PORT ANGELES — “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” the Temptations’ classic from 1966, is just one of the songs on the Sounds of Soul agenda this Friday night at the Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center.
The group, made up of six vocalists, does more than sing, promised spokesman Marcus Robinson.
“We have complete fun onstage. And that exudes out to the audience,” he said in an interview from his home in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The group has logged hundreds of shows around the country, but this is its first trip to the North Olympic Peninsula, Robinson noted.
“We like to add some theatrics. And if the audience is able to dance, we do encourage it,” said Robinson, who is the son of Johnny Robinson, the man who founded the Sounds of Soul nearly a decade ago.
Today the ensemble, whose members range in age from their 20s to their 60s, performs a repertoire encompassing the music of Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops, the Supremes, Barry White, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin.
“This is music we all know … but this style of music hasn’t been brought here, as far as I know,” said Kyle LeMaire, executive director of the Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts.
The foundation is presenting the Sounds of Soul in its Season Concert series at 7 p.m. Friday at the Port Angeles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Port Angeles High School, 304 E. Park Ave.
Tickets are $10 for children 14 and younger while adult prices run from $20 to $40 for premium seats. Student tickets for those ages 18 to 21 are $15. Outlets include Port Book and News in Port Angeles and the foundation’s website at JFFA.org; tickets also will be available at the door.
The JFFA lineup features eight more Season Concerts events, including the “Rocket Man” celebration of Elton John on Nov. 22.
In addition, a partnership between Ghostlight Productions and JFFA will debut with “Live at the Met” this Saturday at the Naval Elks Lodge ballroom.
A live simulcast of the Metropolitan Opera’s “La Traviata” will begin at 9:55 a.m., to begin a series direct from the opera house in New York City. Information can be found at JFFA.org and GhostlightWA.org.
As for the Sounds of Soul, “it’s about the rapport with the audience,” Robinson said, adding that singer LaTraia Savage shows them all how that’s done.
“This young lady, the women love her. She can sing her behind off. Everybody remembers her,” he said.
Then there’s Jay Camaro, the youngest at age 24. An “American Idol” alumnus, he’s the illustration of high energy, Robinson said.
“When you see him, you will definitely understand what I’m saying. Look for him to woo the audience.”
Robinson, for his part, grew up singing in a boy band, learning Motown songs from the 1960s. He admitted there are times when he looks at the Sounds of Soul set list and thinks, “Oh, there’s that one coming up, we’ve done it a million times.”
Then the moment comes when the group dives into the song — and the audience comes along, dancing, swaying, raising their hands.
“The audience reaction, the interaction — that’s what makes it for me,” Robinson said.
But is there room in the Port Angeles High auditorium for dancing?
“Surprisingly, yes,” LeMaire said. There’s the entire “down front” space between the stage and the front row, for one thing.
“During Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles earlier this year, we had people dancing in the aisles, and we would love for people to dance in their seats,” he added.
