RIPON - The Limeliters, formed in 1959, are set to provide a rousing opening performance for the Ripon Arts League’s 19th season this Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Ripon High School Multi-purpose Room.

Considered among America’s greatest folk-singing groups, the Limeliters will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the entire season of five concerts are $30. A Tickets are available at the door or by calling Jackie at 599-3476.

The Limeliters celebrate their 52nd year. Glenn Yarborough, Lou Gottlieb and Alex Hassilov were the original Limeliters getting their start in Aspen, Colorado and moving on to smashing success at the Hungry i in San Francisco with recording popularity soon to follow.

The last active member of the original Limeliters performed here in 2001 but now the distinctive Limeliters sound is performed by Gaylen Taylor, Mack Bailey and Andy Corwin. In a recent phone interview, the group cited the reason for their continuing success “is a terrific chemistry of the three and intuitive communication,” In recent years the group has performed across the country and with other artists at the World Music Association in Washington including the likes of Chad Mitchell of the Chad Mitchell Trio and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.

The Limeliters recently recorded a PBS special in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. One of the groups opening numbers is “There’s a Meetin’ Here Tonight—a rousing tune that quickly gets the audience into the old style Hootenanny—as the group excels with its excellent harmonies. One concert attendee recently said “They make me smile no matter how bad my day was.”

Noted for the highly successful music vocal behind Coca Cola’s “Things Go Better with Coke” ad campaign in the early 60’s, the group has preserved their signature vocal sound and continue to please audiences coast to coast with songs like City of New Orleans, Harmony, and This Land is Your Land.