Marvin Gaye. Pattie LaBelle. The Platters. Few bands today can say they have performed with these soulful greats, but The Jesters can without hesitation.

The Jesters, native to Athens, gained its start at a young age and quickly moved on to play behind big time names of the Motown music era.

Now a band that hardly performs for public events, The Jesters were the frat band to book during the ’60s.

After starting up 43 years ago at a talent show, the group gained success by staying local and moving up.

“There were no clubs then, so we played at frat parties, high schools and colleges,” Harold Williams, one of the original members, said. “We also played at The Beach Club in Myrtle Beach frequently and grew from there.”

Williams recalls Marvin Gaye as one of his heroes. “[Playing for] Marvin Gaye was the first time we met fame. We all fell in love with him.”

The Jesters most frequently played with The Platters.

“Playing with them just made us realize how amazing it was to get here, being Southern country little white boys,” Williams said. “But segregation was still alive and there were times when we could go places The Platters could not.”

To The Jesters, there was no issue of race.

“We would get looks sometimes, but it did not mean anything to us.” Williams said.

In 1970, the band took a 12-year break in order to establish other careers and lifestyles.

Getting back together in 1982, the band decided to do a limited amount of shows just for the love of music.

“We still play that era of Motown music that we grew up doing – that’s what this group is all about,” Williams said.

“Plus, if we play old music like this, we don’t have to rehearse as much.”

Despite playing a small amount of shows, people in Athens are very anxious for this performance.

“It is hard to get 10 guys together and there is a big history with all the band members,” Troy Aubrey, the talent buyer for The Melting Point, said. “We are very lucky to have them booked.”

The band, which includes three saxophone players, two trumpet players, a guitarist, a bassist, a keyboarder and a singer, has six of its original members.

After one band members passed away two years ago, the group realized how lucky it is to be performing.

“It’s pretty amazing to be doing the same thing 40 years later with the same people,” Williams said.

“We are friends that love doing this thing and are grateful as hell to keep doing it again.”