Buffalo Philharmonic announces 2014-15 'BPO Rock Series'

Randy Newman, Blood Sweat & Tears and "Music of Led Zeppelin" among highlights of Buffalo Philharmonic's "Rock Series"

Classic rock for all generations is on tap for the BPO's 2014-15 "Rock Series."

The series gets underway at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, with supergroup The Hit Men. The members of this appropriately named band are behind some of the biggest hits of acts such as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Carly Simon, Carole King and Elton John and Kiki Dee. The group is comprised of Lee Shapiro, Gerry Polci, Jimmy Ryan, Larry Gates and Russ Velazquez. The show offers audiences a guided tour of the glory days of rock and roll by the men responsible for its mainstays.

One of Western New York's favorite symphonic rock shows, the "The Music of Led Zeppelin," returns at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. With Brent Havens on the podium and Randy Jackson on vocals, this show has sold out its past two engagements with the BPO.

Considered the best in the business, Jay White has performed more than 2,000 Neil Diamond Las Vegas casino shows, weaving a songbook tapestry for a generation. He captures Diamond's essence and charismatic stage presence, along with an uncanny vocal and physical likeness. His BPO debut takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.

Randy Newman's quirky, sardonic songs have been raising eyebrows for decades. His recent work on the soundtracks to Pixar's smash hits has earned him a new generation of fans and won him Oscars, Grammys, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He makes his Buffalo Philharmonic debut at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, performing hits from "Short People" to "You've Got A Friend in Me."

For more than four decades, the jazz-infused progressive rock of Blood Sweat & Tears has been a genre unto itself. Today's version of Blood Sweat & Tears features singer Bo Bice, who performed "Spinning Wheel" on "American Idol," finishing second only to Carrie Underwood that season. The story of Blood Sweat & Tears stretches from the creativity and turbulence of the late '60s to the swiftly changing world of the 21st century. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, hear hits such as "And When I Die" and "You Make Me So Very Happy" re-imagined with a full orchestra.

On Friday, May 1, Havens returns to the podium for "The Music of Michael Jackson." Singer James Delisco, fresh from a $1 million contract at the Las Vegas Hilton, portrays Michael Jackson with all of the spectacle and pizzazz befitting the undisputed King of Pop. Featuring rock show lighting and a six-piece band, this show brings the songs of an icon to life. The concert begins at 8 p.m. 

Subscriptions for the "BPO Rock Series" are currently available. Subscribers can save up to 25 percent off the single ticket price by purchasing all six concerts, beginning at $198. Flex packages of eight, 10 or 12 tickets are also available for a savings of 10 percent off the single ticket price. Single tickets go on sale Saturday, Aug. 9.