"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.

This week: Happy Together.. The TURTLES and RASCALS and more hit bands... you can win tickets...

Send me your nostalgic anecdote about The Turtles, the Young Rascals Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, or the other bands performing at the Celebrity Theatre on Aug. 1 and you could win tickets and a signed poster!

I’ve got more details at the end of this column, but first, here’s the scoop on Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Felix Cavaliere, the founder of the Young Rascals (“Grovin’,” “People Got to Be Free,” “A Girl Like You” and “Beautiful Morning,”…among many other 60’s and 70’s hits) who went on to perform and write hit songs in the 70’s and 80’s.

Recently, when Billy Joel and Elton John’s “Face 2 Face” tour hit Nashville, they asked Felix to join them on stage for a dynamic rendition of “Good Lovin’.” It’s the hit Felix made famous with the Young Rascals. To watch the video of the Billy Joel/Elton John concert with Felix visit YouTube.com.

In June of this year, Felix was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame at its annual awards dinner in New York City. He was inducted along with Jon Bon Jovi; Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora (Heather Locklear’s ex who is pictured above with Felix at the awards), Eddie Brigati, a former Young Rascal band member and six others were inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Last year, Felix was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Performance category for the track “Love Appetite” from the “Nudge it Up a Notch” album, which he recorded with guitarist Steve Cropper.

Getting back to the Aug. 1st concert in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theatre- I’ve been to the concert at other venues and it’s a wonderful show- and a chance to relive the songs and memories with some of the original members such as Flo and Eddie of the Turtles, (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan). The two talented guys from Westchester who made it into the fast lane of stardom, and even hung out with the Beatles, are also good storytellers with an entertaining sense of humor.

“Happy Together,” “It Ain’t Me Babe,” “She’d Rather Be With Me” are a few of the many, many hits The Turtles topped the charts with in the 60’s and 70’s. (Can’t help but mention that it’s the song I danced to in the 60’s for the school talent show. Several of my girlfriends and I choreographed an energetic performance donning matching outfits. We were a hit- although mostly because the majority of the audience knew all the words to the song.)

I still have my 45 records of the Young Rascals and The Turtles – although my “Happy Together” record was stolen at the talent show.

"There's nothing else like this in one night to hear so many major hits," says the Turtles' Mark Volman on his cell phone as he was rushing through the Detroit airport on their multi-city national tour.

So send me your nostalgic stories that you think one of the Turtles or the Rascals, Badfinger, or the other bands performing- ones the bands would enjoy. Email your entry to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The person with the best anecdote - or photos of you with one of the band members - will win two good seats at the Aug 1st concert and a blown up Hippiefest concert poster signed by the bands. The deadline is 7/30. We can’t wait to read them and share them with some of the band members.

Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .