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Page 4 September 21, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
The Concert of the Century Features Historic Band Reunion
They reminded the audience that winning
the 1968 National Battle of the Bands was
equivalent to winning American Idol or The
Voice today.
David Pack wrote the song My Old Friend,
honoring Fred Beato and the memories of
their high school days together in Torrance.
As I watched the two of them sing together,
it was obvious these alumni have a special
bond. The band jammed together for the
first time in nearly 50 years. Check out the
touching video, My Old Friend at www.
youtube.com/watch?v=XQNEXYhpN7Q.
You will see not only Torrance High School
in the video, but other memorable sights all
over our treasured town.
Before long, the audience was out of their
seats dancing, and if not, they were dancing
in their seats. The band played a few Beatles
songs, because it was during Beatlemania
that The Beato Band was formed, and they
were influenced by the Fab Four from across
the pond.
What a night! There was a special vibe
that night in the high school auditorium.
Young, old, alumni, or not, everyone I saw
was lovin’ the music, the memories and the
stories from the performers. But what stood
out most of all was the love in the room. The
evening was “a treasure of no measure,” as
expressed by David Pack.
What makes a night special? Some say
it’s the event. Some say it is the music.
But on this Saturday night, September 9, in
Torrance, California, it was all the above
plus a lot of love. Performers took time
from their busy lives for rehearsals so they
could give the Concert of the Century, and
gave a gift not only for the celebration of
Torrance High School’s 100 years, but to
the memories of high school days gone
by. Memories held in hearts tightly locked
up, but on that special night, unleashed in
pure joy. Truly, a night to remember. Happy
100th birthday, Torrance High School! In
100 years, it will be difficult--if not impossible-
-to top this! •
TerriAnn in Torrance
By TerriAnn Ferren
Last Saturday afternoon, I walked the
campus of Torrance High School past throngs
of alumni chatting and laughing as they
once again graced the grounds of their alma
mater during the afternoon open house, as
part of the celebration events for Torrance
High School’s Centennial Celebration. Yes,
Torrance High turned 100. The scene was not
David Pack on stage.
unlike many others, I am sure, throughout
the country when a reunion is planned. The
big difference? This particular Saturday was
a special reunion and included all the alumni
who had ever graduated from Torrance High
School--not just from, a specific year, but from
the past 100 years! That’s right, this was a
Centennial Celebration. It was on September
11, 1917 when Torrance High School first
opened its doors and welcomed students into
the brand new school.
Planning a 100-year celebration boggles
my mind, but with the Centennial Committee
firmly committed, things appeared seamless.
After getting directions from two sets of
Tartar assistants as to where the Concert
of the Century ticket pick-up was located,
I headed toward the building next to the
library. Organization was the name of the
game and picking up concert tickets for the
evening inside the office was a snap.
We then headed toward our car…but while
walking past the auditorium, I noticed the
doors were open. So I peeked inside and saw
the band instruments already set up on stage
for the evening show. Then I took some time
checking out the display set up in the lobby
of pictures of past performances done in the
building. Then my sister Linda whispered,
“There is Fred Beato!” I told her to go up
to him (founder of the Beato Band) and say
hello, but she was shy and hesitant. I gave
her a little nudge and off she went. I don’t
know what they talked about, but it was nice
for them to reconnect after so many years.
They had gone to grammar school together!
After that, we headed home until it was time
for the concert.
The Friday night before, a football game
was played at Zamperini Stadium and a
special ceremony took place on the field
during halftime honoring all Tartar alumni
who had ever participated in football, or who
were coaches, band members, cheer team
members, pep squad or drill team members.
It was a special night of memories and fun.
For Saturday night, the Concert of the
Century was planned. And believe me, it was
The Concert of the Century. The evening’s
performance included the reunion of Torrance
High School band members from the Symbols
of Tyme, winners of the 1968 National Battle
of the Bands. David Pack (original member
of the band) and perhaps best known as
co-founder, singer and guitarist of Ambrosia
who was a Grammy Award-winning record
producer and voice of timeless hits of the
1970s and ‘80s, returned to Torrance High
School for a special reunion concert with his
bandmates. The band would play together
again after 49 years.
The concert was set to begin at 7 p.m. and
I was taking no chances being late, so my
group, including my parents, my sister and
a cluster of friends, decided an early arrival
was in order. We had our tickets firmly in
hand, had secured a great parking place and
waited outside the beautiful Torrance High
Auditorium for the doors to open. It gave
me time to really look at the architecture of
the auditorium. Graced by the blue sky and
swaying palm trees to the right, it looked as
beautiful as a monument in our nation’s capital.
I snapped a picture of our tickets as we
waited in the infamous Torrance breeze. The
campus truly is beautiful and the remodeling
only highlighted the stunning architecture of
the school. And remember, Torrance High
School was the first site deemed a historical
landmark in the city of Torrance.
Just before 7 p.m., the doors opened and
we made our way toward the entrance. A
steady crowd of people continued flowing
into the vast auditorium and the hum of
excitement was palpable. The school stage
was backlit in blue, which highlighted the
instruments. The scene was dramatic even
before the music began.
There were some brief introductions and
then it began. The legendary David Pack
began the set singing his classics, including
Biggest Part of Me, How Much I Feel,
You’re the Only Woman, and a song he had
never sung live before made famous by Little
Anthony and the Imperials, Goin’ Out of my
Head. David sang a special song honoring
his dad, who was in the audience, giving
him credit for always supporting his dreams
and choosing his first hit song. And when
David Pack sang the special dedication to
his wife, Stacey, God Only Knows, from the
Beach Boys, I lost it. And I wasn’t the only
one. Tenderhearted and heartfelt, each and
every song was a gift to the alumni. Love
permeated the air.
During a break, a film was shown with
interviews with the band members sharing
their memories of that special time in high
school. It was truly well-done and I hope it
will be available for viewing online. Also,
during intermission, it was fun watching old
high school chums bump into each other,
then recognize each other, laugh and then
hug. That scenario was repeated numerous
times throughout the night.
David Pack had written a song, Cuba
BC (Cuba before Castro), for Fred Beato
and the two performed it for the crowd. It
Before the Concert of the Century.
was filled with love and emotion as it told
the tale of a young boy coming to America
making a new life.
Then, Symbols of Tyme, including David
Pack, Fred Beato, Tom Croucier, Bill Kohler,
Mike Denler, Susie Allen-Lopez, David Baker
and Larry Herrera, jammed as if they had
been playing continually for nearly 50 years.
Tickets to the Concert of the Century. A packed house.