As someone who grew up in the 1970s, some of my fondest memories are of driving my parents’ Plymouth Volare (sans seatbelt, of course), with the windows down (no AC, of course) and the radio blasting what seemed to be an endless playlist of songs that spoke directly to my teenaged heart. To this day, if I hear “Fire and Rain,” or “Bridge over Troubled Water,” or “Sweet Caroline,” I remember every word—because the words were everything. It was an era where extraordinary singer-songwriters seemed to turn out hit after hit, and singer Michael Cavanaugh and Sarasota Orchestra will bring many of them to the Van Wezel stage on March 1 and 2.

Michael Cavanaugh is no stranger to Sarasota audiences, having performed his programs of Billy Joel and Elton John’s music with Sarasota Orchestra in previous seasons for sold-out, deliriously happy audiences. As someone who had the joy of being onstage for those concerts, I can tell you that I have rarely seen a performer who can so completely transport an audience back to an earlier time with such authenticity. Rather than simply “covering” the music of these artists, Cavanaugh seems to transform himself into them, offering performances that faithfully reproduce the original sound and spirit of the music that defined a generation.

In three performances on the first weekend in March, Cavanaugh and Sarasota Orchestra will offer a chance to revisit the greatest hits of James Taylor, Paul Simon, and Neil Diamond, alongside other iconic songs from that memorable era. Cavanaugh is an extraordinary pianist, but this program will see him branch out to play guitar and percussion as well, proving that he is among the most versatile performers working today.

For an orchestral musician, sharing the stage with Cavanaugh is a genuine treat as we bring the full power of a symphony orchestra to complement the high energy of Michael and his band. For me personally, however, the thrill is also in reliving the power of the songs—being transported back to a simpler time, when hearing the chorus to “American Pie” come over the radio meant turning up the volume and singing your heart out, regardless of who was listening. Of course, the greatest joy is watching the power of the music to move the audience. Hearing the cheers as we begin another musical memory—listening as 1,700 people join in a chorus or clap along. It’s a shared experience of time travel, and in the hands of a musical chameleon like the gifted Michael Cavanaugh, the journey is moving and joyous. So, whether you too have vivid memories of bell bottom jeans and platform shoes, or you just love hearing the brilliant music and lyrics of some of pop music history’s most celebrated songwriters, we invite you to join us on March 1 and 2 when Michael Cavanaugh will have you, and all of us, “feelin’ groovy” just once more.

To learn more and purchase tickets to Pops: Singer Songwriters Featuring Michael Cavanaugh, visit Sarasota Orchestra’s website or call the Box Office at 941-953-3434. All programs and featured artists are subject to change.

About the Author: Betsy Hudson Traba has performed with Sarasota Orchestra as Principal flutist since 1993.