If the name Denny Laine doesn’t sound familiar, you are not alone but keep reading. If the bands The Moody Blues and Wings sound familiar, then you will know who Denny Laine is. The Multi-Grammy winner is coming to Southern Pines to perform at the Sunrise Theater Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m.
The British musician has the distinction of being the co-founder of two very famous bands, The Moody Blues and Wings, with his friend Paul McCartney.
Denny co-founded The Moody Blues as the lead singer and guitarist. He played with them from 1964-66. He was so much a part of the band that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in April of 2018.
“We had tremendous success and had only released one album,” said Laine in a telephone interview with Sandhills Sentinel. “The other guys wanted to tour, and I felt like we should get in the studio and do another album.”
As popular as The Moody Blues were, it was with Wings that he really found success.
Paul McCartney asked Laine to join him to form Wings in 1971, along with McCartney’s wife, Linda. The band went on to record a string of hits and platinum albums playing to sold out shows and arenas. They disbanded a decade later in 1981.
Video courtesy of rangersdcfan.
“Paul and I had known each other for a while,” said Laine. “We toured together when I was in The Moody Blues. One day Paul called and asked if I wanted to start a band with him. He said it would be something different, so I jumped at the chance to create something new.”
Laine has won two Grammy Awards in his music career. He won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for the song “Band on the Run” with Wings in 1974. Laine went on to win, Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Rockestra Theme” with Wings in 1979.
Laine has also written the musical, “Arctic Song”, which was performed at NYSU and can be found on YouTube.
His set for the Sunrise Theater will feature his classic hits from The Moody Blues and Wings and it will be him, up close and personal. The musician will be sharing personal stories of his life in rock and roll to the audience as well.
“I love playing small theaters like the Sunrise,” said Laine. “They are wonderful places that the community has come together to help preserve.”
Get your tickets now, if you have not done so. Call 910-692-3611 or go to www.sunrisetheater.com.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Publisher B.J. Goodridge.
Courtesy feature photo.
