THE STYLISTICS PREPARE FOR A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO CARNEGIE HALL

50 years after its last appearance, the soul group — still going strong — is set to play Carnegie Hall again on Friday, October 11, at 8 pm

NEW YORK — The Stylistics, the iconic, hitmaking soul group, will return to Carnegie Hall this fall, the first time it has taken the stage of the premier arts center since June 20, 1974. Renowned around the world for a unique R&B sound merging the sweet with the smooth, The Stylistics have produced songs that range from cherished love ballads to insightful life anthems, helping to define the sound of R&B — and love itself — for generations. The performance, a stop on the group’s Falling in Love with My Girl Tour, will take place at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Friday, October 11, at 8 p.m.

“You Are Everything,” “Break Up to Make Up,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” “People Make The World Go Round,” “I’m Stone in Love with You,” “Stop, Look, Listen,” and “You’re a Big Girl Now” are among the group’s string of hits that dominated the  charts in the 1970s, earning lifelong fans. The band, which includes original group members Airrion Love and Herb Murrell — together with Jason Sharp— continues to perform on stages the world over.

Formed in the City of Brotherly Love in 1966, the GRAMMY Award-nominated, double platinum group was inducted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame in 1994. In 2017, The Stylistics were included in the second annual GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends that aired on PBS.

“It fills us with immense joy to still be performing for audiences after more than 50 years,” said Love. “When we began this journey as schoolmates, we knew we had the talent and the drive, but to still connect with audiences so many decades later is a true honor and blessing. We look forward to celebrating with fans at Carnegie Hall.”

Opening for The Stylistics will be Tom’s Elton Tribute, a tribute band to the English superstar performer Elton John, led by Tom Cridland.

For tickets, which start at $26.50, visit www.carnegiehall.com, call Carnegie Charge at 212-247-7800 or go to the box office at 57^th and Seventh Avenue.

ABOUT THE STYLISTICS:

In 1966, The Stylistics was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by combining local high school rival singing groups The Percussions and The Monarchs. When members from each of the groups answered the then U.S. draft call and higher education endeavors after graduation, those who remained joined forces under the guidance of English teacher Beverly Hamilton under the new name, The Stylistics.

After working for a few years in Pennsylvania’s tri-state area, the group was approached by Bill Perry, a local record company executive, who asked if they would be interested in making a studio recording. They jumped at his offer. Finally, the group’s ultimate dream had come true!

In 1970, “You’re a Big Girl Now,” penned by the group’s then guitarist Robert “Doc” Douglas and road manager Marty Bryant, was recorded. The tune was picked up in the tri-state area, becoming a #1 hit in Philly and several other cities up and down the East coast.

Perry signed the group to Avco Records, which very aggressively set their sights on the group’s first album launch. Philly veteran hit producer Thom Bell was hired to produce the group’s first album, The Stylistics, which boasted six hits including the group’s classic showstoppers, “Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart,” “You Are Everything” and “Betcha By Golly Wow.” The group had hit after hit in the 1970s.

Fast-forward several decades, albums and group member changes — as well as two GRAMMY Awards and induction into the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame — original members Murrell and Love have remained friends since junior high school. They continue to travel the country and worldwide sharing their group’s music legacy.

For the complete discography, visit thestylistics.org. Also worth noting are legendary songwriters Burt Bacharach and Philly’s own Linda Creed songbook classics recorded by The Stylistics, a major part of the group’s music catalog.

ABOUT TOM’S ELTON TRIBUTE:

Just as the world’s finest classical musicians pay tribute to works by Stravinsky, Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, Tom Cridland celebrates the artistic legacy of Sir Elton Hercules John and his long-term bandmates Nigel Olsson and Dee Murray through live performances of Tom’s Elton Tribute.

Fellow Brit Cridland plays all of Elton John’s best-loved classic hits, album tracks and fan favorites, including “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Candle in The Wind,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Crocodile Rock” and “Your Song.”

Cridland learned to play the piano during the Covid-19 lockdowns as a way of staying sober, inspired by John himself. He played his first concert in January 2022 and by May 2023 he was playing to 1,500 people in an amphitheater. Since March 2024, Cridland has toured the world performing as his alter ego, Sir Eltom John, playing concerts in venues from theaters to arenas.

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