Who are the Malibooz?

John Zambetti and Walter Egan are celebrating over thirty years of making music together as The Malibooz. Formed in the "surf mecca" of New York City, The Malibooz proved to be a major attraction on the Eastern seaboard from 1963-66. They released an EP in 1964 and the single "Goin’ To Malibu" in 1965. This led to appearances at The New York State World's Fair. First, at the New York State Pavilion and then as part of the first color TV broadcast live from the RCA Pavilion.

(A section of this show appears on the 1981 Rhino Records release "Malibooz Rule!" which was re-issued on CD in 1998 ).

In the Fall of 1966 John, Walter, & drummer Tom Scarp entered Georgetown University. By this time the British Invasion and the beginnings of psychedelia had displaced Surf Music. The boys quickly found additional musicians and with the addition of lead singer Annie McLoone, the band became known as Sageworth and Drum. By 1970, Sageworth and Drum had become the top draw in the Washington, D.C. area opening for acts such as Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers, and Poco, and culminating with an appearance before an estimated 500,000 people at the Washington Monument during the march on Washington.

Sageworth and Drum was pursued by several labels, primarily Columbia and MCA, however no deal was ever reached.

After graduation, Walter stayed with Sageworth and Drum in D.C., collaborating with songwriters like Gram Parsons and finally moving the band to Boston, where they shortened their name to Sageworth. John formed the group "Wine-Dark-Sea", performing original songs in the movie "Jigsaw Puzzle", which was a short film that opened for The Rolling Stones film "Gimme Shelter".

In 1971, John began medical school in NY and continued to do clubs, occasional concerts and session work. During that time he played with people like Emmylou Harris, Rick Roberts and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Dan Fogelberg.

Meanwhile, Walter continued with Sageworth until 1972 when he moved to California to play with Linda Ronstadt and then Jackson Browne all the while honing his original material with his own group. In 1975 John and Walter again joined forces to record a duo album which was never released.

After completing his medical education, Zambetti moved to California in 1976 to join Egan's band. The Walter Egan Band was signed to Columbia for five albums and then to MCA. Walter’s first two albums, "Fundamental Roll" and "Not Shy" were produced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. "Not Shy" produced the million selling hit "Magnet & Steel" which was the American Music Awards nominee for Song of the Year in 1978. In 1996, "Magnet & Steel" was the theme for the Paul Rudd/Reese Witherspoon movie Overnight Delivery. And in 1998, "Magnet & Steel" appeared in the Golden Globe and Academy Award winning movie, "Boogie Nights".

John also pursued his solo work with The Johnny Z Band which was selected as one of the Top 10 L.A. Bands of 1980 by Music Connection Magazine. Well known to the L.A. club circuit, The Johnny Z Band shared the bill with many other up and coming L.A. groups like The Police and The Motels.

In 1981 Rhino Records signed The Malibooz for a reunion album "Malibooz Rule!". This yielded the single "Hot Summer Nights" which appeared in the movie "California Girls". The video for "Hot Summer Nights" was filmed around Zambetti’s guitar-shaped pool at his Topanga Canyon home and was one of the first videos aired on MTV. They followed up the album with a string of singles and concerts through 1984.

In 1985, four of John’s songs were chosen by director Kathleen Summers for the movie "Class" starring Jacqueline Bisset and in 1987 The Johnny Z Band signed to Cypress/Polygram Records and released the album "Bring Back the Night". The title tune was co-produced by Fleetwood Mac’s Richard Dashut and the album included the duet with Emmylou Harris, "Right Between The Eyes". Walter and Supertramp’s John Helliwell also made guest appearances on the album. One of the tunes from this album, "The Deepest Blue", was selected as the title song for the Tri-Star picture "Seven Hours 'Till Justice" starring Julianne Phillips and Beau Bridges.

In the late '80s and early '90s, John scored several projects for filmmaker Kevin O'Malley including, "From The Other Side Of The Desk", "Clearing The Air" and "Project Read". In 1993, he wrote and recorded the theme song for the Pay-Per-View TV show "Bikini Beach Party".

In 1992, The Malibooz recorded the CD "A Malibu Kind of Christmas" for Iloki Records. Three tunes from this CD, ( "It’s Just Not Christmas Without You", "Santa Man", and "Rudy" ) appeared on the soundtrack of the Whoopi Goldberg movie, "Theodore Rex" released in 1996. Also, in 1996, Rhino Records released the surf music boxed set "Cowabunga Surf!" which contains The Malibooz performance of "Goin' To Malibu".

Later that summer "Goin’ To Malibu" was chosen as the theme song for the MTV Malibu Beach House Beach Party which led to John’s appearance and interview on MTV.

In 1997 screenwriter Joe Eszterhas selected three Malibooz’ tunes for his movie, "An Alan Smithee Film, Burn, Hollywood, Burn" starring Sylvestor Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Chan and Eric Idle which was released in 1998. 1998 also saw the release of the film, "Plump Fiction" starring Sandra Bernhard with the Malibooz’ tune, "Fluorecscent Hearse".

Zambetti has also worked with film producer Michael Manheim on the film "Leap of Faith" and with producer Rick Berman on "Star Trek, First Contact".

The Malibooz’ latest work "Living Water (The Surfer’s Mass). was chosen one of the top 5 albums of 1999 by CD Magazine.

They will be starring in their first TV Special, "A MALIBU CHRISTMAS", with Carmen Electra in December, 2002.