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MAGIC MOMENTS: THE BEST OF 50s POP
JUNE 6 AT 8 PM
EIGHT/KAET-TV

― Special Returns Viewers to the Nostalgic Sounds of the Eisenhower Era ―

By popular demand, this new special brings back the happiest hits from the days of poodle skirts and penny loafers. Magic Moments: The Best of 50s Pop, an unforgettable concert featuring singing sensations from a kinder and gentler time, airs Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 8 p.m. on Eight. Pat Boone, Phyllis McGuire and Nick Clooney co-host.

From “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” performed by the Four Aces to Patti Page singing her immortal “Old Cape Cod,” these are truly magical memories from the days when songs appealed to audiences of all ages.

The beloved “Mr. C.,” Perry Como, launches the parade of 50s favorites with vintage footage of the show’s 1958 top 10 title track “Magic Moments.” Another archival clip presents the always emotional Johnnie Ray with “Cry,” a million-seller from 1951, while Pat Boone croons his romantic classic from 1957, “Love Letters in the Sand.”

Among the new performances, taped on stage from Atlantic City, are balladeer Don Cherry with the 1955 smash “Band of Gold” and the Four Coins offering their ageless vocalizing on 1957’s “Shangri-La.” Dating from the same year, the gold record “Little Darlin’” is faithfully re-created by doo-wop group the Diamonds.

The lovely ladies of song are represented with a trio of million-selling, chart-topping tunes of the 50s. Film star Debbie Reynolds sings a sweet serenade with “Tammy” from 1957; Gogi Grant reprises her dramatic 1956 hit “The Wayward Wind”; Rosemary Clooney, in a flashback film segment, is seen in a wistful rendition of her 1954 evergreen “Hey There.”

More great group sounds are heard from the stunning McGuire Sisters, who offer a medley of sentimental standards such as “Sincerely,” “Sugartime” and “Something’s Gotta Give.” Lynn Evans of the Chordettes returns to the stage to recall that trio’s playful 1958 favorite “Lollipop,” while the Four Preps reunite for “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” and “Big Man.”

Co-hosted by singers Pat Boone and Phyllis McGuire with Nick Clooney, Magic Moments spotlights the performers whom audiences have never stopped loving and who continue to warm the hearts and ears of lovers of vintage American music.

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About Eight/KAET-TV
Eight, Arizona PBS specializes in the education of children, in-depth news and public affairs, lifelong learning, and the celebration of arts and culture — utilizing the power of noncommercial television, the Internet, educational outreach services, and community-based initiatives. The PBS station began broadcasting from the campus of Arizona State University on January 30, 1961. Now more than 80 percent of Arizonans receive the signal through a network of translators, cable and satellite systems. With more than 1.3 million viewers each week, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. Arizonans provide more than 60 percent of the station’s annual budget. For more information, visit www.azpbs.org.

Eight is a member-supported service of Arizona State University.