Doo-wop bands like the Starliters were the height of excitement in the early ’60s, and the twisting and shouting they inspired laid the groundwork for more extreme moments in rock ‘n’ roll that bands like the Beatles brought us.

Joey Dee and his Starliters were definitely in the right place at the right time when they recorded "Peppermint Twist" nearly 50 years ago. The song made Dee a star before he was old enough to graduate from college, and he’s still at it.

Honolulu’s Pete Hernandez and his Love Notes kept the flame alive in the islands with a band that was the first of its kind in Hawaii. Now, Hernandez might be more commonly known as pop singer Bruno Mars’ father — but Mars had to pick up that talent for crooning from somewhere, right?

Hernandez, Dee and others from or inspired by the early days of rock will put on the first in what’s hoped to be an annual "Doo-Wop Spectacular" at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, with the Dovells (Jerry Gross and Mark Stevens), Joey Dee and the Starliters, the Orlons and "Hawaii’s Legends of Doo-Wop," the Love Notes.

Note: The venue changed since the event was originally announced, and additional discounts on tickets are now being offered. Get tickets, $22.50 to $129, at the Blaisdell box office; Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 800-745-3000; or at www.ticketmaster.com.