98 Degrees ready for debut before
military audience at Americafest
By Carlos Bongioanni,
Stars and Stripes
98 Degrees — Jeff
Timmons, Justin Jeffre, Nick Lachey and Drew Lachey — highlight Kadena's Americafest. |
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The musical group 98 Degrees will take center stage
Saturday at Kadena’s annual open house, performing for the first time in front of a
military audience.
Group members said they accepted the invitation to perform at Kadena and two other
military installations to show their appreciation to servicemembers and their families who
are serving their country overseas.
"It’s cool to come over and celebrate with them during the Fourth of July
holiday season ... It definitely gives us a good feeling to give back to them," said
group member Drew Lachey.
"People are really looking forward to the show," said Cecil Williams, the
festival director. "You wouldn’t believe all the phone calls I’ve been
getting for back-stage passes … 98 Degrees is going to be a big attraction."
Kadena officials say that groups receive advance warning of what is or is not
appropriate on U.S. military installations.
"There are certain expectations," said Judy Fair, the marketing director for
Kadena’s 18th Services Squadron.
Military contracts stipulate that performers can’t use profanity, talk about drugs
or put down the U.S. government. And no nudity is allowed.
Group members do not foresee a problem.
"We don’t get too crazy in our performances," said Justin Jeffre.
"We’re mainly about going out there and singing. We move around a bit, and we
have female dancers, but it’s nothing too risqué. We just do the music we love to
sing."
Jeffre said they typically attract young teen-age audiences to their shows, so they
keep it pretty clean.
Promoter Broderick Morris, the executive producer of Positive Production, said bringing
groups like 98 Degrees to bases here helps relationships between the U.S. military and the
local Japanese hosts.
"It looks good for everyone — the military overseas, the locals that are
allowed to get on base to do the show," said Morris.
Kadena officials take pride in having the biggest services squadron in the Air Force.
Bringing big-name entertainers to the base is a top priority.
Officials said they don’t skimp when they schedule big events. For Americafest and
an Independence Day celebration that will take place Tuesday, the air base spent nearly
$600,000 in entertainment alone.
Besides having 98 Degrees perform for one free 75-minute show Saturday, the base has
contracted to bring in "Rock and Roll Painter" Denny Dent for two one-hour
shows, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday.
Dent creates artistic portraits on 6-foot canvasses while holding three paint brushes
in each hand.
At Tuesday’s Independence Day event, the Beach Boys will take center stage.
"We have budgeted from the beginning to spend this money," said Fair.
"The thought process was … to bring in quality entertainment for the
community."
A host of other local groups will also perform throughout the two days of Americafest.
Officials estimate 250,000 people will visit the base this weekend. Two hundred fans
will get to meet 98 Degrees’ members during a private autograph session Friday at
Kadena’s Schilling Community Center. Only those who have tickets will be allowed in.
"We’re giving tickets away on the radio, as a promotion," said Kimberly
Cummings, the marketing publicist for the 18th Services Squadron.
Admission to Saturday’s 8:15 p.m. concert is free. Following the concert, 98
Degrees will fly to mainland Japan to do two more military concerts. They’ll perform
at Atsugi Naval Air Facility on July 1 and at Yokosuka Naval Base on July 4.
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effort is required to pull off Americafest
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