CCPA Presents Tribute to Glenn Miller and the Vocal Groups Featuring the Tex Beneke Orchestra on Sun., Feb. 19, 3:00 PM

CERRITOS, CA – The Tex Beneke Orchestra performs Glenn Miller hits, such as Moonlight Serenade, String of Pearls, and In the Mood at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) on Sunday, February 19 at 3:00 PM. Also appearing are Grammy nominee The Four Freshmen (Graduation Day), the Vocal Group Hall of Famer The Mills Brothers (Paper Doll), The Modernaires (Moonlight Cocktail), and comedy host Pete Barbutti. Tickets start at $40.

THE TEX BENEKE ORCHESTRA is known for playing songs that Miller made famous – such as Chattanooga Choo Choo and (I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo. When Miller disappeared on a 1944 flight to Paris, his widow appointed Tex Beneke to take over the Glenn Miller Air Force Band. The group eventually evolved into the Tex Beneke Orchestra, which is under the direction of Gary Tole, a Grammy nominee who has toured with the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Benny Goodman, and Miller.

Also appearing are Grammy nominee The Four Freshmen (Graduation Day), the Vocal Group Hall of Famer The Mills Brothers (Paper Doll), The Modernaires (Chattanooga Choo Choo), and comedy host Pete Barbutti.

The show also features the 1950s vocal group THE FOUR FRESHMEN, which was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. Celebrated for the hits It’s a Blue World, Graduation Day, Mood Indigo, and Day By Day, the band has been nominated for six “Vocal Group Performance” Grammys.

As youngsters, THE MILLS BROTHERS performed on street corners, imitating instruments with kazoos. When the teens forgot their kazoos once, they improvised the sounds of musical instruments with their voices while cupping their hands over their mouths, which became their musical breakthrough. The group lit up the airwaves and charts with 71 singles, including Tiger Rag; Nobody’s Sweetheart; Dinah; Chinatown, My Chinatown; Sweet Sue; Paper Doll; and You Always Hurt the One You Love.

Vocal Group Hall of Fame inductee THE MODERNAIRES added its harmony to Miller’s It’s Make Believe Ballroom Time, a sequel to the original Make Believe Ballroom. The harmony vocal group soon became a significant part of Miller’s band, contributing to the popular hits Juke Box Saturday Night, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Serenade in Blue, Kalamazoo, and Moonlight Cocktail. The Modernaires’ Perfidia dominated the No. One spot on the music charts and more Billboard hits followed, including The Booglie Wooglie Piggy with Beneke, I Guess I’ll Have to Dream the Rest, and Elmer’s Tune with Ray Eberle. The band was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.

Comedian PETE BARBUTTI hosts the evening. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Barbutti has hosted the television programs Celebrity Microwaves and appeared on The New Liars Club and The Next Line. He has appeared in The Alan Thicke Show, The Alan Hamel Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Joey Bishop Show, Dinah!, The John Davidson Show, and The Steve Allen Playhouse.

For tickets or more information, call (562) 916-8500 or go to cerritoscenter.com.

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