All roads will lead to the Fairmont Southampton Resort?s Mid-Ocean Amphitheatre on February 11 if promoter David Frost of Treble Clef Promotions has his way ? and that?s because he will be presenting a serious trip down memory lane for nostalgia buffs and lovers of yesterday?s music.

Headlining the romantic evening, appropriately dubbed ?The Love Jam?, will be the American singing group, Tavares, who will be returning to the Island and to the stage on which they have previously performed.

They will be joined in the pre-Valentine event by local musicians and singers, some of whom performed in concerts at the former Rosebank Theatre.

They are: Stevie Darrell and the Antels, and The U-fonics, both of who will be backed by the James Richardson Quartet (James on piano, Kevin Maybury on drums, Stan Gilbert on bass, Randy Lambert on guitar) and Keith Caisey (percussion). Bermuda Idol Ari-Genea will also be performing, while Ed (Ron I) Ible will emcee the evening.

Tavares, who first came to national attention with their ballad, ?Check It Out?, are probably best known for such up-tempo hits as the million-selling single, ?Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel?, ?More than a Woman?, and ?Whodunit?.

The group also had the first hit version (No. 1 R&B) of Hall and Oates? ?She?s Gone?.

The group?s crisp vocalising and clean-cut, young-men-next-door image made them favourites on TV shows starring Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, and Dick Clark?s American Bandstand.

The five brothers ? Arthur, Ralph, Perry, Antone and Feliciano ? started the group in 1964 as Chubby and the Turnpikes in Massachusetts.

Their grandparents taught them traditional Cape Verde folk songs, while their older brother John schooled them on doo-wop singing.

In 1969 they changed their name to Tavares, and were signed to Capitol Records in 1973. Thereafter followed a succession of hits throughout the 1970s.

?More than a Woman? was specifically written for the group by the Bee Gees, and was issued as a single from the 11-million-selling ?Saturday Night Fever? soundtrack. In 1994, Canadian label Unidisc released ?The Best of Tavares Revisited.?

Bermuda group The U-Fonics is a male vocal quartet whose repertoire consists of R&B and ballads from the ?60s, ?70s. Its members are Kenneth Simmons ? the only member of the original U-Fonics ? who sings bass, Wendell Simmons (first tenor), Gerald Swan (second tenor) and Lawrence (Luke) Webb (baritone).

The U-Fonics, originally formed around 1986, remains active on the local music scene, performing for special functions, benefits, and community events.

Highlights of its career include performing with such renowned US singing groups as the Delfonics, Drifters, Platters, Marvelettes and Chi-Lites when they appeared here. The group designs its own choreography, and is well received wherever it appears.

Bermudian singer Stevie Darrell and all but one of his original group, The Antells, are reuniting for the first time in over 40 years to again work their magic with selections from their R&B repertoire. The once hugely-popular group, which formed in the early 1960s and swept the ?Battle of the Groups? title in 1963, have been making vague promising to reunite ?one more time? ever since they disbanded around 1964/5, and now it is finally happening.

Mr. Darrell, who hails from a musical family, was a pre-teen at the height of the Antells? popularity, and today recalls the crazy scenes at some of their appearances due to the enthusiasm of the group?s fans.

?We all sang at the Rosebank, and one time there was a mini-riot, and they were threatening never to have another show there,? he says. ?We sang at just about every nightclub in Bermuda, as well as the US bases, Mount Area, Clayhouse Inn. You name it, we were there. Those were the days.?

In fact, Mr. Darrell was so young at the time that officially he was not allowed into nightclubs, but says he had such a following that he circumvented the rules and sang anyway.

?I?d sing my songs and then leave,? he says. ?As long as I was making them money everybody turned a blind eye.?

Today, the singer admits that, being so young at the time, he failed to realise his potential and couldn?t see a future as an entertainer, so he left The Antells and it was disbanded.

Fans who remember the group?s heyday will recall that, in addition to Mr. Darrell ? who says his voice is still in top form ? its members were Leon Raynor, Dennis Burrows, Colin Smith and Neil Zuill, all but one of whom will be seen again on February 11. Unfortunately, Mr. Zuill is unable to participate.

As much as he is looking forward to what he says will be a wonderful event, Mr. Darrell admits that he cannot wait to see Tavares again.

?They are a fabulous group, just sensational. They blew me away when I heard them.?

Showtime for The Love Jam is 9 p.m., with doors opening at 8 p.m. Dress is semi-formal, and a complimentary rose will be presented to each sweetheart.

Tickets ($85) are now available from the People?s Pharmacy, Music Box, 20th Century Boutique, and the Fairmont Southampton Resort?s concierge desk.

For those wishing to make a really special evening of it, three-course dinners are being offered at two of the hotel?s restaurants: Newport Room ($80, including gratuities) and Bacci ($55 including gratuities), and for overnighters special room/breakfast rates are available.

For further information contact the concierge desk at 238-8000.