Hall Of Fame Vocal Groups Bring Yesteryear To Inland Empire July 19

“The Golden Era of Harmony” returns to the
Inland Empire when three groups, all members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame,
assemble to present an evening of memorable hits at Highlander Auditorium (www.highlanderauditorium.com) in Upland, Calif., on Saturday, July 19.

The Four
Freshmen, The Four Preps and The New Chordettes, three groups that combined to
produce more than 30 top chart hits between 1948 and 1965, will present a
special summertime performance that will bring the roots of popular harmony
music back to life.

Presented by
Affordable Music Productions (www.affordablemusicproductions.com), the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.affordablemusicproductions.com or by calling 888-71-TICKETS Monday through
Friday from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

“We’re
delighted to be able to bring three of the greatest vocal groups of all time to
a fabulous Inland Empire concert venue,” said Don Goethals, production manager
of Affordable Music Productions.” It will be a special trip down memory lane
for the many people who enjoyed the music of these groups during the 1940s,
‘50s and ‘60s, but music lovers of all generations will appreciate their music
and the unique opportunity to experience all three groups at a single
performance.”

With a
65-year tradition of vocal harmony, The Four Freshmen (www.4freshmen.com) were one of the top vocal groups of the
1950s. They formed the bridge between '40s ensembles like Mel-Tones and
harmony-based rock and roll bands such as the Beach Boys as well as groups like
Spanky & Our Gang and the Manhattan Transfer.

The group's
roots go back to the end of the 1940s and a barbershop quartet-influenced
outfit called Hal's Harmonizers. Their first hit single was "It's a Blue
World," released in 1952, and they enjoyed further success with "Mood
Indigo" (1954), "Day By Day" (1955), and "Graduation
Day" (1956), as well as “September Song” and “Route 66.” They released
their first LP, Voices in Modern, in 1955, and roughly a dozen more albums over
the next five years. In 2000 the Four Freshmen were voted Vocal Group of the
Year by Down Beat magazine's readers. They were inducted into the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame in 2001.

Although
none of the original members remain with the group, new lineups have continued
to perform as The Four Freshmen. The current ensemble consists of Brian
Eichenberger, Steve Malvey, Curtis Calderon and Bob Ferreira.

The sound of
any great vocal group is ultimately defined by the voice of its lead singer,
and The Four Preps (www.thefourpreps.com) continue to feature their original voice
Bruce Belland, who co-founded the Preps in 1954 while still in high school. He
has been their front man ever since and the only original member heard on every
Four Preps track ever recorded. Over five decades, he continues to bring
audiences to their feet.

The Four
Preps got their start in the fall of 1954, when four Hollywood High School boys
from the school choir came together literally overnight to form their quartet
for the student talent show. It didn’t take long for them to become a favorite
of the nation's disc jockeys, and Cashbox honored them as "the most
promising Newcomer of the Year" in 1957.

Their first
hit, "26 Miles" (Santa Catalina) about the "island of
romance," became what Dick Clark called "the first surfer hit."
In 1962 The Preps' career took another leap with their first live concert
album, "The Four Preps on Campus" which soared to the top of the
charts. "More Money for You and Me" became a Top 10 single that was
voted "the novelty record of the year." Other top tunes include “Big
Man,” “Down By The Station,” and “Lazy Summer Night.”

For three
straight years in the mid ‘60s, The Four Preps were the country's top college
concert attraction. The Four Preps were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of
Fame in 2007.

In 1969
after a successful 15-year collaboration, the original Four Preps disbanded to
pursue other entertainment interests. The current group features the original
Bruce Belland, along with Bob Duncan, Michael Redman and Skip Taylor.

Hit songs
“Mr. Sandman,” “Lollipop,” “Never On A Sunday” and “Eddie My Love” were songs
made famous by The Chordettes after their 1946 debut. Years later, Judy Duncan
and her husband Bob brought back those musical memories with today’s
reorganized group, The New Chordettes (www.thenewchordettes.com). The original Chordettes were inducted into
the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

With
beautiful costumes, elegant choreography, slick and sassy comedy, audience
participation and silky harmonies, The New Chordettes create four-part and solo
vocal magic with a rich taste of The Big Band era with such standards as “In
The Mood,” “Begin The Beguine,” “Stardust” and “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

The New
Chordettes have recreated the original sound of the great ‘50s and ‘60s girl
groups with songs by The Shirelles, The McGuire Sisters, The Supremes and many
others. Their harmonizing and doo-wopping is a trip down nostalgia lane.

The New
Chordettes are comprised of Lindy Michaelis, Robin Whitmore, Judy Duncan and
Candace Delbo.

Tickets for
“The Golden Era of Harmony” are priced at $35, $45, $55 and $65. Parking is
free. Highlander Auditorium is located at 850 N. San Antonio Avenue (at the
corner of Foothill Boulevard) in Upland.

For more
information, contact Don Goethals at (909) 917-7715 or send your inquiry to affordablemusicproductions@aol.com.