PAPA DOO RUN RUN was formed in 1965 by a couple of high school friends from Cupertino, California: band leader and keyboardist Don Zirilli, and bassist Jim Rush. After four decades of touring and recording, PAPA has irrevocably established its reputation as the premiere exponent of 60’s Classic Rock and especially the surf, sun, and hot rod sound of California, epitomized by the Beach Boys.
Papa toured with Jan & Dean, and performed and recorded with the Beach Boys. They have also appeared in concert with Roy Orbison, Fleetwood Mac, Kenny Loggins, Chicago, Jimmy Buffett, and many other musical giants.
It was one of those giants, Tower of Power, who inadvertently caused PAPA to embrace a "beach party" repertory. In 1971, the band was appearing with Tower of Power. When the concert promoter discovered Tower was running late to the show, he asked PAPA to play an additional 30 minutes. Having already played their best tunes, the band launched into a medley of Beach Boys and Jan & Dean hits. These were songs they had rehearsed but never performed in public, fearing that “surf music”, in the words of Jimi Hendrix, was already “dead.” To their surprise, the audience erupted, demanding multiple encores of more beach classics. The next day, PAPA decided to adopt the beach party format.
One of their most frequently asked questions is, "Where did the band get its name?" They originally chose the name PAPA DU RUN DA RUN from the background line of Jan & Dean's New Girl in School, and later shortened it to PAPA DOO RUN RUN.
Over the years, PAPA has performed twice at the Olympic Games, in seven Super Bowls, and for two Presidential Inaugurations. They have produced nine charted albums, singles, and EP’s; earned two Gold Records and a Grammy nomination; and were inducted into the Northern California Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
PAPA DOO RUN RUN is the band responsible for reuniting Jan & Dean, the legendary duo whose hits, “Surf City” and “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” rose to the top of the charts in the early 60s, prior to Jan’s fateful car accident that put an abrupt end to their careers.
In 1976, PAPA was appearing at the world famous Palomino Club in Hollywood and Dean was on hand, sitting in with the band. Jan was in the audience. It took some pleading and several minutes of the audience chanting "Jan & Dean!" for Jan to give in and make his way to the stage, despite his lingering disabilities from his decade old accident. PAPA then played a series of Jan & Dean hits, capping the set off with J&D's prophetic "Deadman's Curve". The next day, thanks to a review in
Variety Magazine, the phone was ringing off the hook with agents wanting to take the act on tour. PAPA spent the next 4 years touring the US and Canada with the celebrated duo.
Through their collaboration with Jan & Dean, PAPA formed a relationship with Beach Boy Bruce Johnston. Bruce saw the band performing at sold out concerts throughout California, and realized their untapped potential as recording artists. He soon signed the band to RCA Records, and produced PAPA's first single,
Be True To Your School. The release made the top 40 charts nationally and reached No. 1 in California.
The flip side of PAPA's hit single was a song called
Disney Girls, which opened the door to what would become a 15-year relationship with the Walt Disney Company. From 1976 through 1990, PAPA averaged nearly 100 dates a year performing at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Brian Wilson would come by from time to time to "jam with the band" on the Tomorrowland Stage. One memorable night, PAPA had Brian and Carl Wilson, Dean Torrence, and half of the Beach Boys back-up band, all on stage jamming with them.
In 1986, PAPA DOO RUN RUN was honored to receive their second Gold Record award and a Grammy nomination for their California Project album (1985, Telarc Records). Since that time, the band has released nine other critically acclaimed albums and a full-length live concert DVD.
In 1988, PAPA was dubbed "CALIFORNIA'S BAND" by California's then Governor Deukmejian.
In 2007, PAPA was inducted into the Northern California Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In addition to founders Don Zirilli and Jim Rush, the current members of the ensemble include:
Adrian Baker - guitar and vocals - who joined the band in 2004 after many years performing with the Beach Boys and Frankie Valli.
Bobby "G" Gothar - guitar and vocals - who came to PAPA from a background of performing with such legendary Country greats as Merle Haggard, Lee Greenwood, and Charlie Daniels.
Drummer Bo Fox, who toured with Jimmy Buffett, Beach Boy Mike Love, and the Eagles before joining PAPA in the early 1990s.
Jeffrey Foskett – guitar and vocals - also joined the group in the early 90s. He was a ten year veteran of the Beach Boys and is currently Brian Wilson’s music director. Jeffrey performs with PAPA when he's not touring or recording with Brian.
What does Brian Wilson say about Papa Doo Run Run performing his songs? "They’re great!"
For more information about PAPA DOO RUN RUN, please visit the band's official website
www.papadoo.com .
