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, sought to create an independent new company which would bring together the highest classical elements of the Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies.

This performance of The Sleeping Beauty promises to be enchanting and magical.

Buy tickets to The Sleeping Beauty

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In this article, I’ve written about the upcoming performance of Creedence Clearwater Revisited. at the Thrasher-Horne Center Theater. I’ve also noted other upcoming performances, including A Light in the Dark, The Sleeping Beauty, Gladius Flamenco Guitar, and Melissa Etheridge. 

Tickets for these events and others are on sale now
on the Thrasher-Horne Center’s website.

The Thrasher-Horne Center is one of the nicest venues of its type in Northeast Florida. From concerts by renowned artists, to live theater, to dance, to magic and other fantastic shows, you can see it all at the Thrasher Horne-Center! 

Spread the word about one of Northeast Florida’s best kept secrets! Tell your family and friends about the Thrasher-Horne Center. People will appreciate learning about what they have been missing.

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