courtesy of: The Morning News
written by: Rosalie Klein
His trademark long locks may be shorn, but this did not diminish the strength of the popular balladeer who dominated the Billboard charts in the late 80’s and early 90’s and the stage of the Piedra Plat Entertainment Center
Aruba on Thursday evening for the opening concert of the 3-day
Aruba Music Explosion. The Michael Bolton magic was still going strong for tables full of swooning female fans in the front row platinum section, and screams and cries of “We love you Michael” greeted his charismatic renditions of favorites hits such as “I Said I Loved you but I Lied.” He took notice of these particularly vocal admirers, often singing directly to them, for a thrill they will never forget.
The program was a parade of the hits that established Bolton as a chart-topping recording star and performer, and the audience ate it up. Grammy and American Music Award winner Bolton has assumed a sleek, stylish look on stage very suited to the elegantly rendered love songs interspersed with some of the harder rock of his early “Blackjack” days; a nice mix of music under tropical skies that was a great way to open this 3-day music fest.
Warming up the audience was a fiery performance by the Aruban group “Flame.” Lead singers Luigi, Ruth and Serby were backed by a full 16 piece band and got things started with a Motown medley, then moved on to traditional Salsa, Bachata and Merengue hits that are so popular with local and Latin audiences.
The music center was stunningly transformed for the opening event, which was followed Friday evening with Gilberto Santa Rosa and “The Lady of Fire,” Grammy-winner Olga Tanon, performing to a packed the stadium. One of Aruba’s top bands, Tsunami, was the opening act.
Saturday was finished with Luis Fonzi, Felipe Pelaez, and Servando and Florentino preceded by iconic island singer and composer Claudius Phillips and Oreo.
