The Hit Men bringing rock of the '70s and '80s to River Raisin Centre for the Arts Oct. 8

Thirteen years ago, five musicians who had performed with rock legends got together and created The Hit Men.

At 2 p.m. Oct. 8, the group, which calls itself the “ultimate rock band,” is coming to the River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Monroe St.

Tickets range from $15-39. For tickets, call 734-242-7722, stop by the box office or visit riverraisincentre.org.

The Hit Men was started by Lee Shapiro.

“I was one of Frankie Valli's Four Seasons, touring and recording hits like ‘Oh What A Night,’ ‘Who Loves You’ and all the hits of the ‘70s,” Shapiro said. “My fellow Seasons and I stayed in touch with each other and Frankie. In 2010, when 'Jersey Boys' won the Tony Award, I asked Frankie what he thought if we former Seasons went on tour to relive the hits we made in the past. He said go for it, and it became a big success.”

Eventually The Hit Men changed to accommodate its audiences.

“As time went by, audiences and band members grew older, and the audiences were not as plentiful. We decided to revamp the group from performers who toured with stars of the ‘60s and ‘70s to where we are now, with performers who have worked with stars of the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Those stars of the ’70 and ‘80s include Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Wings, Alan Parsons, Billy Joel, Sting, Elton John, Journey, The Who and Cream.

“We share first-hand experiences as eyewitnesses to rock history,” Shapiro said. “We share stories about our interactions and collaborations with the legends of classic rock.”

They also sing and play drums, keyboard, guitar and bass on songs like Foreigner’s “Feels Like the First Time,” Journey’s “Don't Stop Believin'” and Grand Funk’s “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

“The songs where the crowd knows the chorus and can sing along always go well,” Shapiro said.

Most of their crowd are people ages 50 to 75.

“(We hear) mostly nostalgic recollections and flattering comments about the authenticity of the band’s performance,” Shapiro said.

The Hit Men's members live in Florida and the New York City area. They travel nationally.

“We do about 30 to 35 shows a year,” Shapiro said.

In 2019, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville gave The Hit Men its first “Road Warrior Award” to recognize the band’s dedication and countless hours of touring.

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“We are constantly touring. Right now, the band is revisiting the setlist to vary the show for repeat members. Our future plans are to rock until we drop,” Shapiro said. “We Baby Boomers are the first generation of seniors citizens who didn’t grow up.”

The Hit Men's show is sponsored by Floral City Beverage. Beer, wine and seltzers will be sold.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: The Hit Men bringing rock of the '70s and '80s to RRCA Oct. 8