The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Orleans brings musical style to CNY
Orleans to perform at Oneida High School Oct. 20
ONEIDA, N.Y. >> Acclaimed and influential performers Orleans bring their blend of musical styles to the Oneida Performing Arts 2018-19 series on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7:30p.m. at the Oneida High School auditorium.
Orleans was formed in Woodstock, N.Y., in January of 1972 by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter John Hall, vocalist/guitarist/ keyboardist Larry Hoppen and drummer/percussionist Wells Kelly. In October of that year, the group expanded to include Larry’s younger brother, Lance, on bass. Drummer Jerry Marotta joined in 1976, completing the quintet.
Orleans is best known for its hits “Dance with Me” (No. 6 in 1975); “Let There Be Music;” “Reach;” “Still the One” (No. 5 in 1976); and “Love Takes Time” (No. 11 in 1979). The group’s name evolved from the music it was playing at the time of their formation, which was inspired by Louisiana artists such as Al- len Toussaint and the Neville Brothers. Orleans went about perfecting its recipe of eclectic material, including R&B seasoned with Cajun and second- line roots, as the quartet’s music evolved and refined in amore mainstream direction, and they developed their unique pop/rock
sound.
Hall and his wife, Johanna, gained notoriety when their song “Half Moon” appeared on the posthumous album “Pearl” of their friend Janis Joplin. Hall, who had recorded and toured with Taj Mahal and Seals and Crofts, decided to relocated to Woodstock, New York, to be close to Bearsville Studios and the musical scene there.
After a swing through Europe playing guitar behind Karen Dalton on a Santana tour, Hall decided to start his own band in Woodstock. Hall called his old friend Wells Kelly (son of Cornell University’s Dean of Architecture, Burnham Kelly) in Ithaca in December 1971 and asked him to join his group. Multi-instrumentalist Kelly accepted the offer on the condition that he play piano. For a brief time, the grouping consisted of Roy Markowitz on drums, Bill Gelber on bass and Kelly on electric piano. When Markowitz and Gelber left the band, Wells told John about his former bandmate from the Ithaca-based Boffalongo. Hall encouraged Kelly to call Larry Hoppen, who accepted the invitation to join the new group. Christened Orleans by Wells, in late January 1972, for months they would play as a trio, often switching instruments during the show. In October of 1972, Larry’s 17-yearold brother, Lance Hoppen, was brought into Orleansto play bass, freeing up Larry to play more guitar and key- boards. Each added to the other’s strengths, John was the most prolific songwriter while Larry supplied the lead voice for the radio hits.
Orleans found its core audience touring the clubs and college circuit of the northeastern United States, and in live collaborations with other up-and- comers such as Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, and Little Feat. Rolling Stone called Orleans “the best unrecorded band in America.” Showcase performances in New York eventually gave rise to a recording contract with the release of the eponymous debut album in the fall of 1973.
Orleans has been performing live nearly every year since 1972, always with at least half the original members. “Still The One” continues to be used for countless media commercials and movie soundtracks.
After Orleans established national radio popularity, Hall left in 1977 to pursue a solo career, as “Still the One” played ceaselessly as the ABC TV network theme song. With Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash, Hall co-founded Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) in 1979 and co-produced the Madison Square Garden concerts and Warner Brothers triple album “No Nukes.” The same activism resulted in Hall’s election to the Ulster County Legislature and Saugerties Board of Education.
While on tour in England with Meat Loaf (October 1984), Wells was found dead on the front stairs of a London flat at which he was staying. Following Wells’ untimely death, amemorial gig reunited the Hoppens with Hall. “It was with that turning point and the perspective it brought that we started to refer to our Orleans project as a perpetual ‘work in progress’,” Larry Hoppen said. Through the Halls’ connections in Nashville, the reunited lineup of John Hall, Larry Hoppen, Lance Hoppen and Bob Leinbach relocated there and cut the album “Grownup Children” (June 1986), with guest appearances from heavyweights like Chet Atkins, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Bela Fleck
The ‘90s saw the group’s double live CD anthology release, an appearance at Woodstock ‘94, and the Can’t Stop Rockin’ Tour with Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benetar in ‘95. Other highlights were the releases of both the “Analog Men” and “Ride” albums. Orleans’ “Dancin’ in the Moonlight” CD was released in 2005 to fans eager for the band’s first new studio recording in 10 years. They decided to relocate their activities back to Woodstock, N.Y., and brought in New York native Peter O’Brien on drums. Lance decided to stay in Nashville to work on sessions and writing and was no longer available for all Orleans’ gigs, so bassist Jim Curtin joined to be Lance’s sub
hen Hall announced to Larry and Lance in late 2005 that he intended to run for Congress, no one was surprised. All three made contingency plans: Orleans would play showswith Hall, as schedules allowed, while simultaneously reintegrating Dennis “Fly” Amero, who had played guitar when Hall went solo ear- lier on. During his 2006 bid for a US Congressional seat, Hall still appeared with the group on rare occasions. On Nov. 7, 2006, Hall was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from the state of New York. He was reelected in 2008. Hall then went on to serve two terms (2007-2010) as a U.S. Representative (D-19) as Amero carved out his permanent place in the band, joining youngest Hoppen brother, Lane, on keyboards and drummer Charlie Morgan (best known for his many years with Elton John).
On July 24, 2012, at his home in Sanford, Fla., Larry Hoppen succumbed to long-standing illness. Orleans honored his memory by keeping on keeping on. With the return to the fold of John Hall, Orleans committed itself to finishing the 2012 calendar of scheduled performances. That mission ended in Nashville, Tenn., with an “Orleans & Friends” fundraising concert to benefit Larry’s children.
Therewere repeat performances in both Washington, DC (in support of DCCC) and in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (fundraising for the Nana Baby Home, the orphanage there). Also there were several memorial concerts performed in Larry’s honor: a free show at SteelStacks, a memorial show at the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, where Bob Leinbach sang “Forever” in memory of Larry. Orleans has made the decision to carry on with a lineup consisting of: John Hall, Dennis “Fly” Amero, Charlie Morgan and Lance and Lane Hoppen.
Songs composed bymembers have been covered by James Brown, James Taylor, Chet Atkins, Bonnie Raitt, The Fifth Dimension, Bela Fleck, Linda Ronstadt, Oak Ridge Boys, Barbara Mandrell, Bobby McFerrin, Ricky Skaggs, Janis Joplin, Steve Wariner and numerous other notable artists. Members have sung and/or played on records by Michael Franks, Graham Parker, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, Ricky Skaggs, Bonnie Raitt, Planet 9, Robbie Dupree, Blues Traveler and many other artists. They have, in turn, had Michael Brecker, Blue Mitchell, Chet Atkins, Linda Ronstadt, Warren. Bernhardt, Bela Fleck, W Tony Levin and many others help out on their albums.
Tickets are $40. Formore information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.oneidaperformingarts.com or call 315-363-7064.