The Four Preps will present a magical evening of everything from Doo-Wop to pop standards including their enchanting “26-Miles Across the Sea (Santa Catalina…)” in the legendary Avalon Theatre on Friday, Aug. 23.
The Four Preps will present a magical evening of everything from Doo-Wop to pop standards including their enchanting “26-Miles Across the Sea (Santa Catalina…)” in the legendary Avalon Theatre on Friday, Aug. 23.
As a Hollywood High student in 1954, Bruce Belland co-founded The Four Preps. After impressing a Capitol executive at a school talent show, Capital Records signed them to a record deal. On the beach one day with friends, ukulele in hand, Bruce co-wrote “26 Miles,” which Dick Clark would later refer to as “the first surfer hit.”
The song took The Four Preps to the top of the charts in 1958 and the million-selling song made Catalina a household name. The Four Preps enjoyed success with a subsequent string of hits which earned them multiple performances on “The Ed Sullivan” and “American Bandstand” shows, a feature in Life Magazine, co-star billing in the original “Gidget” movie opposite Sandra Dee, and inspired Dick Clark to call their music “the soundtrack of our lives!”
The Four Preps, featuring original lead singer Bruce Belland will be performing their renowned Catalina signature song, “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” for the very first time in the Avalon Theatre in the legendary Casino Building.
During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the Four Preps accumulated eight gold singles and three gold albums. Concert goers will also enjoy many of their other memorable pop tunes such as “Big Man,” “Lazy Summer Night” and “Down by the Station.”
The current edition of The Four Preps features Bruce Belland, Bob Duncan, Michael Redman and Skip Taylor. In addition to being a charismatic singer and prolific songwriter, Bruce Belland is also an Emmy-nominated scriptwriter and television producer. He has composed music for TV, film, and Broadway, and was honored with the Freedom Foundation’s Presidential Medal of the Arts for co-authoring the Official Anthem of the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.
Bob Duncan comes to The Four Preps with decades of experience as a pop vocalist, most notably leading The Diamonds, whose hits include “Little Darlin’,” and The Crew Cuts, who had a smash with “Sh-Boom.” Fellow Crew Cut Skip Taylor supports The Four Preps with his deep bass voice, honed from years in musical theatre productions such as “The Sound of Music.”
The touring version of The Four Preps stroll millions of Oldies lovers back down memory lane with the distinctive song stylings of the voice that has defined their music from the start.
The concert is a benefit for the Rotary Club of Avalon from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a special VIP Reception from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for general admission (rows 24-29), $35 for Preferred Admission (rows 11-35); $50 for Premium Admission $50 (rows 1-10), and $100 for Premium Admission and a VIP Reception with The Four Preps. For more information on the concert and for a direct link to tickets please go to www.CatalinaChamber.com/fourpreps.
Late evening boats are available from Avalon to Long Beach on Catalina Express after the concert.
The Rotary Club of Avalon is a non-profit organization that assists those in need in our community and throughout the world. Proceeds from the Four Preps Concert benefit local island charities and help raise funds for scholarships and other programs for our Island’s youth.
Avalon Rotary is just one of over 32,000 Rotary Clubs around the world in over 200 countries. Avalon Rotary meets weekly on Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m. at the M Restaurant, with catering by Zest.
