Local musicians have a truly spectacular opportunity being offered to them in the coming weeks – Pete Bennett, the man who created the field of music promotion, is coming to Western New York to run a series of shows and host a talent search to find the very best in music that Buffalo has to offer.
If for some reason you haven’t heard of the “man behind the curtain”, Bennett is the guy who propelled all the best of the big bands to Superstardom. All of them. He’s promoted the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton… seriously, you name it, and Pete Bennett has not just met them, but made them. Billboard magazine says that Pete “makes unknowns into stars, and stars into superstars.”
So, what does that have to do with Buffalo? Pete’s next project, launched initially in Oregon, is a talent search television show which is seeking out the best undiscovered talent that the area has to offer. Bands are invited to submit photos, music, and video at no charge for review by the group. If selected, performers will have a chance to perform at one of two shows being produced and taped at the Riviera Theater, and depending on the results, have the chance to begin a professional career with Pete at the helm. In fact, he's in town this weekend to begin working on it.
“I think there’s a lot of great talent in Buffalo and that none of the bands ever got a break. No one from Buffalo has ever become a superstar. Recording artist, yes, but not a superstar.” Why Buffalo? Bennett’s publicist, Paul Petock, is a Buffalo native and current homeowner here, and talked to Pete at length about the quality of the music scene in the area, and caught his interest. Bennett himself did work here in the 70’s, getting the Grateful Dead into Memorial Auditorium and bringing the likes of Bob Hope, Chuck Berry, and Frank Sinatra to the area. When asked what he’s looking for in a band that he felt could make it all the way, Peter responded: “What gets me excited is motivated acts, something with a different sound. Looks matter as well – in the old days, you only had to worry about selling to radio, but these days, television is critical. Younger bands with magnetism. There’s great rock and roll music all over the world, but what I need is something that excites me. I’m the one who has to go out and sell it, so naturally, it needs to be something I believe in.”
According to Paul, the most promising submissions will be featured on the show, which is still looking for a network. The band will also receive a separate local concert that they get paid for, and if they find who they’re looking for, Pete will promote the group up the line, and help them work toward a professional career. Nothing to sneeze at from the man who marketed Elvis’s “Suspicious Minds”, booked Steven Tyler’s (of Aerosmith) first opening act with the Byrds, was a close personal friend of John Lennon and broke the Rolling Stones into the US.
For more information, check out petebennett.com or petebennettshow.com. The Classic rock performances will come to town on the 25th and 26th of May, with April 7th being the last day bands can submit their work. Plan on hearing more about the man and the excitement he’s bringing to town next month.