26th Annual Great Lawn Summer Concert Returns to St. John’s University Featuring the American Soul Band

(QUEENS, NY, June 3, 2026) — St. John’s University will celebrate 26 years of music under the stars when the Queens, NY, campus hosts the annual Great Lawn Summer Concert on Tuesday, June 30, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The 26th annual concert features the American Soul Band, led by St. John’s alumna Deanna Carroll, performing timeless hits from the Motown era. The high-energy program—called “The Great American Soul Book,”—features legendary R&B sounds and classic soul, creating an unforgettable musical experience for guests of all ages.

“I am thrilled to perform at my alma mater,” Ms. Carroll said. “Fans can expect a high-energy performance with some great music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Wherever we perform, the audience always gets involved.” 

Guests should enter Gate 1 at Utopia Parkway and Kildare Road before the 7 p.m. start and bring chairs and blankets. The concert will move indoors to The Little Theatre at St. John’s in the event of inclement weather.

The event supports Hearts on Fire: The Campaign for St. John’s, a bold initiative to strengthen the University through student scholarships, academic excellence, and capital improvements.

St. John’s alumni are invited to attend a preconcert barbecue, featuring summer food, wine, and beer. Tickets for the alumni barbecue are priced at $30 per person and are free for St. John’s Loughlin and McCallen Society members. Preregistration is required for the alumni barbecue.

“St. John’s Great Lawn Summer Concert has long been a signature event that brings together alumni, families, friends, and neighbors for an evening of music and community,” said Paul Lazauskas ’01CCPS, ’08M.B.A., Associate Director, Office of Alumni Relations. “As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, we are proud to welcome the American Soul Band for an unforgettable evening celebrating the music and artists who have shaped America’s cultural heritage.” 

“This cherished tradition strengthens the bonds within the St. John’s community while supporting the University’s Hearts on Fire campaign and its mission to transform the student experience for generations to come,” Mr. Lazauskas added.

For more information about the summer concert, contact Mr. Lazauskas in the Office of Alumni Relations at St. John’s University, at 718-990-1912 or [email protected]. 

For media inquiries, please contact the University’s Office of Media Relations at 718-990-1621; [email protected].

• WHAT:  St. John’s University's 26th annual Summer Concert, featuring the American Soul Band performing “The Great American Soul Book”
• WHEN: Tuesday, June 30, at 7 p.m.
• WHERE: Great Lawn, St. John’s University’s Queens campus, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY

About St. John’s University:

St. John’s University is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic University founded in 1870 by the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians), with its main campus located in Queens, NY. St. John’s University also has campuses and locations in Manhattan, NY; Rome, Italy; Paris, France; and Limerick, Ireland.

St. John’s University is comprised of six Schools and Colleges, including the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies; St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; The Peter J. Tobin College of Business (including the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science); The School of Education; and the School of Law.

As of Fall 2025, the University has almost 1,300 full-time and part-time faculty; 16,651 undergraduate students; and 3,784 graduate students from 45 states and 125 countries. St. John’s offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs, including 16 doctoral programs.

About the American Soul Band:

The American Soul Band delivers a journey through the decades of Motown, R&B, and other iconic music that inspired generations through its show “The Great American Soul Book.” The band is led by Deanna Carroll, an alumna of St. John’s University who for years toured as Diana Ross in Lady Supreme. Ms. Carroll is joined by six talented background singers and six musicians whose performances delight audiences with the music of Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown, The Supremes, The Temptations, and more. Rooted in Motown and classic R&B, the band continues the journey forward with tributes to the newest generations of soulful superstars.