About
Brian Mertes (guitar) and Peter Bavasi (drums) are best friends who played together in high school and college dance bands from 1958 until 1964. They went on to build their respective business careers and raise their families. Both are long-retired and veteran grandfathers. After 55 years, Brian and Peter are back playing music together. Their playlist includes standards from the Great American Songbook and the Frank Sinatra catalog, lots of soft rock, vintage country, and Bossa Nova tunes. They frequently play at retirement communities and large social events around San Diego's North County.
the knight owls
Brian and Peter make up half of The Knight Owls, a dance band originating in 1958 at Saint Francis High School in La Canada, California. The Knight Owls played proms, sock hops and house parties. They continued to perform at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA, entertaining sororities and fraternities as well as gigs around Los Angeles.
the brian mertes duo
After retiring from successful careers and raising families, Brian and Peter reunited in 2018 as "The Brian Mertes Duo". It had been 60 years since these high school best friends began playing music together and they continue to delight fans around San Diego Country with their vast catalog and dynamic performances.
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