Icons, Idols and Idiots of Hollywood - My Adventures in America’s First Boy Band
by Bruce Belland
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Pub Date Jul 29 2023 | Archive Date Mar 14 2024
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Description
The son of a fundamentalist preacher sings his first solo in front of an audience at age four. The congregation’s enthusiastic response inspires his dream of becoming a singer. That dream comes true as frontman of America’s first “Boy Band”, Capitol Records vocal group The Four Preps, whose classic hit “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” lands them in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. One bandmate will later create TV’s Knight Rider and another the rock classic “Tainted Love.” This is their story too.
Set against the backdrop of vintage Hollywood in the Fab 50’s, “ICONS, IDOLS and IDIOTS of Hollywood” recounts adventures with greats from Ozzie and Harriet to Elvis, Sinatra to the Beatles, Bob Hope to the Beach Boys, as four pals from Hollywood High get dropped into the fast lane of Pop music stardom while still in their teens. Riveting tales one reviewer called “. . .wild, ribald, at times poignant and always hugely entertaining.”
“The song ’26 Miles’ put Catalina on the map and made the Four Preps household name.” ~NBC Today Show
“’26 Miles’, it was California, the ocean and girls—hell it was everything I wanted to be or do.” ~Jimmy Buffet
“You could call it the first surfer hit.” ~Dick Clark
Advance Praise
“The song ‘26 Miles’ put Catalina on the map and made the Four Preps household names.” ~NBC Today Show
“‘26 Miles’, it was California, the ocean and girls—hell it was everything I wanted to be or do.” ~Jimmy Buffet
“You could call it the first surfer hit.” ~Dick Clark
“The Four Preps lent a charge of inspiration to the material Brian (Wilson) was developing.” ~The Nearest Faraway Place: The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience by Timothy White
“I had a hell of a good time reading this book!” ~Bill Medley—The Righteous Brothers
“‘26 Miles’ was a super song that captured a very special time in my life. Bruce tells the story so colorfully, it’s a pure joy to read.” ~Nancy Sinatra
“Rich experiences with the Preps being in the very middle of the Rock Era, riding the crest and helping it all happen!” ~Pat Boone
“A wonderful peek into the catacombs of the music business chock full of great stories from a master story teller.” ~Jim Yester—The Association
“… a wild and crazy entertainment journey not to be missed.” ~Brian Beirne, Mr. Rock N’ Roll®, Legendary Radio Personality and Music Historian.
“This book makes me so happy I went out in the surf to catch a few sliders.” ~Kathy “Gidget” Kohner Zuckerman
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798887712260 |
| PRICE | $32.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 404 |
