The Beloved Bemus Bay Pops
The Bemus Bay Pops began in Bemus Point NY in 1998. It was a very successful new venture that included the successful Italian Fisherman restaurant that overlooked Chautauqua Lake. The restaurant's well manicured lawn featured chairs forming a center aisle with lettered rows/numbered seats. Included were VIP viewing platforms for the numerous concert performers who came to Bemus Point from across the country and Canada. When "Elvis" came to town concert goers would see a particular waiter dressed as Elvis in a white sequined jumpsuit. Other times female staff members wore disco attire with shiny white leather boots when the show presented the sights and sounds of high energy disco band known as Boogie Wonderband from Montreal, Canada. This band always sold out on land with numerous boats anchored in the bay. As nightfall descended upon the Pops the bay was full of lights that appeared like diamonds floating on the water. The Italian Fisherman was aglow with lights as were colored lights shining up into the big tree on the lawn. It was truly .. a magical setting.
In time, what immediately became known as "the stage that floats" in 1998 the Pops introduced the concept to Chautauqua County a 60-by-60 foot floating platform including a full canopy with side curtains and dressing rooms. The Pops and its unique stage built at a local marina would be the scene of many beautiful sunsets that truly completed the ambience of the Pops location where .. there was music in the air!
Below is a music video that best narrates any given evening at the Pops in Bemus Point ..
Gimme the Night
Whenever dark has fallen
You know the spirit of the party
Starts to come alive
Until the day is dawning
You can throw out all your blues
And hit the city lights
'Cause there's music in the air
And lots of lovin' everywhere
So gimme the night, gimme the night
You need the evening action
A place to dine, a glass of wine
A little late romance
It's a chain reaction
You'll see the people of the world
Coming out to dance
'Cause there's music in the air
And lots of lovin' everywhere
So gimme the night, gimme the night
So come on out tonight
And we'll lead the others
On a ride through paradise
And if you feel all right
Then we can be lovers 'cause I see
That starlight look in your eyes
Don't you know we can fly?
And if we stay together
We'll feel the rhythm of the evening
Takin' us up high
Never mind the weather
We'll be dancin' in the street
Until the mornin' light
'Cause there's music in the air
And lots of lovin' everywhere
So gimme the night
George Benson, American jazz guitarist and singer.
Benson released Gimme the Night on August 9, 1980 at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood CA. The producer was Quincy Jones. Rod Temperton was the lyricist for Gimme the Night. He was an English songwirter, musician, vocalist and record producer. Temperton was the keyboardist and main songwriter for the 1970s pop music, disco and funk band, Heatwave. He wrote such songs as Always and Forever, Boogie Nights and The Groove Line.
George Benson was born George Washington Benson on March 22, 1943 in Pittsburgh PA. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. For his contribution to the recording industry, he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Blvd.
Thank you, George Benson for all the good music throughout the years!
Dan Dalpra was familiar with the sight of numerous boats tied together in Bemus Bay and thousands of people sitting on the Bemus shoreline enjoying the rooftop concerts in the early years.
For those of you who were in Bemus Point it is best expressed below by Dan, himself ..
"We dreamed it, we developed it, we built it, we embraced it, we shared it, we loved it, we nurtured it and now we all remember it as a special time in our lives. This was our Camelot. Others will follow, but there will never be another Camelot on the Lake".
Thank you, Dan for all the good times throughout the Bemus years!
Future stories will feature Bemus Bay Pops photos because I have been told "people like to reflect". And I like nothing more than reflecting on the Pops when it was in Bemus Point NY.
If you have your own Pops memories in Bemus Point, send them and I will share those memories on this blog. Simple type "My Bemus Bay Pops Memories" in the subject line of your email. Thanks and don't forget to include your name.
So in closing ..
Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot.
Pat Locke, Maestro Muse
wrlenzo@aol.com
