World Class Artists – The Platters and Cascades Performs In Iligan City

April 6, 2013.  Two world class performers held a concert in Iligan City.

For the first time in the city’s history, these names, who were leaders in the top music/song charts of their time held a back-to-back concert at the La Salle Gymnasium wooing the audience with their hit songs.  The Platters, the first to perform, held up their standards of a world class performance by belting out hit after hit…the likes of Smoke gets in your eyes, Only You, The Great Pretender, Remember When, Twilight Time and countless others.

 

The Platters

Next to perform was the Cascades with original member John Claude Gummoe leading the vocals.  His back up band were all composed of, as he says, “Filipino Cascades”.  He dispelled rumors about the group being lost in a plane crash…which was what circulated in our country for quite sometime.

In reality, the group disbanded in 1975 with Mr. Gummoe leaving the group in 1967 to perform solo.  Little did the Filipino fans know that the band originally started with members coming from the US Navy with the group's original name “Silver Strands”.

Mr. Gummoe, who at the age of 75 (being born in August 2, 1938) still gave a very outstanding performance.  He sang their hits song after song with much passion in his voice.  Music lovers were pleased to hear their hits, the like of Shy Girl, The Last Leaf and it would not be a Cascades concert without their national anthem of sorts, Rhythm of the Rain.

 

John Claude Gummoe

We’re very thankful to the organizers for holding the concert here in Iligan City and looking forward to other world class performers in the near future.  Thank you also to the Platters, despite the very humid weather and their attire, gave and upheld their best performance in this part of the country.

To Mr. John Claude Gummoe, who complained not of the weather but of the electric fan that continues to blow his notes to another page (which guides him what next song to sing), our heartfelt thanks.

The group held a cd signing right after the show to the delight of the audience and the chance for a photo ops with their favorite groups.

Indeed, it was once in a life-time opportunity!