Glen Larson, who was an original member of the Four Preps and went on to create such TV programs as Magnum P.I. and Battlestar Galactica, has died from esophageal cancer at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica at the age of 77. Most of the tributes being published today are concentrating on Larson's television career but giving only short mention of his role in pop music during the 50's. The group was formed by four students (Larson, Bruce Belland, Ed Cobb and Marv Ingram) at Hollywood High School and were discovered when Voyle Gilmore from Capitol Records heard a tape of the quartet performing at a school talent show. Gilmore had the group signed to the label, the youngest group to do so to that date, and they began recording but, even though Cashbox called them 'the most promising Newcomers of the Year' in 1957, a hit record eluded them.
An appearance was arranged for the group on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett which led to their appearing as the opener on Rick Nelson's first major tour. The publicity generated during that trek led to their first breakthrough hit, 26 Miles (Santa Catalina), written by Belland and Larson, which went to number 2 on the Pop and 6 on the R&B charts. They followed later in 1958 with the number 3 hit Big Man, which brought them appearances on TV programs hosted by Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and an role in the film Gidget. The group hit the top twenty one last time in 1960 with Down By the Station, also written by Belland and Larson as was Big Man. As the single hits dried up, the Four Preps transitioned into the album market with a series of concert albums recorded on college campuses where they were the number one draw for three years straight. After Larson left the Four Preps, he started working at Quinn Martin on the series The Fugitive where he got his first taste of television production. He also wrote for It Takes a Theif and was a producer on McCloud. The first series he created from scratch was 1971's Alias Smith and Jones and he followed with a long list of hits including:
Larson is survived by his wife, Jeannie, and nine children.
Thank You for Visiting Passings: Glen Larson of the Four Preps, TV Producer (1937.
Posted by Unknown on Saturday, November 15, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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