By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

Polish those platform dancing shoes and press those bell bottoms, because there will be dancing in the aisles this weekend at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. K.C. and the Sunshine Band best known for their hits "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man" and "Get Down Tonight" kick off the Webb, Stuckey and Lindsey Summer Concert Series this Friday and Saturday.

The group ruled the charts and the dance floors in the mid to late '70s, producing four number one pop singles, three of which were number one R&B singles as well. They were the first band since the Beatles to score four number one singles in a 12-month period. The first hit was "Get Down Tonight," featuring the mantra "Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight." "That's the Way (I Like It)" and " Shake Your Booty" hit number one in 1975 and 1976 respectively. Though K.C. said he likes all of his songs, "Get Down Tonight" might just be his favorite. "It was the first baby," said K.C., "the song that launched it all."

K.C. got his start with Gospel music and was influenced heavily by the Motown sound and the blues from Memphis. He spent a lot of his time hanging out at the recording studio. "It was just what I loved. I love all kinds of music," he said. "If I wasn't doing what I am today, I would still be involved with the music industry somehow."

Today, he listens to all types of music, especially what is considered to be hot. He shies away from the disco label that seemed to follow all of the bands from that era. "We created the beat and rhythm that became Disco," K.C. said. " But I think that we were always more pop and R&B. We were the forerunners of that type of music, but we took it in different directions."

That was probably what has led to the resurgence of K.C. There was a brief period of time where he didn't want anything to do with the scene, but he and the Sunshine Band are back spreading their brand of cheer. When asked about disco and dance music's current resurgence, K.C. attributes it to the fact that "people want to have fun again." There is plenty of K.C. fun to be had these days as well. Rhino Records is releasing a double album of K.C. tracks and a new album will hit stores soon, entitled "Yummy."

"'Yummy' is a more dance oriented album than we have had in the past," K.C. said, describing the album. "It combines what we were and what is out there now. We wanted to take it further than we had gone before." K.C. is also planning on getting some tracks from "Yummy" remixed, and is looking for the hottest producers out there to do it.

All in all, it will be a busy summer for K.C. and the Sunshine Band. They will be on the road for more than 125 days this year and will tour solo as well as touring with such acts as Kool and the Gang, War, and Hootie and the Blowfish. When asked what the secrets are to having such a successful career, K.C. answered, "You must enjoy what you're doing, never be afraid and be kind of lucky." K.C. is all three of those and it shows in his music.

There are plenty of tickets available for K.C. and the rest of the concert series. The entire concert series package can be purchased for $85. The cost of tickets for one show is $21 plus a $3 handling fee. K.C. and the Sunshine Band play both Friday and Saturday nights. The doors open at 7 p.m., Carnegie Tide opens at 8 p.m., and K.C. and the Sunshine Band are scheduled to take the stage at 9 p.m.

For more information, call the amphitheater hot line, 770-631-0630.

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