North Central College to welcome The Beach Boys

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Beach Boys will rock North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall with the sounds of summer during two performances on Oct. 15 and 16.

The Beach Boys continue to create and perform with the same bold imagination and style that marked their explosive debut nearly 50 years ago. The band’s staying power is demonstrated by the double-platinum status of the recently released compilations “Sounds of Summer” and “The Warmth of the Sun,” which prompted a resurgence of interest in The Beach Boys’ music.

The performances begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, in the college’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Tickets are $95, $85 and $75; call the North Central College Box Office at (630) 637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentral college.edu/showtix.

Since its founding as a quintet in 1961, The Beach Boys birthed a torrent of hit singles and albums that sold in the tens of millions. With such hits as “Surfin’ USA,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo,” the Grammy-nominated “Good Vibrations” and the influential album “Pet Sounds,” the group profoundly impacted the musical landscape and helped define the baby boom generation of Americans.

The original members of The Beach Boys included brothers Dennis, Brian and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine. Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston, who penned Barry Manilow’s “I Write the Songs,” joined the group in 1965. Highly regarded as a singer-songwriter, Johnston’s vocal work with such celebrated artists as Elton John and Pink Floyd firmly established him among rock’s elite artists.

The Beach Boys continue to play an average of 150 shows a year, ranging from their triumphant appearance at the 2010 Winter Olympics to gala New Year’s celebrations and special events worldwide. The band has appeared on countless TV shows throughout the years, including “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “Dick Clark’s American Bandstand” and “The Tonight Show.”

The group is planning another national and world tour and continued charitable performances arranged through the Love Foundation, which supports national environmental and educational initiatives. The foundation’s recent efforts have raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the Red Cross to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.

In addition to Love on lead vocals and Johnston on vocals/keyboards, the group’s current lineup includes Christian Love (guitar/vocals), Randell Kirsch (bass/vocals), Tim Bonhomme (keyboards/vocals), John Cowsill of The Cowsills (percussion/vocals) and Scott Totten (guitar/vocals). Visit thebeachboys.com to learn more.

North Central College’s 2011-2012 Sesquicentennial Fine & Performing Arts Season is supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. USG Corporation and Navistar, Inc. are underwriting sponsors. This performance is one of many ongoing programs at North Central College to enrich and broaden the cultural and academic outlook for the college and community.

For a comprehensive schedule of musical performances, theatrical productions, art exhibits and lectures, visit northcentralcollege.edu/show or call the box office at 630-637-SHOW (7469).

If you go

What: The Beach Boys in concert

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16

Where: North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville

Tickets: $95, $85 and $75

Info: (630) 637-SHOW or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix