For nearly 60 years, The Four Freshmen have been an influence in pop music.
Formed in 1948, in Indianapolis by brothers Ross and Don Barbour as a vocal group they specialized in improvised harmonies and sheer musical talent. Adding two new voices in Bob Flanigan and Hal Kratzsch and the band began to attract the attention of the legendary Stan Kenton who got them signed to Capitol Records.
In 1952, they hit the charts with “It’s a Blue World,” followed by “Mood Indigo” in 1954, “Day by Day” in 1955 and “Graduation Day” in 1956.
Their first LP, “Voices in Modern,” released in 1955, was a conceptual piece, tying in the member’s chops on various instruments to their vocals and was hailed as a “good-bye to barbershop harmony,” according to www.a-cappella.com.
Album after album and a regular stint on the TV show “Chrysler/Plymouth Easy Street” built up The Four Freshmen’s reputation as one of the best vocal groups of their generation.
But over the years the music scene changed. Rock ‘n’ roll relegated The Four Freshmen out of the foreground, although having a fan in Beach Boy maestro Brian Wilson kept them busy recording and touring. It was the British Invasion, though, that did them in and relegated the group to the depths of easy listening and eventually jazz radio stations.
Lineup changes over the years saw Flanigan as the last of the originals. He retired in 1992. Flanigan and Ross Barbour are still actively involved with the 22nd lineup of Bob Ferreira (drums, bass harmonies), Brian Eichenberger (guitar, bass, lead vocals), Curtis Calderon (trumpet, flügel horn, second vocals) and Vince Johnson (bass, guitar, trombone and baritone vocals).
It will be that lineup, along with a presence of The Four Freshmen Society, that is kicking off the Bremerton Performing Arts Center’s 2007-2008 concert season at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at 1500 13th St. inside Bremerton High School.
Tickets are $20 in advance at the Kitsap Mall’s customer service booth or by calling (360) 692-9463 or (360) 616-8892, or $30 at the door. Students 18 and younger are $10.
While these aren’t your father’s Freshmen, they do keep the music alive, fueled by more than 45 albums (many of which are still issued and available on iTunes or through amazon.com, www.a-cappella.com or www.singers.com) and 70 top-selling singles. They do their classics “Day by Day” and “Blue World” along with fresh arrangements of “Something’s Gotta Give,” “Skylark,” “Early Autumn,” “September Song” and “My One and Only Love.”
They still collect awards, notably winning Down Beat magazine’s vocal group of the year honors in 2000. They are currently touring in support of their new CD “In Session” comprised of jazz standards done in the Freshman sound.
Top of the Charts
Checking out The Four Freshmen on iTunes, their best-selling songs are the group’s standards. Here’s the Top 5 of the chart:
1. Graduation Day
2. Laura
3. It’s a Blue World
4. Moonlight in Vermont
5. Day by Day
