Kayla Starr Takes the Stage

Sayville resident Kayla Starr recently performed for the Town of North Hempstead's ongoing free summer concert series at Manorhaven Beach Park in Port Washington.

Starr performing covers of classic hits, followed by the legendary rock 'n roll band the Lovin' Spoonful. However, the crowd only got to enjoy the music for a little more than an hour, before the show was called on account of an intense lightning storm and tornado watch.

While the weather was still pleasant, though incredibly humid, WHLI DJ Paul Richards, host of the station's morning show, acted as emcee and introduced the opening act, 12-year-old singer Kayla Starr.

The Sayville resident started her set with a rendition of the Frankie Lymon song "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," and continued her performance with covers of other timeless hits by artists such as Brenda Lee, Leslie Gore, and Etta James. Her version of "At Last" even got some couples in the crowd up and slow-dancing. At one point, her father joined her onstage to do backing vocals on Olivia Newton-John's "Let Me Be There."

"If you believe in magic like I believe in magic," said Town Clerk Leslie Gross before the show, referencing one of the Lovin' Spoonful's biggest hits, "the weather is going to hold up!" But despite the wishful thinking of the Town Clerk, lightning started flashing across the sky shortly after the Lovin' Spoonful took the stage. Even though the concert was cut short, the Lovin' Spoonful still succeeded in performing their biggest hits for the crowded audience, opening with "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice," and after being informed the concert was going to be cut short, ran through "Summer in the City" and "Do You Believe in Magic."