PCPA to be ‘Groovin’ Saturday with a musical legend

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts will be the home of a musical legend for one night only at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals will be performing a concert, featuring many of Cavaliere’s famous songs, including “Groovin’,” “Good Lovin’,” “Beautiful Morning,” “How Can I Be Sure,” and “People Got To Be Free.”

Tickets are $48 for adults and $14 for youth 18 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets are available at box office, 15498 Espola Road, or online at powayarts.org.

The concert will cover Cavaliere’s 50 years in the music business. “It’s hard to believe it’s been that long,” said Cavaliere. “(I’m trying to) bring back the feeling of the time period, bring a little mood to the people. It’s going to be a fun show.”

Cavaliere, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and member of the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame, is best known for his band The Young Rascals in the 1960s. Despite being in his 70s now, Cavaliere is still going strong, writing music and touring the country with Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals.

“Most people I know who have been in the business a long time, they’re still in it because they really love it,” said Cavaliere. “They get into (the music business) because they enjoy and love it. It’s nice to say that I still haven’t lost that lovin’ feeling (for performing).”

Cavaliere has been based out of Nashville since the late ‘80s, where he writes and records music when he isn’t touring.

“Nashville is like the Los Angeles for music,” he said. “People who live there have the desire to be in the (music) business. They have that dream.”

Cavaliere said he went to Nashville to have a look, and kept seeing musicians he knew who lived and worked there.

“It’s not just country music,” he said.

He tours about two-thirds of the year, and writes during the rest, both for himself and with others.

“I’ve been working with younger (music) writers lately. They have a creative process that really inspires me,” said Cavaliere. “Younger musicians have a very different experience (in the music industry) than I did.”

Cavaliere said he admired how younger musicians “couldn’t be deterred” in their dreams of becoming musicians.

“They have such a drive,” he said. “They love it so much.”

Though navigating the changing music industry isn’t always easy, Cavaliere said one change he’s happy about is being able to record albums from your home.

“It’s very exciting for me to be able to make an album in a house rather than a professional studio,” he said. “It’s amazing what can be done in a house these days.”

He said he also still enjoys touring, and is looking forward to performing in Poway. “I haven’t performed in the San Diego area often, but I wish I could come out more,” he said. “I’m looking forward to visiting because I have relatives (in the area).”

Audience members should come ready to sing along, because Cavaliere encourages it. “I love audience participation,” he said. “I want them to sing along. It’s great to see and hear them. I want to create a mood where (the audiences wants) to dance. If they don’t, I’ve failed.”