Rock legends The Moody Blues announce the lineup for their 2016 Spring tour titled FLY ME HIGH – which begins on March 3 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.  The tour, named after the band’s 1966 recording of “Fly Me High,” will hit 23 cities next spring including the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

The third annual Moody Blues Cruise titled Moody Blues Cruise III, will precede the tour from February 26-March 1, 2016, on the NCL Pearl launching from Miami, Florida, making stops in Key West, Florida and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.  Guest artist performers on the cruise will include: Chuck Negron, founding member of Three Dog Night, Mark Farner, former Grand Funk Railroad frontman, Vanilla Fudge, Brian Howe of Bad Company fame, The Zombies, John Waite, Christopher Cross, The Ides of March, Renaissance, Ambrosia and The Orchestra (a band featuring former members of ELO).  For more information visit: http://moodiescruise.com/.

The band named the 2016 tour “Fly Me High” to mark the 50th Anniversary of Justin Hayward and John Lodge joining Graeme Edge, Ray Thomas and Mike Pinder as lead guitarist and bassist for the iconic band.  Says Hayward, "2016 is the 50th anniversary of John and myself joining the band, and one of the first things we did together that year was record 'Fly Me High' at our own expense at Regent Sound Studios in Denmark Street.”

“The 'suits' at Decca liked it but thought it could be recorded better,” continues Hayward.  “So we turned up at the Decca studios on the appointed day where we met Tony Clarke for the first time. He was assigned to us as 'in house' producer and we recorded the song again. Decca released the new version and it was picked up by the BBC who used it as a 'jingle' for a while. It was all absolutely great and 'Fly Me High' was the start of our new sound and direction. The Decca engineer on 'Fly Me High' was Gus Dudgeon who went on to produce mega hits with Elton John. He did a great job!"

Recalls Lodge, “1966…England wins the World Cup…I complete my college course...Ray Thomas telephones me (from our earlier days with El Riot and the Rebels)... I meet Justin...we go into the studios and record "Fly Me High"…we get a record deal with Decca Records.  We were truly "Flying High."

Says Edge, "50 years ago Ray rang up John to invite him to join us, and Justin was also invited.  He laughingly continues, “I was a little put out as they were both over 6 foot and I, a mere 5 foot 8 inches, but over the next 50 years, I learned to look up to them.”

The Moody Blues – Justin Hayward (lead guitar, vocals), John Lodge (bass guitar, vocals) and Graeme Edge (drums) -- have been at the forefront of the classic rock music scene since the 60’s with their multi-Platinum, Platinum and Gold albums and singles hitting Billboard at #1, Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 and Top 40.  Their illustrious roster of hits include:  “Nights In White Satin,” "Tuesday Afternoon," “Ride My See Saw,” “The Story In Your Eyes,” “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Question,” “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)” and “Your Wildest Dreams,” and many more.