77th Annual San Mateo County Fair Announces Celebrity Concert Line-Up Featuring Air Supply, The Four Tops, WAR, Tower of Power, Grand Funk Railroad and Pablo Cruise

(SAN MATEO, Calif.) –The San Mateo County Fair where “Innovation Meets Tradition” announces the 2011 renowned free entertainment series scheduled to perform nightly with a celebrity roster at the San Mateo County Fair, June 11‐19, 2011. All shows start at 7:30 P.M. and concerts are free with admission. Fairgoers are encouraged to purchase season ticket passes for huge savings and attend all concerts.

This year’s Fair is proud to announce the 2011 entertainment lineup: Air Supply, The Four Tops, WAR, Tower of Power, Grand Funk Railroad and Pablo Cruise. Bay Area legends of soul and R&B music, Tower of Power will return to the San Mateo County Fair by popular demand to perform two nights back‐to‐back! Playing hits such as “What Is Hip” and “You’re Still a Young Man,” the group keeps the Bay Area coming back for more amazing tunes. And in concert mix of brass, funk and harmony they’re a sure fire performance that will take the night away.

For more information and to purchase season ticket passes visit http://www.sanmateocountyfair.com

The following bands will be playing on the dates and times below on the Main Stage. Shows start at 7:30. Limited seating is available.

Air Supply
It is quiet and still in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. At Woodland Magic, his home studio high on a ridge near Park City, Graham Russell, along with his music partner Russell Hitchcock, is hard at work on the new Air Supply album. Of course, “work” may be too dreary a term; for Graham and Russell, making music is nothing less than pure joy, and has been for over a quarter century. Best known for their towering love ballads, Graham and Russell are the first to point out that with every album, Air Supply seeks to break new musical ground. That is certainly, and strikingly, true on their new Reprise Records release Yours Truly. Performance date and time: Saturday, June 11th at 7:30p.m.


The Four Tops
In 1954, at a high school party in Detroit, Stubbs, Fakir, Benson and Payton were urged by partygoers to provide some impromptu entertainment. The synergy was obvious, immediate and strong. The quartet decided to start performing, and called themselves The Four Aims (Aiming for the Top). The group’s popularity grew as they performed at small clubs all over Detroit, honing their act while singing jazz and standards. So as not to be confused with the Ames Brothers, The Four Aims changed the name of their group to the Four Tops and recorded their first hit single, “Kiss Me Baby, “ with Chess Records in 1956.
Performance date and time: Sunday, June 12th at 7:30p.m.



WAR
Singer/keyboardist, Lonnie Jordan is best known as a founding member of WAR. One of the most popular funk groups of the ’70s, WAR were also one of the most eclectic, freely melding soul, Latin, jazz, blues, reggae, and rock influences into an effortlessly funky whole. Although WAR’s lyrics were sometimes political in nature (in keeping with their racially integrated lineup), their music almost always had a sunny, laid-back vibe emblematic of their Southern California roots. WAR kept the groove loose, and they were given over to extended jamming -- in fact, many of their studio songs were edited together out of longer improvisations. Even if the jams sometimes got indulgent, they demonstrated WAR’S truly group-minded approach: no one soloist or vocalist really stood above the others (even though all were clearly talented), and their grooving interplay placed WAR in the top echelon of funk ensembles.
Performance date and time: Tuesday, June 14th at 7:30p.m.

Tower of Power
Always inspired by soul and R&B music, Tower of Power formed in the Oakland area of California in 1968. The ten-member Tower of Power’s first album was the 1970 release, EAST BAY GREASE for Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records. The group’s hits included "What Is Hip?” (1973), “You’re Still A Young Man” (1972), “Soul Vaccination” (1973), “Don’t Change Horses (In the Middle Of the Stream)” (1974) and “So Very Hard to Go” (1973). The group continues to play 200 dates all over the world, every year. When not on the road, Tower of Power’s horn section guests on albums for quite a range of other artists, including recordings for Elton John, Phish, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, Little Feat, Smokey Robinson, Bonnie Raitt, and David Sanborn.
Performance date and time: Wednesday, June 15th and Thursday June 16th at 7:30p.m.


Grand Funk Railroad
Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the ’70s is “COMIN’ TO YOUR TOWN TO HELP YOU PARTY IT DOWN.” Grand Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring in 2011 marking a 42-year milestone. After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours from 1996 to 2010, Grand Funk’s 2011 Tour will continue to reach both new and long-time fans.

Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We’re An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God Of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit Second Chance and was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and also has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man
Performance date and time: Friday, June 17th at 7:30p.m.


Pablo Cruise

Thirty years ago, in 1975, Pablo Cruise released its first A&M album simply entitled Pablo Cruise. The album cover was shot in the tropical gardens of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and it featured a huge gorilla standing front and center. The band, David Jenkins (guitars & vocals), Cory Lerios (keyboards & vocals), Steve Price (drums) & Bud Cockrell (bass & vocals) was nowhere in sight. At that point there was a bit of a mystique as to who Pablo Cruise really was. When asked, “who’s Pablo,” the band, which is a quartet, would answer, “he’s the guy in the middle.” When asked what Pablo Cruise meant, the well-rehearsed answer went something like this, “Pablo represents an honest, real, down to earth individual; and Cruise, depicts his fun loving, easy going attitude towards life.” In essence that’s what Pablo Cruise’s music is all about – honest, real, down-to-earth vocals, accompanied by fun, yet elegant and infectious grooves. To hear Pablo Cruise on record is one thing, but to experience the band live is an exhilarating event.
Performance date and time: Saturday, June 18th at 7:30



Main Stage Entertainment

Date Band
Saturday, June 11th Air Supply
Sunday, June 12th The Four Tops
Monday, June 13th Bay Area Battle of the Bands
Tuesday, June 14th WAR
Wednesday, June 15th Tower of Power
Thursday, June 16th Tower of Power
Friday, June 17th Grand Funk Railroad
Saturday, June 18th Pablo Cruise
Sunday, June 19th Dia de la Feria**Showtimes for Dia de la Feria to be announced.
*All shows start at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage *All shows are complimentary with admission




About The San Mateo County Fair

The San Mateo County Fair where “Innovation Meets Tradition” boasts a stunning variety of world class musical entertainment, performances, festival foods, local and traditional contests as well as a carnival. The fair lasts nine days and is attended by 150,000 guests. Some of the new features include the development of the “Useable Futures” pavilion dedicated to Sustainable Living and New Technologies and are dedicated to running a more sustainable event through greening initiatives. For more information about the San Mateo County Fair, please visit http://www.SanMateoCountyFair.com.
According to Chris Carpenter, The General Manager of San Mateo County Event Center, “We are excited to offer these headline acts and know that they will be a hit with attendees. We have music for just about everyone at the Fair, from Country to Rock and Roll to Rhythm and Blues and more.”

The San Mateo Event Center Hosts The San Mateo County Fair, which will be held June 11-19th, 2011. Visit the web site: www.sanmateocountyfair.com often for regular updates, contest, entertainment, promotions and giveaways and sponsorship information.

Contact Information

Sandra Evans

PR Manager San Mateo County Fair

Sandra Evans & Associates

Contact via E-mail