November 19, 2004

Motown-style Holiday Hop to provide spirited start to season

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Cornell Gunter's Coasters, Elsbeary Hobbs Drifters and The Marvelettes will perform a Holiday Hop at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette.

The groups will sing classic holiday songs and hits, including "Charlie Brown," "Love Potion #9," "There Goes My Baby," "This Magic Moment," "Please Mr. Postman" and "Beechwood 4-5789." The show is being presented by Purdue Convocations.

The Coasters were the first vocal group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Since their first record was recorded in 1956, the Coasters have sold more than 100 million records and appeared in six major movies.

The Drifters first began performing in 1958. With exception of his time spent in military service, Elsbeary Hobbs led the Drifters from 1958 until his death in 1996. Under Hobbs's leadership, the Drifters performed for three presidents, at the U.S. Constitution's 200th Anniversary Good Will Tour of Russia, on three nation television networks and in concert venues around the globe. Hobbs's wife, Odessa, reunited the group as Elsbeary Hobbs Drifters to continue the musical passion of her late husband.

The Marvelettes changed the sound of Motown with their first album "Please, Mr. Postman." The song "Please, Mr. Postman" quickly became a No. 1 hit and album sales exceeded 3 million. Over time the Marvelettes members have changed, occasionally having more than three members, but the group prides itself on staying true to the orchestrated harmonic sound of the original.

Tickets are $20 for students and children and $28 for adults. Ticket price includes a $1.50 service fee. Tickets are on sale now at any campus box office by calling (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW, or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

CONTACT: Katie Hutton, Purdue Convocations marketing director, (765) 494-5045, krhutton@purdue.edu

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