Gina Catalano
Arts Editor
“We’re not 21 years old anymore but we are historic, we are iconic, and legendary and all of those things and if you want to experience that then it’s the right place for you to be.”
– Harry Casey (KC)
KC and the Sunshine Band may not be a familiar name to many students at North Central College, but their songs are known by all generations. “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It),” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty,” came around in the 1970’s and have been used in over 200 films since then.
But what about the man himself?
KC, born Harry Wayne Casey, talked to The Chronicle about the band’s performance at North Central College on November 23 and how he’s looking forward to the show.
“I have great musicians around me,” he says of the revamped Sunshine Band.
Although new music hasn’t been released in years, he has finally started up again and is excited to draw recent life experiences into new tunes.
Through a variety of record labels, mostly KC’s own labels, he has been able to manufacture and distribute his records, something that isn’t as common in today’s music industry.
He discusses the positive and negative aspects of being on a record label, saying it is sad that this part of the industry is rapidly declining.
He does say that although a label is great when it comes to backing a product, it is the music that has shaped his career and not the variety of labels that the band has collaborated with.
The band is currently celebrating 40 years of making music, something that KC thought would “eventually” happen. Although critics tried to brush off the band all those years ago, they have clearly conquered all.
Expect different types of music with high energy at a KC and the Sunshine Band show, but don’t worry about the band getting bored with their act.
Although they play over 100 shows annually, each night has three main components – city, crowd and venue. Each of these was listed by KC as reasons why they never get sick of playing the same show.
“The audience dictates the groove of the show,” he said.
He goes on to praise his band some more, who range from original members to young men who have impressed KC with their musical talent.
When asked about attracting students to the show, he says, “Hopefully they want to see a great band, an iconic band.”
KC and the Sunshine Band will be performing at Pfeiffer Hall on Saturday, November 23 with tickets ranging from $60-$75.
