Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A well done rendition of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, performed by local band Black Sheep, greeted attendees of the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival's Official Artist Welcome Party at the Villa del Palmar Flamingos on Thursday, December 11, 2014. Consisting of five Puerto Vallarta musicians, Black Sheep entertained the audience with Pop and Rock songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s, & 80s in English and Spanish, under a colorful light show.

Festival Producer, John Zaring

With the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop to the stage, the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival is being held in Nuevo Vallarta at the Sunset Garden adjacent to the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta from December 12 through Sunday, December 14, 2014.

Festival producer John Zaring, who was in attendance at the Festival's Official Artist Welcome Party, said, "Vallarta is the perfect backdrop for the world's first ever - and only - classic rock festival. We are expecting a wonderful turnout to see and hear these musicians. We can feel young again in a beautiful setting." John reminded everyone that "Christmas is coming," and he encouraged "those attending to bring unwrapped toys for local children."

Also seen at Thursday night's private party from the Lee Rocker Band were:

Guitarist Brophy Dale, who currently resides in California and performs worldwide with former Stray Cats' slap bass player, Lee Rocker of the Lee Rocker Band, as well as with his own roots-rock blues group, The Brophy Dale Band.

Brophy Dale and Jimmy Sage

Drummer Jimmy Sage, who attended College of Marin, San Francisco State University, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music has toured with many popular bands. These include country and rock musicians Willie Nelson, Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker.

Both Dale and Sage promised this will be "a great classic rock festival" and they were extremely excited to be in Puerto Vallarta.

Double Bass Player Lee Rocker, was a member of the Rockabilly Revival Band 'The Stray Cats.' Rocker and The Stray Cats sold nearly 10 million albums (Rock This Town among others) and garnered 23 gold and platinum certified records worldwide.

Lee Rocker & Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats, along with special guest singer/guitarist/songwriter Billy Burnette (Fleetwood Mac from 1987 to 1995), opened the First Annual Vallarta/Nayarit Classic Rock Festival at 12 noon on Friday, December 13th.

The four-day event includes 3 days of classic rock music performances by 20 artists and bands, a charity golf outing to benefit DIF (a local children's charity), and the 'Giant of Rock' party, where legendary soul singer Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave) will be honored for his lifetime of achievements.

The lineup for the daily concerts in Nuevo Vallarta also includes Dave Mason (Traffic), Americana rockers the BoDeans, Rockabilly specialists Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats, country rockers Poco, Pure Prairie League and Firefall, and iconic classic rock bands Jefferson Starship, Kansas, Cheap Trick, Foghat and Spencer Davis Group.

Several solo artists and singers will have their sets backed by the festival's all-star 'house band,' including Craig Fuller (lead singer of both Little Feat and Pure Prairie League), The Monkees' front man Micky Dolenz, Sam Moore, and former Grand Funk Railroad singer Mark Farner.

Other house band members include stellar musicians from several legendary rock acts, such as former Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan lead guitarist Jeffrey 'Skunk' Baxter; former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and Rockabilly Hall of Famer Billy Burnette; The Cars guitarist Elliot Easton; bassists Kenny Lee Lewis of Steve Miller Band and Kenny Gradney of Little Feat; drummers Curly Smith (Boston) and Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty, John Mellencamp), and keyboardist Teddy 'Zig Zag' Andreadis (many artists including Carole King, Guns 'n Roses.)

In addition the backing soloists, the house band will also play songs from their own catalogs. Rock comic Mark Eddie and guitarist Carlo Vohl are also on the bill. Other Acts on Friday, December 12 were Spencer Davis Group, Mark Farner (lead singer of Grand Funk Railroad,) the BoDeans, Sam Moore of Sam and Dave; and 3-time Grammy nominee, Micki Free of Shalamar.

It was announced at the party that rock vocalist and Hall of Fame songwriter Lou Gramm (the voice of Foreigner) has regretfully bowed out of performing at the Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival. The legendary singer's father passed away Wednesday, December 10 in Rochester, NY.

The rock fest is supported by both the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit Tourism Boards. Marc Murphy of the Riviera Nayarit Tourism Board said, "We are very happy to host the first annual Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival. We know that this event will be a great start to our tourist season, and we hope all attending will have a great time and continue to enjoy this beautiful destination."

For a full schedule of Vallarta-Nayarit Classic Rock Festival performances and ticket info, visit VallartaNayaritClassicRockFest.com.

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