All-4-One Performance Moves To Opera House

FOR THE RECORD: Monday, October 9, 1995 CORRECTION: The group All-4-One will perform in concert Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House. The day of the concert was reported incorrectly in a story in Friday’s Weekend section.

What does All-4-One have in common with country-popster John Michael Montgomery?

Both were scheduled as two of the Spokane Arena’s first big concerts. And, both acts, um, sort of bailed out. Actually, Montgomery just got sick.

All-4-One hasn’t canceled its Monday night Spokane appearance. The show was just moved to the Opera House.

The other thing Montgomery and All-4-One share in common is the same hit single, “I Can Love You Like That,” on the charts.

How did this happen?

“We picked it out first and recorded it for our album (“And The Music Speaks”). But we didn’t finish our album until later,” said Alfred Nevarez in a recent phone interview. “John Michael had one more song to do on his last album and he said ‘I’ll do this one.’

“We got it first but he put it out first.”

The song’s writers are responsible for it going to two artists almost simultaneously.

“They made two version a pop version and a country version, and they gave it to both departments at Atlantic (the band’s label).”

So what does Nevarez think of Montgomery’s version of “I Can Love You Like That”?

“It’s alright,” he said diplomatically.

“I Can Love You Like That” is the first single from All-4-One’s sophomore smash album “And The Music Speaks,” which was released in June.

Although many new bands fall victim to the proverbial sophomore slump, All-4-One, which hit it big with its self-titled debut, delivered an even better album than its first.

In fact, when the R&B/doo-wop/a capella vocal group - rounded out by Delious, Jamie Jones and Tony Borowiak - recorded its new album, sophomore slump wasn’t even on the minds of its members.

“We just approached it like we did the first record; we did songs that we liked to do and reflect our personality,” said Nevarez. “We don’t believe in sophomore slump. We just believe in making great songs.

“If people enjoy it, great. If they don’t, we’ll just try and make another album.”

People obviously do enjoy it. “And The Music Speaks” checked in at No. 35 on the Billboard album charts last week. “I Can Love You Like That” hovered at No. 8 on the singles chart.

To support its latest album, All-4-One will stay on the road through April. Sounds pretty grueling but Nevarez isn’t complaining.

“That’s mainly one of the highlights of this business, to perform for people, and making them happy and just signing autographs or making their day just by touching their hand,” he said. “Who would of thought that a human being can touch someone like that?”

On Tuesday, All-4-One will release a Christmas album, “An All-4-One Christmas.” It will feature nine traditional songs, including “Silent Night,” “Frosty The Snowman,” “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer,” and one original.

Because Monday’s show has been moved, all tickets will be general admission. Tickets purchased for the Arena show will be honored at the Opera House.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: All-4-One Location and time: Opera House (previously scheduled for the Arena), Monday, 8 p.m. Tickets: $14.93