Baby, It's (No) Big Surprise! Chicago to headline at Bowl Expo 2009
01/14/09
The Grammy-award winning rock group Chicago will close out the 2009 edition of International Bowl Expo (IBE09) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 21-25.
The band will perform at the always-popular Club Xpo on the final night of the bowling industry's annual convention and trade show.
Chicago was formed in 1967 by a group of DePaul University students in Chicago, and today four of the original members are still playing strong: Robert Lamm, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane and Walter Parazaider. Original lead vocalist Peter Cetera left the group in 1985 to pursue a solo career.
The newest editions to the band aren't really new at all. Bill Champlin has over 25 years with the group, Jason Scheff over 20, Tris Imboden more than 15 and Keith Howland going on 14 years.
Originally known as The Big Thing, the group changed their name to The Chicago Transit Authority after moving to Los Angeles in 1968. A year later, their self-titled Chicago Transit Authority double-album was released and was an immediate hit. It was after the album's release the group shortened its name to Chicago.
Since the 1970s, Chicago has had a steady stream of hits like Saturday In The Park; Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?; Baby, It's A Big Surprise; Hard Habit To Break; Color My World and 25 To 6 To 4. In their 40-plus year career Chicago has sold over 120 million albums and scored 22 gold, 18 platinum and 8 multi-platinum albums charting five number one sellers and 21 top ten hits.
In recent years Chicago has toured the U.S. and Europe with groups like Huey Lewis and the News and America. And while touring with Earth, Wind & Fire, they recorded a DVD, Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre, which was certified platinum just two months after its release. Their most recent release is called Stone of Sisyphus (Rhino Records).
The International Bowl Expo is the premier annual event for bowling center owners, operators, managers, bowling suppliers, pro shop owners/managers and various other bowling industry-related businesses.
The theme of IBE09 is, "We're On A Roll," and the trade show floor will be home to nearly 800 exhibit booths and representatives from approximately 300 companies showcasing a wide-array of products and services.
There will also be more than 50 seminars and workshops for owners, operators and managers to attend to learn the latest trends, marketing ideas, profit center opportunities, and tools to help build their businesses and spread the excitement of bowling throughout their communities.
Thanks go to sponsors Pepsi-Cola, the official softdrink of bowling; Anheuser-Busch; Brunswick, North Pointe Insurance Group and QubicaAMF Worldwide who help make IBE 09 possible.
International Bowl Expo's registration booklets will be in the mail soon. Online registration and other information will be available on the official Bowl Expo Website, or by calling the Expo answer line: 888.649.5585.
IBE 2009
It will feel like Saturday in the park when legendary band rocks at Club Xpo
The Grammy-award winning rock group Chicago will close out the 2009 edition of International Bowl Expo (IBE09) at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, June 21-25.
The band will perform at the always-popular Club Xpo on the final night of the bowling industry's annual convention and trade show.
Chicago was formed in 1967 by a group of DePaul University students in Chicago, and today four of the original members are still playing strong: Robert Lamm, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane and Walter Parazaider. Original lead vocalist Peter Cetera left the group in 1985 to pursue a solo career.
The newest editions to the band aren't really new at all. Bill Champlin has over 25 years with the group, Jason Scheff over 20, Tris Imboden more than 15 and Keith Howland going on 14 years.
Originally known as The Big Thing, the group changed their name to The Chicago Transit Authority after moving to Los Angeles in 1968. A year later, their self-titled Chicago Transit Authority double-album was released and was an immediate hit. It was after the album's release the group shortened its name to Chicago.
Since the 1970s, Chicago has had a steady stream of hits like Saturday In The Park; Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?; Baby, It's A Big Surprise; Hard Habit To Break; Color My World and 25 To 6 To 4. In their 40-plus year career Chicago has sold over 120 million albums and scored 22 gold, 18 platinum and 8 multi-platinum albums charting five number one sellers and 21 top ten hits.
In recent years Chicago has toured the U.S. and Europe with groups like Huey Lewis and the News and America. And while touring with Earth, Wind & Fire, they recorded a DVD, Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre, which was certified platinum just two months after its release. Their most recent release is called Stone of Sisyphus (Rhino Records).
The International Bowl Expo is the premier annual event for bowling center owners, operators, managers, bowling suppliers, pro shop owners/managers and various other bowling industry-related businesses.
The theme of IBE09 is, "We're On A Roll," and the trade show floor will be home to nearly 800 exhibit booths and representatives from approximately 300 companies showcasing a wide-array of products and services.
There will also be more than 50 seminars and workshops for owners, operators and managers to attend to learn the latest trends, marketing ideas, profit center opportunities, and tools to help build their businesses and spread the excitement of bowling throughout their communities.
Thanks go to sponsors Pepsi-Cola, the official softdrink of bowling; Anheuser-Busch; Brunswick, North Pointe Insurance Group and QubicaAMF Worldwide who help make IBE 09 possible.
International Bowl Expo's registration booklets will be in the mail soon. Online registration and other information will be available on the official Bowl Expo Website, or by calling the Expo answer line: 888.649.5585.