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

UPLAND, Calif. – “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.