For Hometown News
The legendary pop group The Four Preps will appear at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Athens Theatre.
The group, which is still led by original lead singer Bruce Belland, had a string of hits in the 1950s and '60s, including their multi-million seller, "26 Miles."
The group was founded by Mr. Belland and three fellow high school choir students in 1954 and quickly caught the attention of Capital Records where they became the youngest band ever signed by a major label. Their music soon filled the nation's airwaves where they became a favorite of disc jockeys coast-to-coast.
When "26 Miles" was released, it not only changed their lives forever, it also changed the music industry as it was dubbed "the first surfer hit" by none other than Dick Clark
The band went on to tour the country with a series of sold out concerts, something they are still doing today. They also were featured in television shows, such as "American Bandstand," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett" and were also in the movie "Gidget."
The Athens Theatre is at 124 N. Florida Ave., Deland. Parking is free. All tickets are available online at www.AthensDeland.com, at the Elusive Grape, 133 N. Woodland Blvd. in downtown DeLand or by calling the Box Office at (386) 736-1500. Box Office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and one hour before performances.