CLEVELAND, Tenn. (April 30, 2009)—Leading off the 15th Annual Evening Shade concert series on May 1 in downtown Johnston Park is Henry Gross, founding member of the world famous rock-and-roll revival group, “Sha Na Na.”

“Henry Gross is the first of five fun nights we’re giving the community,” Kyle Elrod, Evening Shade co-chair, said. “We want people to enjoy entertainers with a broad appeal and with greater name awareness this season. And the best part is that, in the midst of a recession, the concerts are still free.”

Henry Gross is a veteran singer, songwriter, recording artist, actor and comedian. Born on April Fools Day in 1951 in Brooklyn, New York, Gross began playing clubs at age 13 with hi first band. Before long he was performing at the 1964 World’s Fair and spending summers honing his skills at Catskill Mountain resorts.

His career rose to amazing heights when, in 1969, he co-founded the 1950s rock-and-roll revival band “Sha Na Na” and became the youngest performer that summer at “The Woodstock Festival.”

He eventually left the group to record on his own, making over a dozen critically acclaimed albums for the most prestigious labels in the world. In 1976 he received a gold record for his worldwide, chart-topping hit “Shannon,” a song inspired by the death of Beach Boy’s lead singer Carl Wilson’s Irish setter.

Gross has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in rock-and-roll history, including Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, Billy Joel, The Byrds, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Huey Lewis, and Hall and Oates.

Promoters say, “Henry promises to put every ounce of energy he has into making it an evening you’ll remember.”

Mix 104.1-WCLE will broadcast live from Johnston Park each Friday night from 6 to 7 p.m.

“This week you can tune in to Mix 104.1 to hear an interview with Henry before the concert,” Elrod said, adding that The Ark of Cleveland will also be present in Johnston Park with some of their adoptable animals in conjunction with Gross’s appearance.

Evening Shade is a program of the Allied Arts Council of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. This free, family-friendly entertainment series is funded in part by local sponsors and under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission. Local sponsors for the Henry Gross concert are Constant Companion Pet Funeral Home and The Uptown Hound Doggy Day Spa and Resort.

Each of the five Friday-night concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will move to Arnold Memorial Elementary School.