The 25th Annual Rancho Cordova 4th of July
For Pablo Cruise, setting sail again has been sweet
It was 1975 when Pablo Cruise released its first album, simply titled “Pablo Cruise.” The album cover was shot in the tropical gardens of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and featured a huge gorilla standing front and center. The band, David Jenkins (guitars and vocals), Cory Lerios (keyboards and vocals), Steve Price (drums) and Bud Cockrell (bass and vocals) was nowhere in sight.
PABLO CRUISE CONCERT
8:30 p.m. Friday, July 3
Info Line: (916) 851-8818
When asked, "who's Pablo?" the band, which is a quartet, would answer, "he's the guy in the middle". When asked what Pablo Cruise meant, the response went something like this: Pablo represents an honest, real, down to earth individual and Cruise depicts his fun loving, easy going attitude towards life."
That was what Pablo Cruise’s music was all about 30 years ago, and it continues on today as the band regrouped a few years ago. To hear Pablo Cruise on record is one thing, but to experience the band live is an exhilarating event.
Rancho Cordova Fourth of July Celebration goers will get that chance during a free concert that fills the air in Hagan Park beginning at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 3. The concert is FREE of charge.
From 1975 to 1985 Pablo Cruise toured the United States, Canada and Japan extensively, welcoming fans to "Climb Aboard The Good Ship Pablo Cruise."
Reaching the top 10 with mega-hits like "Watch Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye," "Love Will Find A Way" and several other radio hits, the band went on to sell several million albums and singles collectively and established themselves as writers and performers within the industry.
They appeared on numerous TV shows, including Dick Clark's American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show and in 1979 they broke Elvis Presley's attendance record at The Sahara Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, becoming the first rock band to play a Casino Showroom. They also became the first rock band to take the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.
But by 1986, after completing several national tours and releasing seven albums in all, the band seemed to have lost its focus and just stopped. It seemed like Pablo needed some time to think. Cory Lerios and David Jenkins – the band’s principal songwriters – along with Steve Price, decided to take a hiatus that would last 20 years.
Throughout the late eighties, original vocalist David Jenkins continued touring and garnered acclaim in the country markets with country-rock band Southern Pacific. As they racked up hits like "Midnight Highway," the chart topper "New Shade Of Blue" and "Honey I Dare You" (co-written by Jenkins) the band toured all over the U.S.
In 1992 Jenkins connected with Hawaii's native son, Kapono Beamer, and in 1995 the duo released the album "Cruisin' On Hawaiian Time," a recording that became a critics' favorite as well as being nominated for Hawaii's prestigious Hoku Award for "Album Of The Year." Since 1999 Jenkins has joined forces with the Classic Voices of Rock, a composite group that includes some of the great singers of the '70's and '80's.
Pianist and Vocalist Cory Lerios decided to turn his writing and producing abilities to film and television.
In 1986, Lerios landed his first network series, scoring ABC's critically acclaimed "Max Headroom." ABC's "O'Hara" and "Police Story" immediately followed. Writing to "picture" became Lerios’ newfound passion and in 1989, he and partner John D'Andrea landed the theme and underscore for NBC's "Baywatch." Scoring 11 seasons of "Baywatch" and garnering several Emmy nominations, Lerios won the coveted award in 1998 for his participation in the music direction of "Days Of Our Lives."
Aside from composing music for film and TV out of his Westlake Village, CA studio, Lerios intimated that he would love to perform live again, so a Pablo Cruise Reunion would be a welcome addition to his busy schedule.
In June of 2004, original drummer and groove master of Pablo Cruise Steve Price was married in Sacramento. For his wedding gift to his wife Nancy, he wanted to throw a concert featuring the original Pablo Cruise, calling Lerios and Jenkins and asking them if they would be up for it.
The night of "The Concert," the band did more than just perform, it was reborn. Immediately following the show, the three were so excited to play again they decided they were going to make a concerted effort to raise "The Good Ship Pablo Cruise."
The search began for a singing bass player.
In 1999 Lerios had met composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist George Gabriel. For the last six years Lerios and Gabriel had been writing underscore and songs together for all the major networks. Their first effort entitled "Call Me, Beep Me," performed by Christina Milian, was written specifically for what has become one of Disney Animations’ most successful series to date, "Kim Possible."
Lerios mentioned to Gabriel that Pablo Cruise was planning to play live again. Gabriel immediately responded, saying he would love to be involved. The rest is history.
Today, band members say the fact that Pablo Cruise took 20 years to decide whether they wanted to work together again may be the best thing that ever happened to them. The guys are approaching this whole thing like it's the first time they've ever played together. An appearance at the Rancho Cordova Fourth of July Celebration in 2005 marked one of their first reunion gigs.
Since then, the band has traveled and played widely as fans new and old get to know Pablo all over again. Band members say the reunion is generating a lot of excitement within the quartet, as well. And the beauty of it is that its coming from the guy in the middle: Pablo Cruise.
Name that tune!
So you don’t think you know Pablo Cruise? Yes, you do! Here are some of their biggest hits:
- Love Will Find a Way
- Whatcha Gonna Do?
- A Place in the Sun
- Don’t Want to Live Without It
- Island Woman
- Zero to Sixty in Five
- I Go to Rio
- Atlanta June
- I Want You Tonight
- Cool Love
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DOUBLE FUNK CRUNCH CONCERT
8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4
DFCs popularity as well as their fan base grew and they became known as a high energy, fun party band that focused on 70s & 80s dance music. Seeking a new opportunity to climb even higher, DFC adapts and matures again and diversifies further musically adding latin, hip-hop, R&B and rock to their well known staple of 70s & 80s dance music. DFC is on a new mission to bring quality, high-energy entertainment and a positive musical experience to everyone that hears them.
Double Funk Crunch was formed back in 1997 by co-band leaders Jon and Laura Kuppinger. The group was started as a wild & crazy costumed club band that played exclusively disco and funk from the 70s. The band became quite popular and successfully rode that rhinestoned wave into the new millennium, bell-bottoms and all.
