By Katie Curley Katzman
NEWBURYPORT — On the strength of hits such as "Sorry Suzanne" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," Terry Sylvester and The Hollies will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday.
But before The Hollies secure their spot in rock history, a local woman will be joining them in a performance nearby this weekend.
Lauren Ouellette-Chapman has been asked to join Sylvester as the opening act for Sylvester's performance at Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus.
"Her voice is amazing; I was not only impressed but am a huge fan of Lauren," said Sylvester, who has heard her perform while at Kowloon in the past and asked her to be part of his show tomorrow night.
"I'm very excited and honored," Ouellette-Chapman said. "It's not every day you get asked to sing with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee."
Ouellette-Chapman, who is currently building a home on Ferry Lots Lane in Salisbury, sings at the Kowloon almost every weekend. Sylvester's agent heard her sing and brought Sylvester by to hear her.
"I've been working at Kowloon for 15 years. The people who own that restaurant are wonderful people," Ouellette-Chapman said, noting a push to bring in more live acts in an intimate setting.
Typically, Ouellette-Chapman can be found singing in the main dining room. Tomorrow night, she will be singing upstairs in the restaurant as the opening act for Sylvester.
In December 1968, Graham Nash left The Hollies to form Crosby, Stills, & Nash. The remaining members of The Hollies remembered Terry Sylvester and hired him as a replacement.
Sylvester's first single with the Hollies, "Sorry Suzanne," reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom charts and established the group once again. Sylvester's first full album "Hollies Sing Dylan," went even farther, all the way to No. 1.
Soon after, they recorded "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," with an unknown named Elton John playing piano. The song became a worldwide hit.
"I've never personally spoken with Terry, but (tomorrow) we are getting together early to do sound check and go over the music," she said.
A mainly self-taught singer, Ouellette-Chapman has no formal training but spent years singing in the wedding band "Classix" and can be found most of the time at the Hope Community Church in Newburyport on Sundays.
"I've just always enjoyed singing and pursued it because it's a love," Ouellette-Chapman said.
Tomorrow night, Ouellette-Chapman will be performing "Run Away," originally by Del Shannon, and "I Will Survive," originally by Gloria Gaynor.
"They were hits in the 1970s," she said.
While Ouellette-Chapman is excited to perform with a music legend, she also hopes the performance brings more attention to the Kowloon, which is celebrating its 60th birthday this year.
"I hope it promotes the music at Kowloon," she said. "I was born in 1970, but I am familiar with The Hollies; even my sister, who is younger, knows the music."
Ouellette-Chapman said even those who don't think they know Hollies music will be surprised.
"There are so many songs you may not be sure of the name but you know the music and the words," she said. "It will be a great show with danceable music, great slow stuff and songs to sing along to."
To reserve seats for this weekend's show, call Andrea Watson at 781-233-0011. Tickets are $20 each.
