Concert association to host Beatles, Beach Boys, Bee Gee and Motown

 

COURTLAND

When the members of Four By Four come to Courtland next Saturday, they’ll bring a family-friendly show that pays tribute to The Beatles, The Beach Boys, the Bee Gees and Motown.

Michael Chapman of ChapQuist Entertainment Inc. said in a phone interview earlier this week, “Three years ago, we had been very successful with a show ‘O, What A Night!’” That also appeared for the concert series that Franklin-Southampton had done. This new show is an attempt to please those people who’ve asked, ‘Why don’t you do a Beatles tribute?’”

The program he first referenced is a selection of music from the renowned Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

As producer and director of the company, Chapman went three steps further and one step back.

He noted that other tribute groups, such as for John, Paul, George and Ringo, are “iconically specific. They try to emulate the look.

“We’re not doing impersonations. I never really wanted to do that [with this new show]. I’d rather deal with their music and not lookalikes. Same with Frankie Valli. No one is playing Frankie and the other singers.”

Chapman continued. “What’s different about our show is you feel like you’ve gotten to know them, the singers. You’ve spent an intimate evening. Same with Four By Four. We looked at most iconic styles of last 50 years — Beatles, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and some Motown.”

There will be such songs as “She Loves You” and “Let It Be” by The Beatles; “Stayin’ Alive” and “How Deep is Your Love” by the Bee Gees; “Surfin’ USA” and “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys; and “Tears of A Clown” by Smokey Robinson and “Stop! In the Name of Love” by The Supremes.”

The conception and direction of this has been his job, but of course he’s not alone.

ChapQuist has a number of traveling companies performing this show because there is “A fairly large talent pool” from which to find the singers.

“Paul Holmquist, the choreographer, does all the choreography for our shows. George Solomon wrote the book [the script] for this show and all of our shows.”

In addition to the singing and even lots of humor, Chapman said Four By Four is “A family-friendly show. Bring grandparents, bring kids. This is a way to introduce that music to the kids.”

If you already love the music of the honored artists, or fall in love with it then and there, there will be CD’s for sale afterward.

The performance will take place on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Southampton High School.

Nancy Rowe, president of the Franklin-Southampton Concert Association, said that new members to the organization can come to this concert for free if they join for the coming season: $50 for adults and $10 for students. Otherwise, the cost at the door is $30 for adults; $10 for students.

For more information, call Rowe at 653-7914.