The lunch-time crowd in the Student Center was treated to a live musical performance Tuesday by the swing era 1930s and 40s group, the Vocal Works.

The unique four-member group wears clothing from the era, and has stage props to make the stage look like an actual radio station.

During their performance, they reinact a live radio show in which a group member – or members – act as disc jockeys, who announce the different songs the group plays, as well as reads commercial advertisements from companies of the time, such as Ovaltine and Colgate. One group member even crumples a piece of plastic paper on stage to make the static sound that radios made in that era.

According to group vocalist, Debbie Reeder, the show is very light hearted, energetic and fun.

The band has a lot of fun while on stage, even getting the audience involved by asking them to answer questions, as well as sing along to the music – which only a very small portion of the audience knew.

Before even knowing the band was going to be playing, sophomore, Jessica Colocho and a bunch of her friends were celebrating her birthday at one of the Student Center tables.

One of her friends informed the band about it, and they performed the Happy Birthday song for her with a swing era twist to it.

Even though many members of the audience were not familiar with the swing era music, the fun the band had on stage was infectious, and many in the audience seemed to have a good time.

The people who were seated at Colocho’s table all seemed to get a kick out of the scene.

Cerritos student, Maria Garcia, who was seated at another table said, “That is so funny,” as she laughed. “This group is a lot of fun,” she said.

The Vocal Works has been together since 1983.

Reeder said the group does shows for all different age groups. “We do shows for kids as young as kindergarten up through college age, and concerts for adults.”

She says that during the show, the group talks about the importance of radio during the 1930s and 40s . . . the medium of communications and how it was used for the armed forces to get information to them over the armed forces radio network.

When they do their show for kids, she says they talk about what was going on in the country in the 30s during the depression, and the 40s during World War II. They also relate how the music of that era grew out of those circumstances.

During its years together the band has had the opportunity to travel all over the world, visiting places like Sweeden, France, England and Rorotanga in the Cook Islands.

But being from Orange County, Reeder said, “We like it here the best.”

Recently, the band has not been playing as many dates as in the past because all of its members are now raising families, and they want to spend more time with them.

But, Reeder said, “We’ve been together for a very long time, and [the band] has become a very big family.”

Vocal Works was brought to Cerritos College by Student Center Manager Melissa Swank.

She says it was reccomended to her by another group that has played at Cerritos in the past, the Alley Cats.

Swank said she wants to try and have some kind of performance in the Student Center at least every couple of weeks.