“Oh, little darlin’,” it’s time to enjoy the classic rock and roll of The Diamonds, performing at Grand Junction’s Avalon Theatre on Sunday, February 27. 

Since the release of “Little Darlin’” in 1957, The Diamonds have learned one important lesson: the durability of classic rock and roll is as much about the future as it is about the past. As a result, The Diamonds continue to expand their audience, performing in a variety of settings worldwide.

Reading The Diamonds’ credits is like a trip through doo-wop history: three gold records (“Silhouettes,” “The Stroll” and “Little Darlin’”), 33 appearances on “American Bandstand,” the group’s unique harmonies on the soundtracks for “American Graffiti” and “Happy Days,” and being inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame. “Little Darlin’” hit the charts in 1957 and has sold over 20 million copies. 

Although the group’s lineup has changed through the years with the passing of the founding members, baritone singer Gary Owens became the start of The Diamonds’ second generation when he joined in 1975. Besides singing, and playing saxophone and flute, Owens does much of the group’s vocal arrangements. 

“Our goal has always been to keep that classic Diamonds’ sound intact,” said Owens. “Although they are four distinctive individuals, we have created one strong group personality. The four of us as a unit have a special chemistry, and it is that chemistry that gives us our unique identity.”

Adam Marino and Michael Lawrence, the group’s youngest members, have musical theatre backgrounds. Hailing from Rochester, New York, Marino has also performed on cruise ships as a singer and dancer and at Busch Gardens in Virginia. Lawrence was a lead singer at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka and toured as a lead singer on Holland America Cruise Line for nearly three years. 

Bass singer Jeff Dolan joined The Diamonds in 2011. Previously, he worked with vocal jazz group Beachfront Property, then touring internationally as a bass singer for Ray Conniff. Dolan was also a member of the Dapper Dans of Disneyland and received a Grammy as a member of the Phoenix Chorale. 

Today’s Diamonds remain dedicated to reprising the original group’s classic sound. Because the original Diamonds’ music library is sparse, Owens said they fill out the program with tunes from Broadway shows, such as “Mama Mia,” “Motown: The Musical,” “Jersey Boys” and “Grease.” 

Buy tickets

This live performance is brought to you by Community Concerts of the Grand Valley. All seating is reserved for season ticket holders; however, tickets for individual concerts can be purchased for $35 plus fees, depending on availability. Both season and individual tickets can be purchased at the Avalon Theatre Box Office, Tuesday through Saturday, from 12-6 p.m. Call the box office at 970-263-5757.

For season tickets, mail a check to Community Concerts of the Grand Valley, PO Box 4615, Grand Junction, CO 81502. There are three tiers of pricing, which can be found at www.CommunityConcertsGrandValley.org. 

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