NOTE: This show has been postponed to March 12, 2021.
Little River Band returns to Southwest Florida March 25 when they play the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW in Fort Myers.
Through the ‘70s and ‘80s, LRB enjoyed huge chart success with multi-platinum albums and chart topping hits like “Reminiscing,” “Cool Change,” “Lonesome Loser,” “The Night Owls,” “Take It Easy On Me,” “Help Is on Its Way,” “Happy Anniversary,” “We Two,” “Man On Your Mind,” “The Other Guy” and “It’s A Long Way There.”
Worldwide album and CD sales now top 30 million. And in 1982, LRB set a record for having had Top 10 hits for six consecutive years – In fact, they were the very first band to achieve that remarkable plateau. According to BMI, “Reminiscing” has garnered rare status with over 5 million air plays on American radio, and “Lady” is close behind with over 4 million air plays.
Today, Little River Band is Wayne Nelson on lead vocals/bass, Chris Marion on keyboards/vocals, Rich Herring on lead guitar/vocals, Ryan Ricks on drums/percussion/vocals and Colin Whinnery on guitar/lead vocals.
In 2020, Wayne Nelson (a former SW Florida resident) is observing a 40-year affiliation with the band. In 1981, Nelson was recognized by world renowned Beatles producer Sir George Martin whom, while producing Time Exposure, chose Nelson to record lead vocals on two of the band’s biggest hits, “The Night Owls” and “Take It Easy On Me.” To date, Nelson’s vocal and bass guitar talents are included on 23 Little River Band albums/CDs.
Looking back on the past 40 years, Nelson said most likely his predominant memory is a concert on his 30th birthday (June 1, 1980). It was a stadium show in Munich, Germany, in front of 125,000 people. The concert also included Fleetwood Mac, Bob Marley and Don McLean. A cold, windy and rainy day, the skies parted for about an hour while LRB took the stage, recalls Nelson.
Nelson says he and his band mates enjoy meeting fans after each show (something they do nearly every time) and hearing about the memories and meeting the multi-generational audiences for which they perform.
Besides Nelson’s 40th year, 2020 marks his 20th wedding anniversary to his wife and the 45th anniversary of Little River Band.
LRB last played Mann Hall on Feb. 15, 2019. In December of 2017, Happenings Magazine brought three members of the band along with Nelson’s wife, Rhonda, (an author), to downtown Fort Myers for an intimate evening entitled Stories and Songs: From the Road. That event was held at the Barrel Room and sold out.
Little River Band has at least 70 dates on their 2020 concert schedule so far. Nelson says this year’s tour schedule is expected to grow quite a bit. Other Florida concert dates in 2020 are Fort Lauderdale on March 26, Daytona Beach on March 27, Pensacola on July 9 and Port St. Lucie on Nov. 14.
For tickets to the March 25 Southwest Florida concert, visit www.bbmannpah.com
photos by Jamie Kuser
