I have to admit, it’s a bit before my time, but the wildly popular band called The Four Freshman are still at it and they are coming back strong as ever.
The pop group was on every turntable and AM radio station in the ‘50s and ‘60s with juke boxes blaring from sea to shining sea.
Ever since they first burst on the scene in 1948, The FF have continued to tour the world over.
Their sound is described as having a unique blend of philharmonic jazz arrangements and big band vocal group sounds. The year I was born they came out with “Graduation,” followed by “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “It’s a Blue World” and many more.
They will appear at Pepperdine on Jan. 28. One CBS reviewer says the ensemble has endured for the simple reason that “they are always at the top of their class.” So, if you are looking for a blast to the past, head to Pepperdine and take in The Four Freshmen. It will be a “Blue Moon” without you.
LOCAL OSCAR ROUND UP
“The Shape of Water” came out on top with 13 nominations. But Malibu was hardly shut out. Mega-producer Steven Spielberg is up for “The Post,” which chronicles rough and tumble times at The Washington Post surrounding the release of the Pentagon Papers. Steven’s leading lady Meryl Streep made the cut for best actress. Tom Hanks got shut out.
In other news, it could be a best actor fight to the finish.
In an award season dominated by the #MeToo movement, one guy sticks out and is Oscar bound. Gary Oldman was completely transformed into a walking replica of Winston Churchill and put in a command performance. He’s already picked up the Golden Globe and The Screen Actors Guild Award. If you know what Gary Oldman really looks like and his transformation as Churchill in “Darkest Hour,” you know the makeup Oscar has to be in this line up. I predict Gary will go all the way.
His biggest competition may be the last performance of smooth Daniel Day-Lewis in “Phantom Thread.” One thing’s for sure—this is the most varied Oscars pool in years.
LATEST ON LAST DANCE
More information is being released on the death of the late great Tom Petty. The longtime Malibu resident died at 66, just after a grueling tour to mark the 40th anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It wrapped up Sept. 25 with a three-night, sold-out performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Tom didn’t want to let his fans down despite multiple health problems. The most troubling was a hip fracture that turned into a full break (something Malibu Seen knows all about), so my advice to you, dear readers, is that if you have a fracture, treat it like precious treasure. It can break at any time. Although he was given some pain pills, Petty was in horrific pain and died at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. RIP Tom. The music world has lost one of its heroes. You just rock on at those pearly gates.
PENN’S PET PROJECT
Malibu’s Sean Penn and Mr. Trump may be polar opposites when it comes to Haiti, but the award-winning actor has made the devastated island his passion.
He says he was horrified learning that people were having their limbs amputated with no pain medication. Sean says he could somewhat relate because his son Hopper had just recovered from a traumatic head injury and was given enormous relief from a small dose of morphine. He told reporter Mia McNiece, “I had planned to go down there for two weeks but ended up staying nine months once I saw how much needed to be done.” Now that’s a serious helping hand!