Pop Music

While some were singing doo wop on a street corner, there were some in the college set who went for clean-cut music. The song was written by group members Bruce Belland and Glen Larson. The story goes it was inspired when they were surfing in Southern California and looked out over the waves at Santa Catalina island. The recording was released in 1958 and peaked at #2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B chart.

The Four Preps formed in 1956 with original members Bruce Belland, Ed Cobb, Marv Ingram, and Glen Larson. Their piano accompanist and high school friend was Lincoln Mayorga. Over the years, they had eight gold singles and three gold albums. Hits include “Down By The Station,” “Big Man,” and “Lazy Summer Night.” They also backed up Ricky Nelson on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet show and Sandra Dee in Gidget.

Here are the lyrics to “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” by The Four Preps:

“Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance,
Romance, romance

Water all around it everywhere
Tropical trees and the salty air
But for me the thing that’s a-waitin’ there-romance

It seems so distant, twenty-six miles away
Restin’ in the water serene
I’d work for anyone, even the Navy
Who would float me to my island dream

Twenty- six miles, so near yet far
I’d swim with just some water-wings and my guitar
I could leave the wings but I’ll need the guitar for
Romance, romance, romance,
Romance

Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance

A tropical heaven out in the ocean
Covered with trees and girls
If I have to swim, I’ll do it forever
Till I’m gazin’ on those island pearls

Forty kilometers in a leaky old boat
Any old thing that’ll stay afloat
When we arrive we’ll all promote romance, romance,
Romance, romance

Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance,
Romance, romance

Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me”

For another song by The Four Preps: “More Money for You and Me.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” by The Four Preps.