One of the most beloved and respected Chicago bands ever to explode onto the national scene, The Buckinghams’ live concerts pack power into 60s pop rock. Bringing back great memories with chart-topping 60s hits, The Buckinghams also perform popular 70s favorites in their sets, electrifying audiences with high-energy fun. Since 1986, original Buckinghams Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna and their band have continued to deliver fast-paced, solid shows that get crowds up on their feet to enjoy.
Their #1 song, “Kind of a Drag” is a standout favorite that first made them famous. Since then came 7 national chart hits, 15 singles, and 8 acclaimed albums. In 2008, they released 3 new CDs, signed to Fuel Records. The Buckinghams’ Giammarese and Fortuna deliver nonstop, high-energy performances that audiences appreciate and request.
When Billboard Magazine named them “The Most Listened to Band in America,” overnight, The Buckinghams became national favorites on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers’ Comedy Hour, American Bandstand, and other teen favorites. Thousands of loyal fans remain devoted today, as their hits continue to be heard on oldies radio, classic rock stations, and XM and Sirius satellite channels across the Internet.
Today’s stage act is a crowd-pleasing favorite as the band delivers a show packed with tremendous music and good humor. Audiences love The Buckinghams today as much as they first did in the 60s. Some families book vacations around their regular appearances.
With 3 songs on the Top 10 simultaneously, The Buckinghams enjoyed phenomenal success with hit singles including the powerful “Don’t You Care,” the soulful “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy,” and the national anthem of teenage love, “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song,” on the national charts simultaneously. In 1968, the Buckinghams debuted “Susan” on The Ed Sullivan Show. In concerts today, crowds still sing along, “I love you, yes I do, I do,” as audiences love knowing the words to all their songs.
From 2001-2004 The Buckinghams were part of a “Solid Gold 60s Tour” nationwide, which included Tommy James & The Shondells, The Turtles, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, and The Grass Roots. A 2004 PBS special, “Salute to the 60s” captured the excitement of those tour dates. The band has been covered on national TV on Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, and the NBC Summerfest Concerts in Chicago. Playing the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Ball was a great honor for The Buckinghams. A second honor was performing at the Bipartisan Agricultural Ball at the Presidential Inaugural festivities at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC, on January 20, 2009.
From 2008–2009, The Buckinghams released 3 new CDs—“Reaching Back”, “Standing Room Only”, and “The Joy of Christmas”, including favorite holiday standards, plus new tunes from their popular annual Christmas shows. In 2009, The Buckinghams were inducted into the prestigious Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Their 2010 DVD/CD, “Up Close”, features The Buckinghams live in concert at the Star Plaza Theatre. American Entertainment Magazine recently highlighted The Buckinghams as one of their Top 10 bands.
After a highly acclaimed 25th Anniversary reunion tour, Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna return to perform on the 2011 Happy Together Tour, as The Buckinghams join The Turtles, Mark Lindsay, The Association, and The Grass Roots for this national tour. Whatever time of year, venue, or tour, The Buckinghams deliver performances that are truly “Solid Gold”.
