John Waite is best known for his 1980s soft rock classic No. 1 hit “Missing You”. His collection of hits features some of the most loved songs of the ’80s and ’90s.

With a career spanning four decades, Waite is bringing his musical talents to Pensacola for a concert that you frankly … don’t want to miss.

The concert is more than music. It’s also a benefit to support Studer Community Institute’s Early Learning initiatives.

Quint and Rishy Studer invited John Waite to perform at the REX Theater on Saturday, May 25. The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets to the show are free. But organizers are asking for donations for SCI. A $30 donation pays for one Brain Bag for a family. A donation of $50 per ticket includes preferred seating at the REX Theater. 

Brain Bags are SCI’s early literacy toolkit, given to each of the 5,000 mothers who has a baby each year in Escambia County. 

This bag includes advice and activities to help parents use the power of talking, reading, singing and playing with their babies from the very first days of life to build a child’s brain. 

Healthy early brain development is critical in the first three years of life – when 85 percent of the human brain develops. A healthy brain is the foundation for a child’s readiness for school — and helps puts that child on a path for success in school and life.

John Waite is one of the most successful singers and songwriters of our time,” said Quint Studer, who founded the Studer Community Institute. “Rishy and I are excited to have him come to Pensacola to entertain us. In support of the work that SCI does in our community, we are providing the option to donate to help improve the quality of life for everyone … especially the children.”

Waite will be performing his catalogue of hits from his 40-year career as a solo artist, with The Babys and Bad English.

 His collection of hits features some of the most loved songs of the ’80s and ’90s – the No. 1 hit “Missing You”. The Babys “Isn't It Time” and Bad English's “When I See You Smile” rank among some of his biggest international hits and are still heard on radio today.

Other songs including “Tears”, “Change” and “These Times Are Hard For Lovers”. “Every Step Of The Way” and “If Anybody Had A Heart” appeared on the soundtrack to the 1986 Demi Moore film “About Last Night”. “Deal for Life”, penned by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin, was featured in the "Days Of Thunder" soundtrack.

 As a solo artist and lead singer of The Babys and Bad English, John Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the ’70s and ’80s. John Waite had a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, occasionally touching on new wave-styled power pop as well.

Seating is limited on a first come, first-served basis. If you reserve tickets, be sure to come, as you will be preventing other people from the opportunity to attend and enjoy the sounds of John Waite.

For more information, contact:

Felicia Rabb, [email protected]

Events and Volunteer Coordinator 

Studer Community Institute 

850-324-4113