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  • BRIAN WILSON CELEBRATES SUMMER AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL WITH CLASSIC HITS AND SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS FINALE
  • Sep. 12, 2008
  • Conductor John Morris Russell leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic Performing Works by Mozart, Bach and Gershwin

    FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 AND 13 AT 8:30 PM; SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 AT 7:30 PM

    The September 12 Concert is Generously Sponsored by WaMu; The September 13 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Princess Cruises; Media Sponsor: KCET; The September 14 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Farmers Insurance; Media Sponsor: Los Angeles Magazine; Media Sponsor (Sept. 12, 13, 14): Univision 34/Telefutura 46

    Legendary composer, producer, arranger and Grammy-winning artist Brian Wilson returns to the Hollywood Bowl to perform his greatest hits as well as selections from his 2008 solo album, That Lucky Old Sun. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by conductor John Morris Russell, begins each performance in a program that includes Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Gershwin’s Girl Crazy Overture. Brian Wilson joins the orchestra for the final three songs in the first half of the program to perform “Forever You’ll Be My Surfer Girl,” “Midnight’s Another Day,” and “God Only Knows.” Brian Wilson returns for the second half of the program with his band only. The Hollywood Bowl’s famous fireworks spectacular concludes each performance. Fireworks Finale: Celebrating Summer with Brian Wilson takes place on Friday and Saturday, September 12 & 13, at 8:30 pm and Sunday, September 14, at 7:30 pm.

    With his two brothers, Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and childhood friend Al Jardine, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys were a hit-making juggernaut throughout the 1960s, reaching #1 on the Billboard Top 100 with timeless classics such as “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Help Me Rhonda.” For over 40 years, with both The Beach Boys and as a solo artist, Wilson has written, produced and performed some of the most cherished music in rock history. His well-rounded musical expertise led to the creation of the one of the most influential recordings in history, the 1966 album Pet Sounds. Both Time Magazine and Rolling Stone named Pet Sounds among the top 100 all-time albums ever released.

    Wilson’s latest solo effort, That Lucky Old Sun, reunites him with his original record label, Capitol, and the famed studios where he first recorded back in 1962. That Lucky Old Sun is set for release on September 2, 2008.

    In 2004, Wilson performed at the Opening Night Gala at which he was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. The following year he returned to perform greatest hits and the critically lauded ‘lost’ masterpiece, SMiLE, in its entirety, which Wilson also performed for two nights at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Wilson returns to the Hollywood Bowl once again with a band of esteemed musicians; Jeff Foskett (vocals, guitars), Darian Sahanaja (vocals, keyboards, mallets), Scott Bennett (vocals, keyboards, mallets, guitar), Probyn Gregory (vocals, trumpet, French horn, theremin), Nick Walusko (vocals, guitars), Taylor Mills (vocals, hand percussion), Nelson Bragg (vocals, percussion), Paul Mertens (saxophones, flute, harmonica), Mike D'Amico (drums) and Brett Simons (bass).

    BRIAN WILSON is the creative force behind some of the most cherished recordings in rock history. He was barely out of his teens when he began to create such classics as "Surfer Girl," “In My Room,” “I Get Around,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” "Fun, Fun, Fun," “Help Me Rhonda” and "California Girls. In fact, Brian co-wrote, arranged, produced and performed on over two dozen Top 40 hits with his band, the Beach Boys. By 1966, his artistic horizons expanded dramatically, and Wilson produced three recordings that forever changed the course of popular music. The first was Pet Sounds, widely considered to be one of the greatest albums ever made. The second was “Good Vibrations,” the Beach Boys’ first million-selling, worldwide #1 single. The third transpired when Wilson joined an inspired poet and burgeoning songwriter, Van Dyke Parks, to work on Smile, which quickly became one of the most anticipated works of the rock era. Brian was nearly done with Smile when a combination of circumstances forced him to shelve it. Throughout many years, even as Wilson battled his personal demons, he continued to produce intimate musical gems. In 1988, Wilson finally released his first solo album, which featured “Love and Mercy.” In 1990, Pet Sounds was released on CD, earning that album the recognition that had eluded it, and it was propelled to platinum status. 1997’s The Pet Sounds Sessions box set earned Wilson a Grammy nomination, his first since “Good Vibrations.” Reuniting with his old friend, SMiLE collaborator Van Dyke Parks, Brian sang the lead vocals and multi-part background harmonies for the acclaimed Orange Crate Art. Next, in 1998, came his second solo album, Imagination. In 1999, conquering his legendary stage-fright, Wilson went on his first solo tour. In the summer of 2000, Wilson embarked on his acclaimed Pet Sounds symphonic world tour and played such venues as the Hollywood Bowl, London’s Royal Festival Hall and the Sydney Opera House. In 2001, Wilson was feted at “An All Star Tribute” at Radio City Music Hall featuring Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, David Crosby, Vince Gill, Jimmy Webb and Sir George Martin. It was there he performed “Heroes & Villains” for the first time in decades, and Wilson began to add SMiLE songs more frequently to his live sets. Then, in 2003, the day after receiving the UK’s prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, Wilson announced that he and Van Dyke Parks had reunited, and set out do a version of SMiLE. In February 2004, “Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE” was revealed to the world in a week of SRO concerts at London’s Royal Festival Hall. After an extended tour of Europe, Brian and his band recorded an all-new studio version of SMiLE, and completed an acclaimed U.S. tour (which included two-night stands at America’s twin peaks of concert stages, Carnegie Hall in New York and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles). BRIAN WILSON presents SMiLE was released in September, 2004 to thrilling reviews. It topped many Album-of-The-Year lists, went gold in the UK, and earned Wilson his first Grammy Award. A two-disc BRIAN WILSON presents SMiLE DVD set, released in 2005, garnered Wilson yet another Grammy nomination. In December 2007, Wilson received America’s highest artistic tribute, The Kennedy Center Honor. That Lucky Old’ Sun, his musical tribute to California, premiered in London in September 2007 at a series of sold-out concerts at Royal Festival Hall, and will be released on September 2, 2008, followed by a worldwide tour.

    JOHN MORRIS RUSSELL has ushered in a new era of unprecedented artistic growth for the Windsor Symphony Orchestra since his appointment as Music Director in 2001. A two-time recipient of Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts, as well as the Ontario Arts Council’s Vida Peene Award for Artistic Excellence, Maestro Russell and the WSO have also won coveted nominations for both the Gemini Awards (2004) and Juno Awards (2008). During his tenure, Mr. Russell has championed the works of some of Canada’s most illustrious composers, including Jacques Hétu, Brent Lee and Nathaniel Dett, conducting numerous Windsor premiers of important Canadian works and 40 world premieres of commissioned compositions. Maestro Russell has taken an active role in creating and revitalizing programming to develop young listeners and musicians in the region. As a guest conductor, Mr. Russell has led many of North America’s most distinguished ensembles, including the orchestras of Toronto, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Dallas, Edmonton, Minnesota, Louisville, Miami’s New World Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, New York City Ballet, and The New York Philharmonic. He received a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Williams College in Massachusetts.

    One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and in 1991 gave its name to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California. The 2004 season introduced audiences to a revitalized Hollywood Bowl, featuring a newly constructed shell and stage and the addition of four stadium screens enhancing stage views in the venue. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 40th season. Attendance figures over the past several decades have soared: in 1980 the Bowl first topped the half-million mark and close to one million admissions have been recorded. In February 2008, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the fourth year in a row at the 19th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. The Bowl's summer music festival has become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers, and Disneyland.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 & 13 at 8:30 PM

    SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 at 7:30 PM




    HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood



    FIREWORKS FINALE: CELEBRATING SUMMER WITH BRIAN WILSON



    Brian Wilson



    Los Angeles Philharmonic

    John Morris Russell, conductor



    The September 12 Concert is Generously Sponsored by WaMu

    The September 13 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Princess Cruises; Media Sponsor: KCET

    The September 14 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Farmers Insurance; Media Sponsor: Los Angeles Magazine

    Media Sponsor (Sept. 12, 13, 14): Univision 34/Telefutura 46

    Tickets ($10 - $114) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (Tuesday–Sunday, noon–6 p.m.), by phone 323.850.2000 or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details.

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  • Contact:

    Lisa Bellamore, lbellamore@laphil.org, 213.972.3689; For photos: 213.972.3034