The Bel Airs bringing their unique sound to the WPAC this weekend

The Wilson Performing Arts Center is continuing its busy month of October with a performance from The Bel Airs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21.
The Columbia, Mo., based group is fronted by brothers Dave and Dick Pruitt on electric and bass guitars, with Michael Cherry on drums. Dave Pruitt said he and his brother formed the band in the early 1980s.
“It was actually the first and last band that I’ve played in with my brother. We had been playing with other groups, but we decided the time was right and found other musicians to play with, so we went for it. We’ve been playing ever since,” said Pruitt. “Michael Cherry is our new member, though he’s been with us for 25 years.”
Pruitt said he was drawn to music from his childhood, when his parents were playing jazz music.
“Dick and I both played and sang music in high school, and by the time we were teenagers, we were branching out into other kinds of music. My friends were wanting to play rock and roll music, but I found myself in the basement of the house listening to Delta blues,” Pruitt explained. “The paying gigs in town were country bars, and there’s a lot of styles in there, and my brother and I were interested in all that stuff, and we both loved harmony singing. By the time we got around to forming a band and playing music that we wanted to do, we had an awful lot of styles of music we liked, and brought those influences into the Bel Airs.”
Pruitt said the sound of the Bel Airs is a stew of music they liked and music that people could dance to.
“It didn’t matter whether we were playing on a concert stage, a club, or wherever, we wanted to have that big dance beat going. There’s a bit of country and rock and roll influence, and we’re pretty blues influenced. My brother is known to sing a bit like Wilson Pickett or Delbert McClinton, so we’ve got all that going on, but we put a big dance beat to it too,” commented Pruitt.
The Bel Airs have performed in many places across the U.S., as well as a number of places overseas.
“We’ve been to Europe several times, and performed in places such as France and Belgium. Hopefully there’s more of that to come,” stated Pruitt.
Being able to perform year after year alongside his brother, Pruitt said, has allowed them both to live the dream.
“I’m lucky enough that my brother and I connect when there’s something happening with the music that we both like and we both go for. We’re both on the same page on what we’re trying to do. Some siblings can’t pull that off, but fortunately, we can. I’ve been working with Dick for a long time now. Having Michael Cherry as a referee can’t hurt. He’s an integral part of the band too, and we try to play to each other’s strengths and feature the harmony singing on top of that, and it’s worked so far,” advised Pruitt.
The Bel Airs have also released four records under their own name, and have recorded with a number of other artists.
“As a rhythm section, there’s different players we work with, and often we can go into the studio and we know each other so well that the other artists can get comfortable right away. The great piano player Johnny Johnson in St. Louis was Chuck Berry’s long-time buddy,” Pruitt said. “He was one of the favorite artists we worked with in St. Louis. Oliver Sain, a legendary music producer who was based out of St. Louis, hooked us up with Johnny in St. Louis and we clicked with him right away. That started a friendship that was very strong until Johnny passed. It was a big honor for us to play with him. And Sain worked with such artists as Ike and Tina Turner. He had a great track record.”
Pruitt said they were invited to the WPAC to put on a show for the community, likely thanks to the help of Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Music Association Board Member Rick Hillyard.
“We’re good friends with Rick, and he may have spread the word about us. We’ve been playing in various venues in Lincoln and Omaha, Neb., and I think Rick probably helped us out with the Red Oak gig. They called us up and we worked out a date that was mutually good. At that show, our friend Bucky McCann is going to play some saxophone with us too; we’re looking forward to him sitting in with us.”
The Pruitt brothers grew up in Maryville, Mo., and have been in Red Oak numerous times, but Pruitt said this is the first time they’ve performed as the Bel Airs.
“When we had the high school band, we’d play at the Legion Hall or the high school gymnasium, but that was a long time ago, so it’s a little bit of a Southwest Iowa homecoming for us. We understand the venue is nice, the people are great, and the sound is wonderful. When we put that all together, I think it’s going to be a nice night,” Pruitt commented.
Pruitt added, he and his brother enjoy being able to take their music across the country and the world.
“It really lifts their spirits, and helps them forget all of their troubles,” stated Pruitt.
Pruitt also gave a preview of what audiences can expect when they come and see the Bel Airs perform.
“There’s going to be several styles of music we enjoy playing that will be based on strong rhythms, harmony singing, and us enjoying just being there and connecting with people,” explained Pruitt.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students. To reserve tickets, visit wilsonartscenter.org, or call 623-3183.
To learn more about the Bel Airs, visit belairs.com.