The Mar Dels start summer concert series
By Ashley Shah
Scripps Ranch Symphony in the Park will kick off its summer concert series in Hoyt Park with the Mar Dels on June 14.
The Mar Dels, in general, play music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
“We play mostly classic rock and oldies. Some of the songs we like to perform come from Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Rolling Stones and many more,” founder and leader of the band Doug Allen said.
The band will be performing their typical music selection for the Symphony in the Park summer concert series.
“Even though we mainly play a variety of oldies, we play some more current songs that are influenced by oldies,” Allen said.
The Mar Dels have played for Symphony in the Park before.
“We have played for this concert series a few times, but it was many years ago,” Allen said. “We want to make everyone happy, just like we have done in the past.”
Allen has a few plans to make this experience better than the last.
“I have a few tricks I will bring out that you just have to be there for. I will share that I am going to play the upright bass, which is something I have not played before until after the pandemic,” he said.
The Mar Dels continue to come to perform at the Symphony in the Park series because of the community.
“Tommy Boyd, the leader of The Heroes, which is a band that plays every year at this concert series, got me involved this year. Tommy is a part of this community. Both of our bands have been playing for many years. We are doing this for old time’s sake,” Allen said.
The band will be performing with six members. Each member is a vocalist in addition to playing an instrument. The band members include Doug Allen (keyboard, saxophone), Doug Parent (electric bass player), Danny DiCarlo (drummer), Dave Gladish (guitar), Janet Hammer (percussion), Shaina Pugh (occasional drummer), and Annie Livingstone (percussion).
The Mar Dels have been playing in San Diego since 1982.
“We have mainly performed at private events. We have done concert series like this in the past though. We were very popular for many years,” Allen said. “In 2009, with the economy, our performances started to slow down. With the pandemic, we took a year off. However, we started performing again and are still at it.”
Allen described what he hopes to see from the audience this time.
“We want the parents reminiscing and the kids dancing,” he said. “We are going to have a great night with the Scripps Ranch community.”
The June 14 concert will be sponsored by San Diego Castles Realty. Face painting for children in attendance will be provided by Emma Barron Lefkowitz, Realtor.
There will also be a celebration of life at the west end of Hoyt Park prior to this concert in honor of Donna Demko, a long-time Scripps Ranch Symphony in the Park board member and suppor-ter. This will run from 4 p.m. until just before the music starts at 6 p.m.
The concerts are free and held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Hoyt Park. Members of the audience are allowed to bring their own beverages and food. The audience is encouraged to bring low-back chairs and cloth blankets for seating.
Visit symphonyinthepark.org.