Chatham will be rocking to some good vibrations next August, as the legendary Beach Boys will be performing a concert to benefit the Chatham Hospice.
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Beach Boys front man Mike Love made the announcement Sunday night where he spoke before more than 550 people at the 75th annual Rotary Dinner at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.
Downtown Rotary Club President Sparky Leonard said the venue hasn’t been chosen but the concert will take place Saturday Aug. 8.
The announcement was met with a standing ovation by the crowd that had listened to Love talk about his band and the journey that has earned he and his band mates millions of fans worldwide.
Love said even after six decades of fame, he still remains humbled when he’s asked to speak or perform.
“Humility is something that was part of my family’s values growing up,” he said. “My grandmother camped on the beach in California after fleeing the dustbowl (in the 1930s Depression) he said.
He credited his mother with instilling in him his love of music.
“For her, everything was about music. That was all they had (as children).”
Love said his proudest moments include playing before more than 1.5 million fans in two July 4 concerts in 1985, one in Philadelphia, which drew a million fans, and another in Washington that had 750,000.
“I’m proud that we pioneered that and that we’ve included country, R&B and other forms of music because America is an inclusive country, like Canada is,” he said.
“We were told rock wasn’t appropriate for July 4,” he said. “The White House got 40,000 calls after (Secretary of State) James Watt said that. “It took down their phone system.”
He’s also proud that the band’s music inspires fans from nine to 90-plus and that it has become more popular as time goes on.
“They may be considered simple songs by some, but perhaps that’s why they touch people the way they do,” he said.
“I sometimes get asked if we get tired of playing the same songs. I say, ‘Hell, no.’”
In a career which has earned them entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had them listed the number one band in England in 1966 (the Beatles were second and the Rolling Stones third), Love said he has been blessed.
“I’d like to do more with my celebrity,” he said. “We live in a blessed little bubble and many others don’t.”
Leonard said the concert will help the club move toward reaching its $100,000 goal in support of the hospice.
“It’s a huge commitment but Rotarians have always risen to the challenge,” he said.
During the past year, the downtown club contributed more than $100,000 to community causes, including seniors, youth, Rotary international and the general service fund.
During Sunday’s dinner, a minute of silence was observed for longtime Rotarian and Second World War veteran Rick Brisco who died Nov. 5.
