Okay I have a confession – I really wasn’t very familiar with the B-52's beyond having heard 'Love Shack' before last Friday night’s concert at the Lowell Summer Music Series where Vitamin Angels was the honorary guest. Everything changed once the music started flowing. I learned that the B-52's hold the illustrious title of the 'Party Band of the Century'. People were wildly dancing and so excited to be partying the night away with their favorite band doing all of their classic hits including, Private Idaho, Mesopotamia, and their mega hit, Rock Lobster. 

How Vitamin Angels got paired with the B-52's revolves around one of our biggest supporters, Rick Antonelli, who a few years ago (when he was COO of UNFI) accompanied me on a life-changing trip to see Vitamin Angels' work up close in the Batey's of the Dominican Republic.

Rick's good childhood friend, Peter Aucella is the mastermind behind the Lowell Summer Music Series which is how we ended up there. Essentially Rick chooses his favorite band (last year it was Michael Franti) and invites all of his friends from the Natural Products Industry to have a big party with Vitamin Angels. In 2009, we were given the key to the city by Lowell Mayor Bud Caulfield. This year, always wanting to outdo himself, Rick and Peter got together with 5th District Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas, to give Vitamin Angels an Honorary Award from the US House of Representatives, acknowledging all of the work we are doing to help children around the world. 

The wonderful thing is that so many of Vitamin Angels' supporters from the Natural Product's Industry were there to enjoy the evening with us. I spoke to a sold-out crowd of 3,000+ (always a tough thing to do when people have come to hear rock and roll) and was so thrilled at the end of the night when scores of people came up to us to thank Vitamin Angels for the work we are doing. What a night! Now if I can just stop singing 'Love Shack.’

Our thanks to Peter Aucella, Rick Antonelli, the B52’s and all of the evening’s sponsors.

Check out Howard's radio interview with 980 WCAP before the event.