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Sunday, December 5, 2010

"A FOUR FRESHMAN CHRISTMAS" @ RVCC

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 PM WHERE: The Theatre at Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg
Box Office: M-F, 11-4, 908.725.3420
TICKETS: $27 & $32

A Four Freshmen ChristmasThe Four Freshmen were one of the top vocal groups of the 1950s, and formed the bridge between ‘40s ensembles like the Mel-Tones and harmony-based rock & roll bands such as the Beach Boys as well as groups like Spanky & Our Gang and the Manhattan Transfer. The group struggled for a long time, living hand-to-mouth while building a repertoire and a sound—many people who’ve heard the group’s records or are familiar with their sound are unaware that they were also completely self-contained instrumentally, each member playing more than one instrument and allowing the others to switch off to different roles.

New lineups of the group have continued to perform into the 21st century, however, and are considered an artistically valid ensemble—in 2000 the Four Freshmen were voted Vocal Group of the Year by Down Beat magazine’s readers. And in 2001, no less a label than Mosaic Records—the company that issues complete catalogs of jazz legends going back to the 1930s, in deluxe packaging—released a multi-CD box of the Four Freshmen’s complete 1950s recordings, proudly (and even defiantly, given the label’s catalog) proclaiming the quartet’s validity as a jazz outfit.

Now in their 62nd year of performance, The Four Freshmen continue to bring their unique brand of vocal harmony to audiences worldwide. The names and faces have changed a few times along the road, but the legendary sound continues, in this case, with a good deal of holiday cheer.

Long live The Four Freshmen. May they never graduate! WALL STREET JOURNAL