Concert in the park set for grand finale

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 8/17/17

The ever-growing Amanda Loffredo Fan Club helped the Johnston Community Center Association close out its 2017 Concerts in the Park series with a record-setting crowd. For inside of two hours, Loffredo - who JCCA President Glenn Carroll

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Concert in the park set for grand finale

Posted

The ever-growing Amanda Loffredo Fan Club helped the Johnston Community Center Association close out its 2017 Concerts in the Park series with a record-setting crowd.

For inside of two hours, Loffredo – who JCCA President Glenn Carroll called “a personality plus performer” – led The Billy Harpin Band in a number of classics made famous by legends as the Beatles, Carole King, Neil Young and Doobie Brothers just to name a few.

On a night when a slight cool breeze and sun covered Johnston War Memorial Park where people of all ages were sitting in folding chairs and on blankets, Loffredo was the center of attention.

“Her grandparents [Richard and Carol Loffredo], who live in Johnston, are here,” Carroll noted. “Her parents [Joe and Rita Loffredo], who live in Glocester, are here…she’s got all kinds of relatives and followers in this great crowd of about 200 people. What a way to end the year.”

Carroll was speaking about the JCCA’s third summer of presenting Concerts in the Park. Saturday evening, beginning at 8 o’clock, the non-profit will host its final Movies in the Park night with the ever-popular film Beauty and the Beast. Admission is free as is the popcorn and chilled water bottles.

As for The Billy Harpin Band, the group’s story is as unique as the music.

“Now there’s three budding music stars,” Mark Gilmore, the JCCA’s vice president, offered. “That’s a talented troupe and is well-versed in the music they sang here tonight.”

Not once, in fact, did Loffredo – who many people called a “soulful soprano” – or Billy Harpin have to look at music chars or notes. They performed brilliantly and from memory for each and every song.

Loffredo, in fact, turned to the keyboard for several numbers while Harpin, who sings and plays guitar, added an around the neck held harmonica for some songs the group did.

The group’s drummer is Arthur DelFino, who like Loffredo and Harpin graduated from Ponaganset High School in Foster-Glocester who turned in another prolific performance Sunday night on what Carroll told some concert-goers “is a real special day for him.”

DelFino, you see, celebrated his 21st birthday under Sunday’s sparkling sun and the continuous sound of applause for the talented trio who wound up their first-ever appearance in Johnston by getting a well-deserved standing ovation.

The Billy Harpin Band’s appearance also featured some marvelous moments like when Loffredo thanked her mother – and promoter – for working so hard to help promote the group and when she invited two little girls to come on stage and help with a certain song.

“Now that’s really special,” Carroll and his wife Ann concurred when Loffredo took the time to have Gabriella and Seraphina Geribo bring their mini hand-held maracas on stage to help with a song.”

It’s no wonder Loffredo’s grandfather Richard – who told Carroll about the band – and his wife, Carol, were beaming from ear-to-ear while listening to Amanda’s every song.

“It was really great to be able to promote a local group,” said Carroll, who was even approached by a representative of another band who was asking about performing inside Johnston War Memorial Park. “We are looking forward to 2018 and already planning our concerts.”

If the JCCA is successful in finding groups that rival the rival the energy and talent like The Billy Harpin Band brought to Johnston Sunday night, next year’s free concert series could produce even larger audiences than the 200 people who were on hand for the season finale.

GRAM ‘N’ GRAMPS:

Carol and Richard Loffredo (rear) and a number of their relatives were among the 200 people who turned out to listen to The Billy Harpin Band featuring Amanda Loffredo Sunday inside Johnston War Memorial Park. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine) CONCERT 2 IMG 9528

PROUD PARENTS:

Joe and Rita Loffredo turned out Sunday to support The Billy Harpin Band, most especially lead singer Amanda Loffredo who has family routes that are deep in Johnston.

CONCERT 3 IMG 9521

SOULFUL SOPRANO:

Amanda Loffredo sings yet another classic hit made famous by Carole King during Sunday’s Concert in the Park.

CONCERT 4 IMG 9534

DYNAMO DUO:

Garbriella and Seraphina Geribo were huge hits with the crowd during Sunday’s Concert in the Park featuring The Billy Harpin Band and the drummer is Arthur DelFino.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here