 Few performers can truly be called trendsetters. Fewer still can sustain a high-visibility presence in the pop culture consciousness for over 35 years. THE SHIRELLES have done these things and more - earning an exalted place in modern musical history as they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The lasting appeal of these classic hits is so broad that they continue to be heard daily on a wide variety of radio formats and have been featured in scores of films and television shows from Dirty Dancing and Born on the Fourth of July to Murphy Brown and Moonlighting. Not only did the Shirelles launch the careers of songwriters Carole King, Burt Bacharach, Ashford & Simpson and Van McCoy, they were among the first women to write their own music. Constantly reissued, "The Shirelles Greatest Hits" received the highest rating in The Rolling Stone Record Guide, described by leading music critic Dave Marsh as "essential to any serious record collector". The rise of compact discs has seen several original Shirelles' albums re-released to resounding acclaim, both critically and commercially. The Shirelles' history has included milestones reached by only a select few musicians: they were the first female group to sell a million records; they have performed for presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Carter; they were the first group to headline an integrated stage show in Alabama; they were also the first pop act to record a radio commercial for Coca-Cola ; they have appeared in the motion pictures "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and "Let The Good Times Roll," and were featured in the videocassette release, Girl Groups. The Shirelles have headlined at virtually every major concert venue in the world including Radio City Music Hall, The Apollo Theatre (over 25 times), Madison Square Garden (over 10 times), The Paris Olympia, the London Palladium and the Hollywood Bowl. The Shirelles continue to thrill audiences worldwide with their high energy show, "An Evening With The Shirelles," which features their many hits mixed with a wide range of selections from pop, rock, and soul, to gospel, country and standards. This, combined with spirited dancing and comedy in the inimitable style that millions of fans have come to expect of the legendary group, makes "An Evening With The Shirelles" an unforgettable entertainment experience.
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