Gothic Theatre
KC And The Sunshine Band
KC & The Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first
danced into the music scene. Harry Wayne Casey – KC for short – developed a unique
fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove, giving us an impressive
string of hits like GET DOWN TONIGHT, THAT’S THE WAY (I LIKE IT) and SHAKE YOUR BOOTY.
With sales of over 100 million records, nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards
and an American Music Award, KC and The Sunshine Band was one of the most
progressive bands and is credited with changing the sound of modern pop music!
KC & The Sunshine Band play over 100 live shows annually, circling the country and
playing dates regularly throughout Europe, Australia and South America. KC’s songs
have stood the test of time and you can ask any one of the thousands of fans who
spend the entire concert on their feet, dancing and shaking their booty.
No summer would be complete without spending some time with KC and the Sunshine
Band and with their travel schedule, they will be playing in a city near you! The success
of last year’s KC’s Boogie Blast: The Ultimate Dance Party continues to prove that a
good time is to be had by all who attend and with stops throughout the US and
Canada, everyone can be assured of a great time!
When H.W. Casey started working in the music business he was performing menial tasks
around the T.K. Records/Studio complex in his hometown of Miami. The Sunshine Band
originated when KC began writing songs with bassist Richard Finch. Their first record,
BLOW YOUR WHISTLE, made the top 15 on the R&B chart. Their second album, KC & THE
SUNSHINE BAND, was released in 1975, went triple platinum and contained the #1 hits
GET DOWN TONIGHT, THAT’S THE WAY (I LIKE IT), BOOGIE SHOES and ROCK YOUR BABY.
KC & The Sunshine Band became the first act to score four #1 pop singles in one 12-
month period and three of those singles crossed over to become #1 R&B, as well.
KC’s third album, PART 3, also went triple platinum and contained the #1 singles I’M
YOUR BOOGIE MAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY and KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE. The band’s string
of hit singles continued with BOOGIE SHOES, which was included on the SATURDAY
NIGHT FEVER soundtrack, PLEASE DON’T GO, and YES, I’M READY, a duet with high
school friend Teri DeSario. KC climbed the charts with GIVE IT UP, which also hit #1 in
the UK.
KC won a songwriting Grammy for best R&B song for WHERE IS THE LOVE, which was
recorded by Betty Wright. He also received Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, as
well as Producer of the Year for his work on the SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER soundtrack.
KC won the American Music Award for Best R&B Artist and was honored with the NARAS
Governor’s Award, the highest honor given by a chapter of the Academy.
KC’s music continues to be a favorite today. His songs have appeared in ads for
companies like General Motors, Burger King, Payless Shoes, Papa Jon’s Pizza, Old Navy,
and Nick at Night.
His music has also been featured in over 75 movies such as “Forrest Gump” (Get Down
Tonight), “Boogie Nights” (Boogie Shoes), “Boys Don’t Cry” (Rock Your Baby), “Rush
Hour” (Get Down Tonight), “Carlito’s Way” (Rock Your Baby, Shake Your Booty and
That’s The Way I Like It), and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.” KC had a cameo in the
feature film “The In-Laws” starring Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks.
KC’s song’s are no stranger to the small screen, his songs have been featured in such
shows as “Desperate Housewives,” “Ally McBeal,” “American Bandstand’s 50th
Anniversary Party,” among many. KC & The Sunshine Band have the distinction of
having made more appearances on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” than any
other artist in the program’s history!
Music acts like White Zombie, Baha Men, Beyoncé Knowles and American Idols Kelly &
Justin have covered his music. Additionally, KC & The Sunshine Band’s grooves and
bass lines have been sampled in everything from R&B by R. Kelly to Rap by Snoop Dogg
and Trick Daddy to Dance by Ultra Nate and many, many more.
From the time of his biggest hits, KC has toured regularly in the U.S., Europe, Asia, South
America and Australia. KC recorded “Get Down Live,” a concert album that was
gleaned from his performances in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Peru and
Melbourne, Australia. KC’s “The Best of KC and The Sunshine Band” went gold and KC
and The Sunshine Band celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a commemorative double
CD release titled “The 25th Anniversary Collection.” Later, KC released an album of all-
new material entitled “I’ll Be There For You.” Proceeds from the title song, released as a
single, were donated to the September 11 relief effort. From the beginning, KC and the
Sunshine Band wrote songs that spoke to a generation and a new generation began
discovering disco with fresh ears and that discovery continues to this day.
KC received the coveted Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where Dick Clark and
music producer Michael Lloyd turned out to honor him. This particular honor represents
the passion that KC has in writing music, implementing elements of various eras with his
songs being a powerful signature from a passionate veteran craftsman.
That’s The Way I Like It – The Harry Wayne Casey Story, is a book that chronicles KC’s
career.
You can count on hearing his music on the radio, at a nightclub, at the movies, in a
sports arena or at one of the 100-plus concerts KC and the Sunshine Band plays every
year. It is always fun and truly makes all who hear it happy enough to dance!
