"The OC" Beach Band

"'The OC' Beach Band" is a high end corporate event band performing The Beach Boys greatest hits and classic rock favorites, featuring current and former players and singers from the Brian Wilson band and The Beach Boys, including Chris Farmer, 12 year member and former musical director of The Beach Boys. "The OC" Beach Band - the music and vocals behind the legends!
Personnel: 6 band, 1 crew

Bassist Chris Farmer and drummer Mike Kowalski have played thousands of shows together with the legendary Beach Boys. Although they are renowned for their famous summer concerts (where conga lines move and beach balls fly through the crowd), The Beach Boys have played their fair share of private functions and charity fundraisers as well. Because of this experience, Chris and Mike definitely know how to provide a smooth, no surprises evening of music and entertainment at corporate events.

Chris Farmer is the musical director for The OC Beach Band. Although he is primarily the bassist for the group, Chris also plays guitar, keyboards, and sings lead and backing vocals. He was the bass player and vocalist for The Beach Boys from 1995 to 2007 and their musical director and vocal arranger from 1999 to 2007. During his time with The Boys and at one time or another, Chris had the pleasure of singing every part in the bands famed vocal stack; bass, lead, middle harmonies, and even the Beach Boys trademark high falsetto.

In the 80s and 90's, Chris was musical director, bass player and vocalist for groups such as Mike Love and The California Beach Band, Jan & Dean, Good Vibrations, and Rhino recording artists The Belair Bandits. Chris was also the musical director, bassist, and vocalist for Jack Wagner, helping propel his recording of the hit "All I Need" to the number #2 spot on the Billboard charts. He was also the music supervisor, director, bass player, and singer for the "Legends of Do-Wop" and "Cavalcade of Stars" shows, performing with such greats as Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, David Ruffin of The Temptations, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Diamonds, Al Wilson, The Flamingos, and many other giants of 50's and 60's.

Drummer and pianist Mike Kowalski, formerly of The Beach Boys could be called the elder statesman of The OC Beach Band. After joining The Beach Boys as their drummer in the late 1960s, he has traveled the world many times over, providing the beat for Americas Band. Mike also performed and/or recorded with legendary blues guitarist Albert Collins, Johnny Otis, jazz saxophonist Charles LLoyd, Big Joe Turner, and John Mayall. In the 1980s, Mike helped create the jumpin jazz/blues band The Backsters, which was signed to A & M Records, with Herb Alpert as their executive producer. The Backsters album, "Get on Your Back" featured many top jazz and blues players and their single "Handclappin" was one of the first instrumental music videos ever featured on MTV's rotation.