Contest: Win An Autographed Rock Hall Jacket

CLEVELAND -- The "Upbeat" concert, celebrating WEWS as a rock 'n' roll landmark, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

"Upbeat" is credited with giving up-and-coming artists a chance to shine on national television. The show, which was aired in about 100 cities and towns across the country, also set dance trends for teens all over.

The show aired during the 1960s and 1970s with NewsChannel5's Don Webster as the host.

As a pre-show, NewsNet5 wants to take you down memory lane.

The concert lineup includes Lloyd Price, Jerry Butler, Ben E. King, Mitch Ryder, the Miracles, Kim Weston, Sonny Geraci, Gene Chandler, Freda Payne, Gary Puckett and Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

If you are too young to remember, this will help:

Lloyd Price's greatest hits include, "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "Spanish Harlem," "I've Got the Blues and the Blues Got Me" and "Ain't It a Shame." Price co-wrote Little Richard's "Send Me Some Lovin'."

Upbeat Memory: "It's a wonderful show. If it weren't for Upbeat there would not be the widespread music that we have today. Not only was it good and perfect for me, but it spread to the East Coast and then more and more places."

Ben E. King is the lead singer for the Drifters. He sang such songs as "There Goes My Baby," "Save the Last Dance for Me" and "I Count the Tears." He left the group in 1960 to go out on his own. After going solo, he re-released "Stand By Me," which was used as the theme song for the 1986 movie.

Upbeat Memory: "My greatest days were when I would come through Cleveland, as a group and solo artist. It would help promote the show going on at the same time. Whether is was Jerry Butler or Lloyd Price, whoever you were, you felt like a star. The show motivated us to stay in business. It was amazing how well I was received."

Jerry Butler is an award-winning performer, producer and composer, and one of the architects of rhythm and blues. Butler is called "The Iceman." His career began when he and Curtis Mayfield formed a rhythm and blues group, the Impressions, in Chicago in 1958. The same year, the 18-year old Butler wrote a song titled "For Your Precious Love," which launched Butler and the Impressions.

Upbeat Memory: "It's a surprise for me. I never considered a reunion of Upbeat. This show is really a wonderful thing. Most people know Dick Clark and do not know Upbeat. And a lot of times people performed on Upbeat before a national show. Upbeat and [producer David] Spero made you feel special whether you hadn't sold any record copies or if you were a megastar. Rock has the ability to get this size group together."

As Cook County Commissioner "Showbiz and politics have a lot in common. We are received as people persons on and off stage. You learn the ability to express your views and interests to the public.

You may remember the group as Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Ryder recorded tracks such as "Shakin' with Linda," "Shake a Tail Feather," "Just a Little Bit" and "Sticks and Stones." "Sock It To Me Baby" was Ryder's final top 10 single.

The Miracles was composed of Smokey Robinson, his wife, Claudette, Bobby Rogers, Warren "Pete" Moore and Ronnie White. Some of the hits include "You Really Got a Hold on Me," "The Tracks of My Tears" and "I Second That Emotion." The group changed its name in 1965 to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Smokey left the group in 1972, and the Miracles were led by Billy Griffin. Hits include "Love Machine." Smokey and Claudette are divorced. Ronnie died of leukemia in 1995.

Upbeat Memories:
Sidney Justin -- "It's a pleasure to be here in Cleveland and to be a part of the Miracles and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I look forward to a long relationship with the Rock Hall and Cleveland. I hope everyone has a great time at the event tonight."

Bobby Rogers -- "Being in Cleveland and at the Upbeat site brings a lot of memories back. I was first here to do Leo's Casino and I had a chance to put music on TV here. I feel closer to Cleveland because I could promote and sell records.

The Miracles are looking forward to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. I love Cleveland.

We have recorded a greatest hits and Christmas album to come out in 2000."

David Finley -- "The real thrill is how much people enjoy hearing it after all these years. I met a woman who remembers when 'Tears of a Clown' was released because it was when she found out she could have children. As an artist you don't realize what these songs mean.

Claudette Robinson -- "It's like a class reunion. It brings back fun, fun memories of yesteryear and the golden days. I feel honored and blessed to be a part of this with so many colleagues, especially as we enter the Millennium and some are no longer here. I am just elated, excited and I want to take in so much today. Seldom do you get to see so many artists at one time."

Kim Weston is known for her duet with Marvin Gaye, "It Takes Two Baby." Weston also recorded "Take Me In Your Arms" and "Love Me All the Way."

Sonny Geraci was the lead singer for the Outsiders and can best be remembered by a monumental smash hit, "Time Won't Let Me." The Outsiders, who started in Cleveland, also recorded top 40 hits that include "Respectable," "Help Me Girl" and "Girl in Love."

He also recorded songs with the group Climax.

Gene Chandler is the Duke of Earl. Well, not really, but "The Duke of Earl" is one of his hits that went to the top of the charts during the 1960s.

Upbeat Memory: "I was glad to get out and do any of the dance shows for the exposure. It was great for the R&B performers especially. I actually co-hosted Upbeat with Don Webster. I really enjoyed that. This is my first time at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's a great building. I sent clothes from the 60s. I still have original cape, though. But this is my second or third top hat. I'm going to enjoy this. I have enjoyed the entire day with Don Webster."

Freda Payne had a blockbuster hit, "Deeper and Deeper." She also recorded a controversial antiwar song, "Bring the Boys Home," in the 1970s.

"It was at a hot point in my career. I was touring, doing top shows like Dick Clark and Upbeat. It's a blur to me, but it was fun and exciting to know I was riding a wave of a hit record."

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven hits in 1965 and 1966. They are "This Diamond Ring," "Count Me In," "Save Your Heart for Me," "She's Just My Style," "Everybody Loves a Clown," "Sure Gonna Miss Her" and "Green Grass."

Upbeat Memory: "When I did it for the first time in 1965, it opened up an entire market to introduce my songs. They broke in the Ohio Valley and moved to the Midwest. It was because of the upbeat show. That was the reason -- all of my records broke from here. Now I would like to stay in the Hall of Fame's eye."

Gary Puckett formed the Union Gap in 1967. Their hits include "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," Don't Give in to Him" and "This Girl Is a Woman Now."

Upbeat Memory: "Its exciting to be a part of the awesome talent that are here. These people were my heroes, Ben E. Kink, the Miracles. They were people I listened to before I was a success. There is a renewed energy especially honoring Upbeat and [David] Spero. It's marvelous to be here."