In a music landscape that often chases the next trend, Michael Longoria is doing something refreshingly timeless: diving deep into the catalog that shaped him and emerging with pure joy. The original Jersey Boys and Midtown Men vocalist and recording artist has released Catch a Wave, a vibrant tribute album celebrating the sun-soaked harmonies, infectious melodies, and emotional depth of The Beach Boys. Backed by The Surfnotes’ irresistible group vocals, Longoria’s powerhouse falsetto and fresh interpretations breathe new life into these classics while honoring the generation-defining sound that still resonates today.
AMFM Magazine sat down with Longoria to talk about the project, its personal significance, and the journey that led him here. The conversation revealed not just an artist paying tribute, but one rediscovering his own voice through the music that moved him.
“It just comes out of you when you hear these songs,” Longoria shared with host Paul Salfen. “I’m super proud of all the musicians that were involved in this recording. Even they were shocked when they heard this album. They didn’t realize that it was going to be so good.”
Longoria’s connection to The Beach Boys began as casual curiosity just a couple of years ago. Already known for his 1960s sound from Jersey Boys (where he played Frankie Valli), he knew hits like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” But a growing playlist turned into a deep dive, then a secondary list of songs that truly touched him—those that made him feel, sing, and dance. Before long, the idea crystallized: why not record his own versions?
“I didn’t realize that there was so much falsetto in it,” he laughed. “And that’s how I made a career—singing falsetto and discovering that ’60s sound. To find out that Brian Wilson was really doing it… it was a cool discovery this late.”
The timing of the project took on even deeper meaning with Brian Wilson’s passing. Longoria had already begun the journey before the loss, but it reinforced his purpose. “His music lives on through people like you,” Salfen noted—a sentiment Longoria wholeheartedly embraced. The album became a way to introduce the band’s rich emotional layers to fans who knew the hits but hadn’t fully explored the catalog.
Songs like “Let Him Run Wild” stood out for their relatable storytelling. “He’s talking about let that guy go because he doesn’t treat you right,” Longoria explained. “How many times have we been in that situation? Some people don’t have that vocabulary. But then you hear this character going through it, and all of a sudden you’re given the channel to experience it.”
Longoria’s own musical gift was spotted early. His mother noticed him singing melodies as a baby (including “99 Luftballons”) and put him on stage at age six for a talent show, where he performed Ritchie Valens’ “Oh Donna” in plastic Kmart boots. The applause and sense of connection sealed his path: “It was like a spiritual moment as a kid. I remember thinking, alright, this is what I’m going to do.”
That early spark carried him through Broadway and beyond. He credits his Jersey Boys opportunity as a major “Hail Mary” moment. Initially hesitant about the then-new show and unfamiliar with The Four Seasons beyond a couple of hits, saying yes opened doors to the entire 1960s era—Motown, The Monkees, The Beatles, and yes, The Beach Boys. “It literally gave me a career in the 1960s,” he said. “It would not have happened if I hadn’t played Frankie Valli.”
For aspiring artists, Longoria offers grounded, empowering advice. In an era of self-tapes and digital accessibility, he encourages creators to seize control: “Now is the best time to do it because you don’t necessarily need big record labels behind you.” He stresses developing ideas fully, maintaining personal motivation, and creating side projects that belong entirely to you.
“Doing this album was like my Hail Mary, my saving grace for the past two years,” he reflected. “It was something I loved that nobody was telling me how to do… If you can create your own works—anything, a play, poems—where you’re in control and actually sitting with yourself and expressing, that is the way to stay motivated.”
Catch a Wave is more than a covers album; it’s a therapeutic, educational, and celebratory experience. Longoria recorded intricate harmonies himself, learning the emotional weight of each vocal line in those famous multi-part arrangements. The result? An album that delivers nostalgia with fresh energy and invites listeners to feel the vibrations Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys gifted the world.
Fans can experience the magic live as well. Longoria recently brought the show to New York City at Laurie Beekman on Saturday, April 11th, complete with an amazing band and even a surfer girl demonstrating the right moves.
Whether you’re a longtime Beach Boys devotee or just discovering the catalog, Michael Longoria’s Catch a Wave is the perfect soundtrack for good vibrations. In his own words, it’s about getting the emotion out—“in all these different forms of you… your bass voice, your tenor voice, and your high falsetto”—and simply having a good time while doing it.
Stream Catch a Wave, catch a live show when you can, and let the waves roll in. The Beach Boys’ spirit is alive and well through artists like Michael Longoria who refuse to let it fade.
