Barbara Harris loves performing at outdoor festivals.
“It sounds like your voice is blowing in the wind,” Harris said. “Then you’re outside and looking up at the sky. It’s beautiful. I love the outdoor shows.”
Fortunately, for Harris, as well as Springfield residents looking to celebrate America’s Independence Day in style, she will be performing during the township’s annual July 4th celebration on Monday.
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Harris, as part of girl group The Toys, scored hits in 1965 with the tune “A Lover’s Concerto,” the love song set to Mozart’s “Minuet in G major,” and other songs.
During the July 4th celebration, Harris and The Toys will perform a number of the group’s hits, as well as a medley of songs from other famous 1960s groups, including The Supremes, The Chiffons and The Angels. They will also perform a number of R&B and rock ‘n’ roll songs.
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Of course, Harris and her band perform “A Lover’s Concerto,” which she said many in the audience seem to remember, during all of their performances.
“Sometimes they’ll come up to me afterwards and say, ‘That was my wedding song’ or ‘that was the song I was listening to when I met my wife,’” she said.
Harris said she often performs at oldies festivals and in concerts. However, many of her performances – both with The Toys and with her local backup band, Rhythm & Babs – are club gigs, bar and bah mitzvahs, corporate parties and “a lot of weddings.”
Although most of her performances nowadays are in and around New Jersey, she said the band just came back from performing in Biloxi, Miss., and plans to head down soon for a performance in Florida and out west for a casino in Reno.
Harris began singing in 1965, the same year “A Lover’s Concerto” became famous, and said she recently realized that her 50-year anniversary is coming up.
“I’m amazed and thankful to God that I’m still alive, still kicking and able to do what I love,” Harris said.
The Toys featuring Barbara Harris will be performing Monday along with 1960s bubblegum pop group The bands begin performing at 7:30 p.m.
The , which includes fireworks, refreshments, rides and games, begins at 5 p.m. at Meisel Avenue Park. Donations of $5 are requested.
