Reprinted from the Wilson Times (NC)

New band, familiar faces

By Gina Childress Daily Times Staff Writer

What do you get when you bring together five former members of the music group The Embers? You get a new beach music group and a familiar sound that is unmistakable.

Over the years, the musicians left the Embers for various reasons, but they all seemed to have a burning desire to get back together and perform. It just never seemed to be the right time -- until now.

"This is a dream come true," said Wilson native Tony Davis, "I never thought it would really happen. This feels like it was meant to be." Gerald Davis of Wilson said The Embers were going in a new direction: "I wanted to get back to the original sound."

To reach his goal, Gerald Davis, who had been performing full-time until recently, got in touch with former band members and friends Gore, Barker, Grimes and Tony Davis about two months ago. The group almost immediately began working on their music. Gore, the 65-year-old co-founder of the Embers and the vocalist and writer of the hit song "I Love Beach Music," was immediately behind the plan. "I was completely blown away when Gerald called me with the idea," Gore said. "Old friends are finally back together doing what we love. This is a group that I feel very confident bragging on each and every member."

Gore, who has been performing full-time for many years, sang with other groups, including Jackie Gore and the Mighty All Stars. He also performed solo. Tony Davis said he is performing with the cream of the crop. "Everyone is on the same page musically," he said. "We want to enjoy life and perform together." Davis said that the ideal situation would be for the group to perform about three times a week. "We would like to spend most of our time in the studio, recording," he said. Jeff Grimes not only plays an instrument with the band and sings vocals, he is also engineering the group's new CD. Grimes owns Jeff Grimes Music Services, a recording studio on John Street in Goldsboro.

Not only did he perform with the Embers, but he has worked with other well-known vocalists. Adorning a wall in his studio are pictures of some of the musicians he has worked with over the years: Reba McEntire, Cuba Gooding, Buck Owens, DeBarge and Billy Dean. To round out the vocals, Mark Black and Johnny Barker, both former members of the Embers, have joined the group as well. Barker wrote the classic, "Summertime's Calling Me."

Additional musicians are Rusty Smith and Jason Moore, along with Wilson native Steve Davis, who was the sound technician for the Embers for more than 20 years. The musicians' families are excited about the new band, and so are fans. Lori Wiggs, a Wilson native and avid beach music lover, was happy to hear the news. "I think it's wonderful!" she said. "They are what originated beach music. I'm glad to hear they're coming back," she said. "I can't wait!"

The CD, which the Legends have been working on for the past six weeks, will feature 13 songs, most of which are original. Included are "Summertime's Calling Me" and "I Love Beach Music."

"Feels Like the Real Thing" is what the group thinks will become their signature song. It lets everyone know how glad the men are to be back together again and what they hope to accomplish. It also is reminiscent of their earlier days and all of the good times they had:

"... Do you think we could get it together one more time, Cause when we played our songs together, We all knew it was something special ..." the lyrics read. The group held a dress rehearsal in Virginia earlier this month. It sold out in a matter of hours. "It was a wonderful experience," Gerald Davis said. He said it couldn't have gone better, and the group is already booking for spring.

"This will be the last group I perform with," Gore said, "and there are no other people I would rather end my career with -- my family," he said.