A Seattle singer-songwriter who co-wrote one of Elton John's biggest hits will kick off the Port of Olympia's free Summer Nights at the Port concert series July 17, at the waterfront NorthPoint venue overlooking South Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
LeRoy Bell takes the stage at 7 p.m. at 1210 Marine Drive NE, next to the Swantown Marina boat launch parking lot.
The beer garden and food trucks open at 6 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. Admission is free. The series' second concert date is Friday, August 7.
Bell, born in Pensacola, Florida, in 1951, settled in the Pacific Northwest as a teenager. With partner Casey James, he formed the duo Bell & James, whose 1979 single "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The pair also co-wrote "Mama Can't Buy You Love" for Elton John, which hit No. 1 on the Adult/Contemporary chart in 1979 and earned John a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
Bell returned to the spotlight in 2011 as a contestant on the inaugural U.S. season of "The X Factor," finishing eighth overall under mentor Nicole Scherzinger.
He now performs as LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, blending pop-soul melodies with hard-rocking beats. Per his website, he has shared stages with B.B. King, Etta James, Van Morrison, Al Green, and Mavis Staples.
Four food vendors will be on-site Friday: Taqueria La Esquinita Mexican Kitchen, Sweetlees Ice Cream, Bulgogi Hustle, and Iced Up. Northwest Beerwerks is running the beer garden.
A big week for live arts downtown
The NorthPoint show lands in the middle of a packed stretch for Olympia's performing arts scene.
At Harlequin Productions' State Theater, 202 4th Ave. E., "Million Dollar Quartet" runs through Sunday, July 26. The Tony-nominated musical dramatizes the 1956 Sun Records jam session that brought Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins together in one room.
Ben Bailey plays Elvis, Nathan Roberts is Johnny Cash, Wyatt Brownell takes on Jerry Lee Lewis, and Maverick McCarl portrays Carl Perkins, with Emily Rollie directing.
"We have a great opportunity as a community to be part of that moment, and be part of the party that emerges from these characters playing together," Rollie said in a July 10 social media video previewing the production. Tickets start at $39; pay-what-you-choose performances are scheduled for Thursday, July 16, and Saturday, July 18, both at 7:30 p.m.
Bailey also stars in "Elvis '56: The Story Behind the King's Rise," a 45-minute one-man show at the same theater. The next performance is Thursday, July 23, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Meanwhile, Capital Lakefair continues in Heritage Park through Sunday, July 19. The Grand Parade rolls down Capitol Way on Saturday, July 18, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and the Grand Finale Fireworks launch at 10:15 p.m. Sunday, July 19.
