Ronnie Spector to Headline She's Got the Power A Girl Group Extravaganza

On July 30th, Lincoln Center Out of Doors and the Ponderosa Stomp will present She's Got the Power, a celebration of the Girl Group sound and a salute to the women behind the unforgettable hits.

In breaking news, Ronnie Spector, Queen of the Girl Groups and one of the defining voices of female rock n' roll will headline She's Got The Power. Her timeless style and sound continues to influence performers today, as evidenced by the latest wave of young bands who frequently cite her as a primary inspiration. Ronnie will join her old friends to perform on the evening show, which kicks off at 5:00 pm at the Damrosch Park Bandshell.

The story of the girl group sound is also a unique New York story, in which young writers, producers, and musicians from all walks of life collaborated to create a style that celebrated American teenage dreams, in songs that combined raw emotional urgency and sophisticated musical production. Kids everywhere responded to their music, sending the girl groups to the top of the charts, dominating the airwaves for several years and defining the era between early rock and the British invasion.

Lesley Gore, LaLa Brooks (formerly of the Crystals), Arlene Smith (formerly of the Chantels­­), Barbara Harris (of the Toys) Margaret Ross (of the Cookies), Maxine Brown, Brenda Reid and Lillian Walker Moss (of The Exciters), Peggy Santiglia Davison and Jiggs Sirico ( of The Angels®), Beverly Warren (of the Raindrops), Nanette Licari (of the Delrons), Baby Washington and Toni Wine will breathe life into unforgettable songs with the backing of the Boyfriends, led by musical director Jeremy Chatzky.

An afternoon symposium dubbed Girl Talk will present moderators Lauren Onkey of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, journalist Alison Fensterstock and Sheryl Farber (co-producer of the Rhino boxed set One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found) discussing their histories and lives on the road and in the studio, with a special panel devoted to the legacy of the late Ellie Greenwich, who'll also be honored with a musical tribute that evening. An Interview with Lesley Gore and a panel with the Exciters and the Angels will also be presented.

Bill Bragin, Director of Public Programming at Lincoln Center, explains, "Our multi-year partnership with The Ponderosa Stomp is very much focused on welcoming under-appreciated popular music artists into the cultural canon. We're thrilled to celebrate these powerful female artists, who have had such a lasting impact on American popular music, at Lincoln Center, where their art stands alongside world class orchestras, opera divas, Tony-Award winners and ballet companies. "

Saturday, July 30
NOON-4:00 David Rubenstein Atrium
THE PONDEROSA STOMP: GIRL TALK
A symposium moderated by Sheryl Farber, Alison Fensterstock, and Lauren Onkey, including interviews with Lesley Gore, The Angels®, and The Exciters, and a segment celebrating Ellie
Greenwich's life and legacy. Film archivist Joe Lauro will screen vintage footage of the girl group era in action.
Presented in collaboration with The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Archival films courtesy of Joe Lauro, Historic Films Archive, LLC

Saturday, July 30
5:00-10:00 Damrosch Park Bandshell
THE PONDEROSA STOMP: SHE'S GOT THE POWER!
Ronnie Spector
LALA BROOKS (formerly of The Crystals)
& Lesley Gore
with Arlene Smith (formerly of The Chantels), Baby Washington, Barbara Harris (of The Toys), Beverly Warren,
Brenda Reid and Lillian Walker (of The Exciters), Louise Murray(of The Jaynetts), Margaret Ross (of The Cookies), Maxine Brown, Nanette Licari (of Reparata and the Delrons), Peggy Santiglia Davison and Jiggs Sirico (of The Angels®)
Backed by The Boyfriends,
Jeremy Chatzky, musical director
Presented in association with The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation
Archival films courtesy of Joe Lauro, Historic Films Archive, LLC

All performances are FREE; no tickets required. Visit: LCOutofDoors.org
All artists, events, and times subject to change.

ABOUT LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS
Inaugurated in 1971, Lincoln Center Out of Doors has grown into one of the largest free performance festivals in the U.S. Over its 41-year history, Out of Doors has commissioned nearly 95 works from composers and choreographers and presented hundreds of major dance companies, renowned world-music artists, and legendary jazz, folk, gospel, blues and rock musicians, many under the auspices of its popular "Roots of American Music" mini-festival, and poets and storytellers as part of the annual "La Casita." It has highlighted the rich cultural diversity of New York City with performances by established ensembles and up-and-coming groups and partners with NYC community and cultural groups as well as national and international arts organizations.

ABOUT THE PONDEROSA STOMP
The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation (PSF) is a 501(c) (3), not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to celebrating the legacy, revitalizing the careers and preserving the history of American music and musicians. The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation works to acknowledge, pay tribute to, and teach the cultural significance of the unsung heroes and heroines of rock-n-roll, rhythm & blues and other forms of American roots music - while they are still alive. We provide both a voice and a stage to overlooked sidemen, session musicians and other influential pioneers whose contributions have shaped American culture for over 50 years.