No stranger to the Sacramento market, The Moody Blues’ front-man Justin Hayward has been playing the Crest Theater for many years with great success. Over the course of half a century, Justin Hayward’s undeniable voice and guitar-playing abilities have made him a household name all over the globe. And while The Moody Blues’ catalog is strong enough on its own, the 77-year-old vocal maestro has released a bevy of solo albums with great success.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is quite busy this year and will be touring in the States and the United Kingdom. As luck would have it, he’s starting his 2024 US tour in Sacramento and will inevitably end his run at the Great South Bay Music Festival in Patchogue, New York, on July 21. Those who’ve never seen the elder statesman of classic rock expect an unforgettable evening of his older and newer material.
As the writer of The Moody Blues’ most requested and respected songs, including “Nights in White Satin,” “Question,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” “New Horizons,” “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Story In Your Eyes,” and “The Voice,” Hayward’s catalog has stood the test of time, selling a staggering 55 million plus records since his debut record with the band, ‘Days Of Future Passed’ (1967).
Although the band’s many hardcore fans would argue which record was their best, every record from 1967 to 1986 achieved Gold or Platinum status. Of worthy mention was ‘Seventh Sojourn’ (1970), which reached #1 in the US but, sadly, was one of the darkest times for the group. Said late drummer Graeme Edge, “At the time of recording Seventh Sojourn, it was my least favorite album. But years later, after coming to it with fresh ears and away from all of the pressures of that time, I realized that it was really rather good!”
The Moody Blues released yet another #1 Top Billboard album in the US with fan-favorite ‘Long Distance Voyager’ (1981) saw songs like “Gemini Dream” and “The Voice” bring even more fans into the fold.
For the uninitiated, a re-release of Justin’s ‘Nights In White Satin’ amazingly rose to #2 on the US singles chart, earning Hayward one of his four well-deserved ASCAP awards. He also launched a successful solo career in 1977 with ‘Songwriter’ on Deram Records.
For those looking to hear Justin’s latest solo material, the ‘One Summer Day’ EP (2020) is a great starting point featuring the ultra-catchy “Living for Love” single.
Justin Hayward with special guest Mike Dawes plays the Crest Theatre located at 1013 K Street in Sacramento, CA. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts promptly at 8pm. Tickets start at $46.50 and can be purchased at www.crestsacramento.com. All ages are welcome. Bar and concessions are located in the lobby.
Cover photo by Valeria Maselli
