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Roger Daltrey of The Who Comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall with Use It or Lose It Tour November 30

Written by Ruth Eckerd Hall

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

Roger Daltrey of The Who Comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall Tickets for Roger Daltrey’s “Use It or Lose It Tour” will come to Ruth Eckerd Hall on November 30th at 8:00pm. Tickets are on sale now.

As lead singer for The Who, he’s lent his Olympian pipes to a staggering array of enduring rock ‘n’ roll anthems. And with plans for the band’s next tour still up in the air, Daltrey decided a solo jaunt – his first since 1985 – would be just the thing “to keep my voice in trim, so I’ll be ready,” he explains. “Those songs demand a lot of voice!”

Daltrey will be joined onstage by a longtime collaborator, guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend (“His harmonies work beautifully with my voice,” Daltrey notes), and a stellar crew of American players, including guitarist/musical director Frank Simes, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button and drummer Scott Devours.

Promising a healthy serving of Who songs (“but they’ll be my versions of them”), solo material – including some songs he’s never played live – and covers that pay tribute to his influences and admired contemporaries, Daltrey relishes the chance to showcase dimensions of his vocal ability that even longtime fans haven’t yet experienced. “I think I have one of those unique, recognizable rock voices,” he ventures with typical understatement. “Even in a Who show there’s enormous range, but this show will give me an even greater opportunity to explore.”

Although he prefers to keep his set lists a surprise, it’s no secret that Daltrey has over the years performed songs by the likes of Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Queen, among others, alongside favorites from his Who and solo catalogs.

Time declared Daltrey a European Hero in 2003 for his work with Teenage Cancer Trust, among other charities; he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004. Along with Pete Townshend, the singer was a recipient at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors.

In addition to his charity work, Daltrey has devoted considerable time and energy to the cause of performers’ rights. In recent years he’s become one of the rock world’s most outspoken advocates on the subject, appealing to the British government to extend to musicians who play on recordings the same copyright protections now given to writers.

In the meantime, though, Roger Daltrey is ready to use his voice to do the thing he was born to do – bring rock fans to their feet.