Sports Editor

Polish those platform dancing shoes and press those bell

bottoms, because there will be dancing in the aisles this weekend

at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. K.C. and the

Sunshine Band best known for their hits "(Shake, Shake, Shake)

Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man" and "Get Down

Tonight" kick off the Webb, Stuckey and Lindsey Summer

Concert Series this Friday and Saturday.

The group ruled the charts and the dance floors in the mid to

late '70s, producing four number one pop singles, three of which

were number one R&B singles as well. They were the first band since

the Beatles to score four number one singles in a 12-month period.

The first hit was "Get Down Tonight," featuring the mantra "Do a

little dance, make a little love, get down tonight." "That's the Way (I

Like It)" and " Shake Your Booty"

hit number one in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Though K.C.

said he likes all of his songs, "Get Down Tonight" might just be

his favorite. "It was the first baby," said K.C., "the song that

launched it all."

K.C. got his start with Gospel music and was influenced

heavily by the Motown sound and the blues from Memphis. He spent

a lot of his time hanging out at the recording studio. "It was just

what I loved. I love all kinds of music," he said. "If I wasn't doing what

I am today, I would still be involved with the music industry

somehow."

Today, he listens to all types of music, especially what is

considered to be hot. He shies away from the disco label that seemed to

follow all of the bands from that era. "We created the beat and

rhythm that became Disco," K.C. said. " But I think that we were

always more pop and R&B. We were the forerunners of that type of

music, but we took it in different directions."

That was probably what has led to the resurgence of K.C.

There was a brief period of time where he didn't want anything to do

with the scene, but he and the Sunshine Band are back spreading

their brand of cheer. When asked about disco and dance music's

current resurgence, K.C. attributes it to the fact that "people want to

have fun again." There is plenty of K.C. fun to be had these days as

well. Rhino Records is releasing a double album of K.C. tracks and

a new album will hit stores soon, entitled "Yummy."

"'Yummy' is a more dance oriented album than we have had

in the past," K.C. said, describing the album. "It combines what

we were and what is out there now. We wanted to take it further

than we had gone before." K.C. is also planning on getting some

tracks from "Yummy" remixed, and is looking for the hottest

producers out there to do it.

All in all, it will be a busy summer for K.C. and the

Sunshine Band. They will be on the road for more than 125 days

this year and will tour solo as well as touring with such acts as Kool

and the Gang, War, and Hootie and the Blowfish. When asked

what the secrets are to having such a successful career, K.C.

answered, "You must enjoy what you're doing, never be afraid and be

kind of lucky." K.C. is all three of those and it shows in his music.

There are plenty of tickets available for K.C. and the rest of

the concert series. The entire concert series package can be

purchased for $85. The cost of tickets for one show is $21 plus a $3

handling fee. K.C. and the Sunshine Band play both Friday and

Saturday nights. The doors open at 7 p.m., Carnegie Tide opens at 8

p.m., and K.C. and the Sunshine Band are scheduled to take the stage

at 9 p.m.

For more information, call the amphitheater hot line,

770-631-0630.

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