Beach Boys surf into Paramount

Published 10:34 am Thursday, October 23, 2008

For more than 40 years, the Beach Boys have been the sounds of summer and having fun and now they are bringing their show to the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky., on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The band formed in 1961 and since then it has landed in the top 40 American music charts 36 times, more than any other U.S. rock band. Their hits include “Surfin’ USA,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “California Girls,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” among many others.

Despite their early songs about surfing, girls and cars, by the mid-1960s, the band had grown experimental in the recording studio and created “Good Vibrations,” which still tops the “best of” lists of several magazines.

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As the years passed and music styles came and went, the Beach Boys continued touring and recording. They achieved their biggest hit ever in 1988 with “Kokomo” which was featured in the Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail.”

That same year the Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They won the 2001 Grammy for Lifetime Achievement. In 2007, the Beach Boys were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

The Beach Boys continue to be a major draw on the concert circuit. Now captained by Mike Love, the Beach Boys band now includes Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston, who wrote the Barry Manilow hit, “I Write the Songs.”

He joined the group in 1965, replacing Glenn Campbell, who filled-in for Brian Wilson, on vocals/bass, when he retired from touring. Johnston has worked with such legendary artists as Elton John and Pink Floyd.

After the Beach Boys show, the Ashland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau will have a free beach party and dance at the Ashland Plaza Hotel. Entertainment will be provided by Nashville recording artist Stephen Salyers, who will be accompanied by Larry Deerfield and Philip Osborne.

Party favors and door prizes will be given away during the evening.

Tickets are $75, $65, $55, $50 and $25. For tickets, call the Paramount Box Office Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at (606) 324-3175 or visit any Ticketmaster location.