Pablo Cruise will Rock the Ocean Center with Free Concert

Posted On: September 21, 2024

Pablo Cruise, a popular band from the 1970s and '80s, will perform its blend of pop and rock during a rollicking, free concert at the Ocean Center from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.

Ther band released its first album simply titled Pablo Cruise in 1975. The album cover was shot in the tropical gardens of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park and featured a huge gorilla standing front and center. The band – David Jenkins (guitars, vocals), Cory Lerios (keyboards, vocals), Bud Cockerel (bass, vocals) and Steve Price (drums, percussion) – was nowhere in sight. 

At that point, there was a bit of a mystique surrounding Pablo Cruise. When asked what Pablo Cruise meant, the answer went something like this: “Pablo” represents an honest, real, down to earth individual, and “Cruise” depicts his fun-loving, easy-going attitude toward life. In essence, that’s what Pablo Cruise music is all about. Honest, real, down-to-earth vocals accompanied by fun, yet elegant, infectious grooves.

From 1975 to 1985, the band toured the United States, Canada, and Japan extensively. Reaching the top 10 with mega hits like “Whatcha Gonna Do When She Says Goodbye?” and “Love Will Find A Way,” and several other top 20s, the band went on to sell several million albums and singles and band members established themselves as well-respected writers and performers. They appeared on numerous TV shows, including Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, the Merv Griffin Show, and the Dinah Shore Hour.

In 1979, they broke Elvis Presley’s attendance record at the Sahara Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, becoming the first rock band to play a casino showroom. They also became the first rock band to grace the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, but by 1985, after completing several national tours and releasing seven studio albums, the band decided to take a hiatus – one that lasted nearly 20 years.

Fast forward 20 years. In 2005, a reunited Pablo Cruise picked up where they left off, and today the band performs all over the United States and Canada. Since getting back together, they have released two live CDs and a DVD documenting their exceptional live shows. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the boys wrote and produced a new single titled “Breathe,” which received considerable critical reviews.

Primary songwriters David Jenkins and Cory Lerios (pictured above) are still on board, and they have been joined by new band members Larry Antonino (bass, vocals), Robbie Wyckoff (vocals, percussion), and Sergio Gonzalez (drums, percussion). Learn more at www.pablocruise.com.