Grand Funk anchors Mel Schacher, far left, and Don Brewer, far right, with newcomers from left, Bruce Kulick, Tim Cashion and Max Carl will bring "Some Kind of Wonderful" sounds to APG during the Army Entertainment Concert featuring Boston and Kansas...

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Tickets are still available for the Aug. 11 Army Entertainment Concert featuring Boston, Kansas and Grand Funk Railroad. Aberdeen Proving Ground hosts the night of classic rock on Shine Sports Field. Gates open 6:00 p.m.; show begins 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets cost $30; if available, $40 the day of the show.

Volunteers are still needed to work several areas of the concert. Please send your name in by e-mail if you are interested in volunteering. E-mail: APGR-USAG-MWR-Leisuretravel@conus.army.mil.

Grand Funk Railroad

Originating in 1969 in Flint, Mich., Grand Funk Railroad -- or simply Grand Funk - was founded by lead singer and drummer Don Brewer and Bassist Mel Schacher. Brewer and Schacher still lead the band today; performing 30 to 40 concerts a year. The top-selling American rock group was made famous by "American Band," the song that got things started.

Grand Funk laid the groundwork for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature hard-driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful pop melodies. The fact that the Grand Funk legacy still reigns over the classic rock landscape more than 40 years after its birth is a testament to the group's influence and staying power. Megahits like "We're an American Band," "I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home," "Locomotion" and "Some Kind of Wonderful" still receive continuous airplay on classic rock radio, in movie sound tracks and in television and radio advertising.

The band has had 19 charted singles, eight Top 40 hits and two Number One singles, both selling more than $1 million each. The group has accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide.

Rounding out today's group are veteran entertainers. Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS, and keyboardist Tim Cashion's "Dr. Tim," credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Finally, vocalist Max Carl from 38 Special, penned and sang 38's biggest hit, "Second Chance.

Brewer called Carl "the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet."

He said Grand Funk was "one of the last, unique combinations of rhythm and blues and rock and that he attributes the group's longevity to the consensus of recording companies during the 70s.

"I think during that time period record companies were totally into creating careers, not just over one-hit wonders," he said. "The system allowed for very creative music which created strong followings. Today, music has become disposable."

Grand Funk broke up in the mid-70s but was resurrected in the 1990s and the band, with its two original founders and three new members, has been performing regularly since 2000.

"We didn't do anything for awhile and then all of a sudden we were classic rock," Brewer said.

Brewer, who lives in Florida when not on tour with either Grand Funk or his good friend Bob Segar, said he exceeded his goals with the band and that he'd like to keep performing indefinitely.

"Back then, all we wanted was one hit song. To see multiple generations singing the words to your songs is gratifying," he said.

When asked how he'd like to be remembered, Brewer said "just as a good family guy."

He said he trusts his wife and daughter to not let him "hang around too long."

"I told them when I start making a fool of myself I want you to tell me to stop," he said.