SUN CITY – Remember “Love Letters in the Sand?” “Why Baby Why,” “April Love,” and “Speedy Gonzales?”
They were among 18 Dot Label hits that Pat Boone recorded on his way to becoming one of the top, all-time musical record-sellers of the 20th century. The singer, actor, and writer, now 79, is coming to Sun City this fall.
“Early this year, one of [Boone’s] representatives contacted us,” O’Connor said. “He said the singer was coming to the Chicago area and was looking for venues. He asked to see our Drendel Ballroom facility. After he did, he made the booking.”
His two scheduled concerts on Oct. 16 have sparked the earliest ticket-sale effort by the CAM staff and are the biggest ticket events in Sun City history, priced at $38. The crooner will present concerts at 1 and 7 p.m. that day, and a meet-and-greet session is offered for $18 more. The golden-voiced crooner’s career spans nearly 60 years and includes 50 years of hits and 50 million records sold.
Sun Citians have been buzzing about his appearances ever since they were announced earlier this year.
On July 8, despite heavy rain and a torn-up Prairie Lodge parking lot, over 40 residents showed up in the Fountain View Center atrium and bought more than 150 tickets by 8 a.m. when sales opened at the CAM desk.
To make sure they got their tickets early, residents began showing up shortly after the lodge opened at 6:30 a.m. Everyone had to take a number, and Lifestyles Director Cynthia O’Connor called out the numbers. Residents were permitted to buy four tickets per household, and many took advantage to buy tickets for their friends, family members, and neighbors. The first 150 (approximate) tickets were gobbled up in 45 minutes.
“I’m running a bunch of errands this morning, but this is my first, because I go to all the CAM events, especially the ones involving area bands and entertainers,” resident Ken Kendzora said. “I’m also getting tickets for an upcoming Moods concert and for another one by the Voyage, where Larry Mann (CAM director of building services) plays the bass.”
As the group waited, the Fountain View atrium turned into a meeting of long-time Boone groupies.
“I’m making sure I don’t miss this for the world,” resident Mary Ann Karl said. “I had the privilege of meeting him when I was a stewardess for United Airlines in 1963, 50 years ago. Pat Boone was on our flight, and I served and talked with him. I got his autograph, and he was very pleasant and nice. I hope I can see him at the meet-and-greet and find out if he remembers that flight.”
Karl arrived at the lodge and waited for more than an hour to get a ticket.
The first arrival was probably Dennis Perkey, at 5:45 a.m.
“I’ve come here for my wife, who is a big fan,” he said. “She wanted me to be sure and get here early.”
Bonnie Bayser, president of the CAM board and a singer herself in the Prairie Singers, said: “I hope he wears his trademark white bucks and vest when he comes here.”
“I saw him recently with his daughter, Debbie, on T.V.,” resident Larry Nastala said. “They were doing infomercials for something. He’s almost 80, but he looks like he has hardly aged. He takes me back to my teen and kid years.”
“I’m buying tickets for the matinee, in case he falls asleep before the evening show,” resident Carol Michael joked. “I thought he’d be retired by now.”
“Pat Boone is one of my two all-time favorite singers,” resident Rita Wiedenfeld said. “The other one is Elvis.”
