The Belair Bandits

Genre: Classic Rock
Secondary Genre: Cover Band Orange County, California USA Contact

Since 1980, The Belair Bandits have been pleasing audiences worldwide with their top-notch performances of Surf, Beach, Pop, Classic Rock, R&B, Country, and Blues hits. With smokin' guitar licks and non-stop burnin' energy, the Belair Bandits are California's Hottest Surf and Pop band!

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Artist Information

Biography

Since 1980, The Belair Bandits have been pleasing audiences worldwide with their top-notch performances of Surf, Pop, Classic Rock, R&B, Country, and Blues hits. With smokin' guitar licks and non-stop burnin' energy, the Belair Bandits are California's Hottest surf and pop band!
Tour highlights include:

*Two visits to The Republic of China - performances in Bejiing, Shanghai, Guangzhou.

*Two tours as the backing group for the following artists:

David Ruffin of The Temptations (My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg)
Sam Moore of Sam & Dave (Soul Man, Hold On I'm Comin')
Little Anthony (Tears on my Pillow, Hurts So Bad)
The Coasters (Charlie Brown, Poison Ivy)
The Drifters (Under the Boardwalk, On Broadway)
The Classics Four (Spooky, Traces)
The Flamingos (I Only Have Eyes For You)
The Dixie Cups (Chapel of Love)
The Shirelles (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow)
The Diamonds (Little Darlin')
The Crests (Sixteen Candles)
Brenton Wood (Gimme Little Sign)

*Have performed with, or are currently on call with the following headliners:

Mike Love of the Beach Boys (Surfin' USA, California Girls)
Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean (Surf City, Little Old Lady/Pasadena)
Micky Dolenz of the Monkees (I'm a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville)

*Have played numerous corporate functions, special events, private parties, cruises, and fair and festival engagements across North America.


*The individual members of the Belair Bandits come together from very distinct geographical and musical backgrounds. This diversity of influences allows the group to excel in a wide range of musical styles, including classic rock, pop, blues, R&B, and even the "sunshine music" of the Beach Boys.

Ricky Lewis (guitar/vocals) hails from the South, and is one of the top call LA session players and vocalists for Classic Rock, Country and Blues projects. Ricky blends the guitar skills of Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn, with the feel and style of country greats like Chet Atkins, while adding in a dash of Bruce Springsteen and Little Feat for good measure!

Bernie Rubio (drums/vocals) is a veteran player from the California Coast whose true love, other than surfing and boating, is performing live with his mates and feeling the energy from the audience, as well as the band.

Chris Farmer (bass/vocals), founding member of the Belair Bandits, originally hails from the Motown city of Detroit, Michigan. Since relocating to Los Angeles, his musical career has been rich with big name acts. Farmer was the bass player and vocalist for the legendary Beach Boys from 1995 - 2007, and was their musical director and vocal arranger since 1999. In the 90's, he was the musical director, bassist and vocalist for headliner groups Jan & Dean, Good Vibrations - a tribute to The Beach Boys, and Mike Love's California Beach Band. During the 1980's, his projects included musical director/bassist/ vocalist for Jack Wagner, helping propel his hit recording "All I Need" to the number 2 spot on the Billboard charts. Other 80's gigs included music supervisor and bassist for the "Legends of Doo-Wop" and "Cavalcade of Stars" shows, playing behind such greats as Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, David Ruffin of the Temptations, The Drifters, The Diamonds, Al Wilson, Brenton Wood, The Flamingos, and many others of 50's and 60's era. In between Belair Bandits performances, Chris performs with Timothy B. Schmit of the Supergroup the Eagles in support of Timothy's latest CD "Expando."

Long time Belair Bandits members Philip Bardowell (guitar/vocals) and Gary Griffin (keys/vocals) round out the line-up. Born on the island of Jamaica, Philip's unique vocal style is the anchor of the Belair Bandits R&B and classic rock repertoire. As with the other band members, versatility is also Bardowell's strength, as he has toured with such diverse artists as The Beach Boys and was the lead vocalist for Peter Criss and Ace Frehley of the super '70's group KISS.

Gary Griffin (keys/vocals) who hails from the Midwest, is the band's elder statesman as well as producer and recording engineer. His credits include such unique projects as touring with Jan & Dean, the Brian Wilson band, and The Beach Boys, to producing and recording comedians Harry Shearer and Steve Moris, Monkees lead vocalist Micky Dolenz, and Beach Boys lead vocalist Jeffrey Foskett.

Instrumentation

Chris Farmer - Vocals, Bass
Gary Griffin - Vocals, keys
Philip Bardowell - Vocals, guitars
Ricky Lewis - Vocals, guitars
Bernie Rubio - Drums

Discography

Baked Goods - 2001
How We Spent Our Summer Vacations - 1991
Silver Summer - 1985
Belair Bandits EP - 1982
One Summer Night - 1981

Audio

Video

The Belair Bandits - Outdoor Festival Promo (2010)

Photo Gallery

  • The Main Dudes

  • Ricky (guitar/vocals)

  • Colored shirt look..

  • Belair Bandits at "celebrity jam" with actor John Stamos

  • Around the fountain..

  • Bernie (drums/vocals)

  • A sunset setting..

  • 1981 tour softball team photo with Gary and Chris

  • Chris (bass/vocals)

  • Chris (2009) with Belair Bandits EP Album (1982)

Press

  • Belair Bandits Baked Goods Album

    http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/window/media/page/0,,2847292-5791643,00.html

  • The Ricky Lewis Band- [+ Show ]

    Ricky Lewis may be best known as the long time virtuoso guitarist for surf music pioneers the Chanta...

Setlist

With four lead vocalists in the Belair Bandits, the group has an extensive song list, to say the least. What's your pleasure? Pop, Classic rock, R&B, 80's Music, Surf Music, Surf Instrumentals, Caribbean, Reggae, Blues, Country, 50's/60's, Do-Wop? This band does it all, and does it very well. New songs are constantly being added. Set lists can be customized for any event. Please contact us with a list of your favorite songs. Special requests are always welcome!

Live song list:

Pop/Classic Rock:
After Midnight - Clapton
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Ain't That A Shame - Cheap Trick
Ain't Too Proud To Beg -
Temptations
Alison - Elvis Costello
All Along the Watchtower - Hendrix
All Shook Up - Elvis
Always On My Mind - Elvis
Allright Now - Free
American Band - Grand Funk
American Girl - Tom Petty
And I Love Her - Beatles
Another Saturday Night - Sam Cooke
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
As Time Goes By - Standard
At the Hop - Danny and the Juniors
A Hard Day's Night - Beatles

Back In The USSR - Beatles
Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence
Badge - Cream
Barbara Ann - Beach Boys
Because - Dave Clark Five
Before You Accuse Me - Clapton
Be My Baby - Ronettes
Be True to your School - Beach Boys
Blackbird - Beatles
Black Water - Doobies
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison
Blue Moon - Marcels
Blue Skies - Standard
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Birthday - Beatles
Born On The Bayou -Creedence
Born To Be Wild -Steppenwolf
Born Under a Bad Sign - Muddy Waters
Brick House - Commodores
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Bus Stop - The Hollies

California Dreamin' - Mamas & Papas
California Girls - Beach Boys
Catch a Wave - Beach Boys
Candle in the Wind - Elton John
Can't Buy Me Love - Beatles
Can't Get Enough - Bad Company
Can't You See - Marshal Tucker
Celebration - Kool & the Gang
Chantilly Lace- Big Bopper
Changes - David Bowie
Charlie Brown - Coasters
Cheap Sunglasses - ZZ Top
China Grove - Doobies
Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young
Cocaine - Eric Clapton
Cold Shot - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Colour My World - Chicago
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Come Go With Me - Del Vikings
Come Together - Beatles
Cover Me - Bruce Springsteen
Crossroads - Cream
Crazy - Willie Nelson
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Crazy Love - Van Morrison
Cryin' - Roy Orbison
Cupid - Sam Cooke

Daniel - Elton John
Dance to the Music - Sly & the Family Stone
Darlin' - Beach Boys
Devil in Disguise - Elvis
Dance Dance Dance - Beach Boys
Dancin' in the Street - Martha & The Vandellas
Deadman's Curve - Jan & Dean
Devil with the Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder
Dixie Chicken - Little Feat
Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
Domino - Van Morrison
Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Standard
Do Wah Diddy - Manfred Mann
Do you Believe in Magic - Lovin' Spoonful
Do you Wanna Dance - Beach Boys
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis
Don't Bring Me Down - Animals
Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty
Dream - Everly Bros
Dream Baby - Roy Orbison
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
Duke of Earl - Gene Chandler

Earth Angel - Penguins
Ebb Tide - Righteous Bros
Eight Days a Week - Beatles
Empty Arms - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Every Night - McCartney
Evil Ways - Santana

Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker
Feel Like Makin' Love - Bad Co
Fields of Gold - Sting
Fire - Bruce Springsteen
Fire - Hendrix
Fire Down Below - Seger
Fly Me to the Moon - Standard
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
Fortunate Son - Creedence
Foxy Lady - Hendrix
Free Fallin' - Petty
Further On Up The Road - Clapton
Fun Fun Fun - Beach Boys
Funk 49 - James Gang

Get A Job - Silhouettes
Get Ready - Temptations
Georgia - Ray Charles
Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
Gimme Three Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Girl From Ipanema - Standard
Gloria - Van Morrison
God Only Knows - Beach Boys
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Green Onions - Booker T & the MG's
Green River - Creedence
Good Lovin' - Rascals
Good Vibrations - Beach Boys

Handy Man - James Taylor
Hanky Panky - Shondells
Hang on Sloopy - McCoys
Happy Together - Turtles
Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison
Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis
Here Comes the Sun - Beatles
Help Me Rhonda - Beach Boys
Honky Tonk Women - Stones
Hotel California - Eagles
House of the Rising Sun - Animals
Hound Dog - Elvis


I Call Your Name - Beatles
I Can See Clearly - Johnny Nash
I Can Hear Music - Beach Boys
I Can't Help Falling in Love- Elvis
I Feel Good - James Brown
I Feel Fine - Beatles
I Fought the Law - Bobby Fuller
I Get Around - Beach Boys
I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
I Left My Heart in San Francisco - Standard
I Only Have Eyes for You - Flamingos
I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles
I Should Have Known Better - Beatles
I Shot The Sheriff - Clapton
I Want to Hold Your Hand - Beatles
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick
I Will - Beatles
If I Fell - Beatles
If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
I'll Be Back - Beatles
I'm a Believer - Monkees
In My Room - Beach Boys
In the City - Eagles
In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
In the Still of the Night - Five Satins
Into The Mystic - Van Morrison
Imagine - John Lennon
I've Just Seen a Face - Beatles

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis
Jammin' - Bob Marley
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Stones
Just My Imagination - Temptations

Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
Katmandu - Bob Seger
Kiss - Prince
Kokomo - Beach Boys
Knights in White Satin - Moody Blues
Knocking On Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan
Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd

La Bamba - Richie Valens
La Grange - ZZ Top
Lay Down Sally - Clapton
Layla - Eric Clapton
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Let's Dance - Chris Montez
Leaving on a Jet Plane - Peter, Paul and Mary
(The) Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tokens
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Listen to the Music - Doobies
Light My Fire - Doors
(The) Little Old Lady From Pasadena - Jan & Dean
Little Deuce Coupe - Beach Boys
Little GTO - Daytonas
Little Honda - Beach Boys
Little Sister - Elvis
Little Wing - Hendrix
Long Train Runnin' - Doobies
Louis Louis - Kingsmen
Love Me Tender - Elvis
Love Me 2 Times - Doors
Love Potion # 9 - Clovers
Love The One You're With - Stephen Stills
Lucille - Little Richard

Maybe I'm Amazed - McCartney
Margaritaville - Buffett
Message in a Bottle - Police
Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds
Midnight Rider - Allman Bros
Miserlou - Dick Dale
Money (That's What I Want) - Beatles
Mony Mony - Tommy James
Moon River - Standard
Moondance - Van Morrison
Movin' On - Bad Company
Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
My Funny Valentine - Standard
My Girl - Temptations
My Love - McCartney

Never My Love - Association
No Matter What - Badfinger
Nowhere Man - Beatles

Oh Boy - Buddy Holly
Oh Darlin' - Beatles
Oh Donna - Richie Valens
Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Old Time Rock And Roll - Bob Seger
On Broadway - Drifters
On the Road Again - Willie Nelson
One - U2
One Love - Bob Marley
One Way Out - Allman Bros
Only You - Platters
Only You Know and I Know - Dave Mason
Oye Como Va - Santana

Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles
Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & The Starlighters
Please Please Me - Beatles
Pink Cadillac - Springsteen
Pink Houses - John Mellancamp
Pipeline - Chantays
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Pride And Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Proud Mary - Creedence
Purple Haze - Hendrix

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man - Bob Seger
Reach Out (I'll Be There) - Four Tops
Ready, Willing, Able - Fats Domino
Rebel Rebel - Bowie
Red House - Hendrix
Refugee - Tom Petty
Roadhouse Blues - Doors
Rocket Man - Elton John
Rocky Raccoon - Beatles
Rock and Roll Music - Chuck Berry
Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
Rockin' Robin - Bobby Day
Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
Rosalita - Bruce Springsteen
Roxanne - Police
Runaround - Blues Traveler
Runaround Sue - Dion
Runaway - Del Shannon
Runnin' Down a Dream - Petty
Rhythm of the Rain - Cascades

Sail on Sailor - Beach Boys
Satisfaction - Stones
Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin' - Elton John
Sea of Love - Phil Phillips
Sea Cruise - Frankie Ford
Sherry - Four Seasons
She Loves You - Beatles
She's Not There - Zombies
Shout - Isley Bros
Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners
Since I Fell For You - Lenny Welch
Sister Golden Hair - America
Sixteen Candles - Crests
Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Some Kind Of Wonderful -Grand Funk
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top
Shut Down - Beach Boys
Slow Down - Beatles
Smooth - Santana
Something (in the way she moves) - Beatles
Splish Splash - Bobby Darin
Squeezebox - Who
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Stairway to Heaven - Zeppelin
Start Me Up - Stones
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Stir It Up - Bob Marley
Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
Stuck in the Middle With You - Stealers Wheel
Summer in the City - Lovin' Spoonful
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Surf City - Jan & Dean
Surfer Girl - Beach Boys
Surfin' - Beach Boys
Surfin' Safari - Beach Boys
Surfin' USA - Beach Boys
Suspicious Minds - Elvis
Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Chicago - Robert Johnson
Suffragette City - Bowie
Sunspot Baby - Bob Seger
Suzie Q - Creedence
Sympathy For The Devil -Stones

Take It Easy - Eagles
Takin' Care of Business - BTO
Tears in Heaven - Clapton
Tell the Truth - Derek & the Dominos
Tequila - Champs
Tequila Sunrise - Eagles
Thank You Girl - Beatles
That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly
That's What I Like About You - Romantics
Them Changes - Buddy Miles
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - The Casinos
The Breeze - Lynyrd Skynryd
The Letter - Joe Cocker
The Look of Love - Standard
The Night Before - Beatles
The Twist - Chubby Checker
The Weight - The Band
3 Little Birds - Bob Marley
This Boy - Beatles
Ticket to Ride - Beatles
'Til There Was You - Beatles
Time of the Season - Zombies
Time Won't Let Me - Outsiders
Tiny Dancer - Elton John
Tired of Waiting - Kinks
Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson
Tulsa Time - Don Williams
Tush - ZZ Top
Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
Twist And Shout - Beatles

Unchained Melody - Righteous Bros
Under the Boardwalk - Drifters
Up On Cripple Creek - The Band
Up on the Roof - Drifters

Vertigo - U2
Volcano - Buffett

Waitin' on the World - John Mayer
(The) Wanderer - Dion
Walk Away - James Gang
Walk Don't Run - Ventures
Walk This Way - Aerosmith
We Gotta Get Out of This Place - Animals
Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
We're an American Band - Grand Funk
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles
What's Your Name - Don Juan
Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
White Room - Cream
Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis
Who'll Stop The Rain - Creedence
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak
Wipeout - Surfaris
Wild Thing - Troggs
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash
Wonderful Tonight - Clapton
Wonderful World - Sam Cooke
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys

Yesterday - Beatles
You May Be Right - Billy Joel
You Really Got Me - Kinks
You Send Me - Sam Cooke
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
Your Song - Elton John

Country:
Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks
On The Road Again - Willie Nelson
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Neon Moon - Brooks & Dunn
Good Hearted Woman - Waylon Jennings
Memphis - Johnny Rivers
Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
Hey Good Looking - Hank Williams

And Many More..


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