Soul Legends Perform at the Paramount Theatre

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

MIDDLETOWN – The Paramount Theatre was alive with soul, harmony, and nostalgia on Saturday night, September 27th as two legendary groups — The Stylistics and The Manhattans — returned to the stage to deliver a night of unforgettable music. Maria Bruni, the Economic Development Director and Paramount Theatre Director, said bringing back both groups was an easy decision.

“We decided to rebook them because it was just a powerful show. Everybody just had such a great time, and we felt, ‘Let’s bring them back. Let’s keep celebrating this greatness.’… Families getting together, friends… It brings back a lot of memories for a lot of folks and they’re just awesome entertainers,” Bruni noted. “We have a bunch of live shows coming up between now and the end of the year… We try to be diverse in entertainment and programming. It’s great for our city. It’s great for our downtown.”

Fans packed the historic venue, singing along to every classic tune, waving their hands in the air, and even jumping to their feet to dance.

Performing as the Sonny Bivins Manhattans were members Charles Hardy, Keni Jackson, Harsey Hemphill, and Kirk Hill, Jr. Hardy, who was a gospel quartet singer with the Morning Stars, reflected on how he found his place among the iconic ensemble.

“I’ve been with them for 37 years… I was their Wardrobe Manager from ‘77 to the beginning of 1980. So really, it’s been about [48] years that I’ve been a part of the Manhattan thing,” said Hardy as he explained how Sonny Bivins saw him singing one day backstage. “I’m steaming and I’m singing… I turned around and there he [was] smiling… He said, ‘One day… you may be a Manhattan… One day you might be running this group.’”

The group delivered their chart-topping gems, including “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star.” Hardy recalled lighthearted moments performing at the White House for President Clinton at a Christmas Gala and seeing him perform with his saxophone and doing a Christmas event for James Brown.

“James came up on stage. We [were] singing ‘Shining Star’ and all of a sudden… we became the background singers. He just took over the whole show… James was something!” laughed Hardy as he reminisced.

The Stylistics closed out the concert. Inducted into the Atlantic City Hall of Fame in April, they have proven why their music continues to resonate across generations. The group includes longtime members Arrion Love and Herb Murrell, and their newest lead vocalist, Jason Sharp, who joined the group in 2011 after years as a member of Heatwave. He replaced Van Fields.

“We [were] doing something called the 70’s Soul Jam and I was singing with Heatwave… and I got an invitation to pretty much audition for the group and the rest is history,” Sharp said as he shared the legacy of the Stylistics. “It means longevity, a lot of history in the organization with original members Arrion Love and Herb Murrell still keeping a fire going after 57 years, still going pretty strong taking people back to good times in their lives where happy things and good things were happening with all the things that are going on in the world today. You can always revert to music and get a great feeling of love, support, and respect… Music never dies.”

The Stylistics sang their Billboard-topping signature hits — “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” “Betcha by Golly Wow,” “Break Up to Make Up, and “I’m Stone in Love with You.” Longtime fans lined up before and after the show to buy Stylistics t-shirts and memorabilia in the lobby. Among the many fans in attendance was Luis Antonio, a super fan who returned after last year’s shows. He waited outside near the dressing room entrances just to snap photos and secure autographs.

“They sound so good… My house is like a museum because I get photographs… and signatures and everything… I’ve been coming to shows since I was a really small boy.,” Antonio said, clutching a signed set list. “I went to right in front of the stage, and I asked him for it, and they gave it to me… I’m a Music Fanatic.”

As the night drew to a close, the Stylistics and Manhattans reminded everyone why their songs remain timeless — they don’t just entertain, they connect. The applause was thunderous, the memories everlasting, and the Paramount Theatre once again proved itself a home for soul.

Ms. Jones