About - California Surf Band

About Us

Since their inception, virtually all the performances of California Surf, have been sold out! Legends of surf music have united to offer the most spectacular tribute to the legendary Beach Boys! This is the ONLY group which features ALL former members of the Beach Boys Band – and each member has numerous touring and recording credits from many years with the group! And, unlike other Beach Boys tribute bands and related acts, California Surf, perform the music and sing all their vocals 100% live, just as they did for many years touring with The Beach Boys. They do not use any pre-recorded instrumental or vocal backing tracks because they don’t have to – these guys are the real deal!

We invite you to explore the website thoroughly and contact us for more information!

Former long-time Beach Boys’ band members Bobby Figueroa, Ed Carter, Randell Kirsch, Probyn Gregory and Debbie Shair take you on a musical journey featuring the songs of the Beach Boys! also often featuring, Matt Jardine and Rob Bonfiglio and other long time former members, based on availability.

These are the musicians, that for so many years, helped shape the sound of “America’s Band” on recordings and live performances throughout the world. California Surf, is also joined by Matt Jardine and Rob Bonfiglio when available.

Members Bobby Figueroa (drums/vocals), Ed Carter (guitar/vocals), Randell Kirsch (bass/vocals), Probyn Gregory (vocals/guitar) and Debbie Shair (keyboards/vocals) each has a distinctive career that includes performances with The Beach Boys at such iconic venues as The Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, Maple Leaf Gardens (Canada), Wembley Stadium (UK) and many other venues around the world including the Reagan White House. Members have performed at historic rock ‘n’ roll celebrations including Live Aid, Farm Aid, and other major live and televised events.

They have received RIAA certified Gold LP Records from the Beach Boys for their studio work on The Beach Boys In Concert, 15 Big Ones, Love You, Still Cruisin’ and the 30 Years of The Beach Boys boxed set.

These fine players have consistently been involved with The Beach Boys’ live touring band throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s & 2000’s and can be seen on many of the group’s televised performances such as Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, MTV videos for “Still Cruisin’” and “Kokomo” and on The Beach Boys’ 25th Anniversary TV Special from Hawaii.

California Surf, features veterans of surf-rock and are considered by most to be the “A Team” band for their skills and ability to perform these fun yet intricate instrumental and vocal parts that are the hallmark of The Beach Boys’ sound. Over the years, members have also shared the stage and recording sessions with Ringo Starr, Sir Elton John, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, Roger McGuinn, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Burton Cummings, America, Chicago, Ray Charles, The Everly Brothers, Three Dog Night, Jan & Dean and many, many others.

Their standard setlist includes all the great early Beach Boys’ songs such as “Surfer Girl,” “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Don’t Worry Baby” and features a generous selection from the famous Pet Sounds LP with “God Only Knows,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Sloop John B.” Their show rocks with a non-stop party of crowd-pleasing hits including “California Girls,” “Kokomo,” “Good Vibrations,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Surfin’ USA” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”

So, if you’re looking for the most experienced, talented, and well-respected band anywhere in the surf-rock genre, you should consider California Surf, for your next college date, state fair, corporate event, private function, or beach party. Available right now for booking!

Band Members

The following have been regular members over the years based upon availability, however we always comprise of former members of The Beach Boys lineup

Bobby Figueroa

Full time touring and recording vocalist/musician for The Beach Boys 1974-1989

Bobby Figueroa got his break with The Beach Boys in 1974. Performing percussion, drums and vocals, he played and toured until 1988. Bobby performed on the Beach Boys “LA Light Album”, and Dennis Wilson’s “Bamboo” and “Pacific Ocean Blue” albums. He was live on stage with The Beach Boys for some of their most memorable concerts ever, including the Washington D.C., Fourth of July Concerts on the Mall, Live Aid, Farm Aid, Knebworth and many others!

Bobby’s talents weren’t strictly relegated to live performing and studio work. He was asked to be the band leader for the highly acclaimed HBO “Larry Sanders Show”, starring Gary Shandling as well as appearances on “Just Shoot Me”, “General Hospital” and “Full House”.

Recently, Bobby has been performing with Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Band.

Matt Jardine

vocals/percussion

Toured with The Beach Boys in the ‘80s and ’90s.

Recorded 3 albums and 9 music videos with The Beach Boys.

Has also toured with Mike Love, Al Jardine, Jan & Dean, Wilson Phillips and many others.

Featured vocalist on several Brian Wilson tours and recordings

Randell Kirsch

vocals/bass

Randell Kirsch has been performing in a variety of vocal and instrumental roles with Southern California bands since 1979. Touring and recording musician for The Beach Boys, intermittently, 1983-2015, Randell worked with a list of notables and stars from the recording industry, such as Jan & Dean, Papa Doo Run Run and many more.

Randell‘s voice can be heard on recordings alongside Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Jan & Dean. Songs penned by Kirsch can be heard in both film and television including episodes of Full House, (John Stamos). Artists who have covered Kirsch’s songs include; Jane Wiedlin, Lou Rawls, John Stamos, wife LuAnn Olson and others.

Debbie Shair

keyboard/vocals

Debbie Shair has been musically inclined since the age of 5 and programming synthesizers since the age of 12. She is a multi-instrumentalist and professional recording artist and touring musician.

Her first band, Marizane, was discovered and produced by legendary rock producer Tony Visconti. In 2004, she was recruited as the dynamic touring keyboard player for the rock band Heart, remaining with them through 2014. She toured as a keyboardist/vocalist with the Brian Wilson band from 2016-2017 and is currently the keyboardist/vocalist of Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Band since 2020.

She and several other L.A.–based musicians formed the boutique production company/studio facility, Tomorrowlabs (facebook.com/tomorrowlabs.studio) and she has recently produced her first album, “Catapulting Stars”, for the band EZ Tiger (https://www.eztigermusic.com/)

Probyn Gregory

vocals/guitar/bass

Probyn Gregory has been a thorn in the side of the LA music community for decades, performing and recording with The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, The Monkees, Arthur Lee & Love and many other leading lights. He work many musical hats in the house band of the 2023 Grammys Salute to The Beach Boys, he has a Grammy himself for his work on Brian Wilson Presents SMILE and continued to tour with Brian Wilson into 2022, sharing the bill with Chicago.

Probyn has been performing with Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Band’s recent appearances.

Teresa Cowles

bass/vocals

An ever-present fixture in the Los Angeles music scene since the late 90s, Teresa Cowles has used her bass playing and harmony singing talents to back artists such as Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, David Marks, Donna Loren, Evie Sands and Ben Vaughn, just to name a few. She also had the honor of playing the part of legendary bass player Carol Kaye in the 2014 Brian Wilson Biopic “Love & Mercy.”

Ed Carter

vocals/guitar

Ed Carter began touring with The Beach Boys in 1968 and continued until 1995, handling both bass and guitar.

Ed’s own work on various recording sessions, including “Blue Bird of the Mountain” on The Beach Boys LIVE in London album.

He was part of the subtle, understated rhythm section on several Nick Drake recording sessions, got involved with The Beach Boys’ Mike Love, collaborations with progressive jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd and helped make the debut solo effort of Cass Elliot instrumentally robust, and pitched in on solo efforts from various Beach Boys. These include the Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue album and a live recording with Al Jardine.

Ed has been performing with Al Jardine’s Endless Summer Band’s recent appearances.

Gary Griffin

Gary Griffin moved to Los Angeles from Cincinnati in 1977, where he was hired as an organist by The Beach Boys, joining them for the recording of their Warner Brothers album M.I.U…

He also toured and recorded with Jan and Dean throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Gary performed as part of Jesse and the Rippers, the fictitious band with John Stamos, from the TV show Full House.

Gary has continued to work with various members of The Beach Boys and since 2016, touring with Brian Wilson, singing and playing keyboards, vibes and percussion.

Highlights have included the 2016/17 Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tours, the 2018 Christmas show and concerts featuring music from the Beach Boys’ Friends and Surf’s Up albums as well as Brian’s greatest hits.

Rob Bonfiglo

vocals/keyboards/guitar

Rob first gained national prominence in the mid ‘90s as a founding member of RCA recording act Wanderlust who scored a radio hit on the Billboard charts and landed prime opening gigs for The Who, Collective Soul and others.

As an acclaimed solo artist and member in rotation of the Brian Wilson touring band, Rob is also the touring guitarist and musical director for multi-platinum selling pop group Wilson Phillips and produced their most recent album, Dedicated for Sony/Masterworks.

Rob frequently lends his songwriting and sideman talents to a multitude of L.A. based singer/songwriters and musicians and is a member of high profile L.A. charity based collectives The Wild Honey Orchestra and The Tribe. A prolific songwriter, Rob’s original songs have scored high profile placements in TV, commercials and films, most notably Disney’s 2008 release, Bridge to Terabithia.

Rob has released 5 solo albums to date.

for more info and links to purchase music, please visit:
www.RobBonfiglio.com