The Raretones is an Island band with character and history.

The group of seven vocalists, most from Mercer Island, has sung together for 30 years. Listeners have described them as “a great family band,” as well as “an Island institution.” Yet band member Andy Anderson is a bit more modest.

“We’re the longest-running local band you’ve never heard of,” Anderson said.

Yet others beg to differ.

“They’re so much fun to have at a venue because they have such wonderful energy. You can tell that they’ve been together for a long time. They’re thoroughly enjoying it — it’s not just an act,” said Islander Jane Meyer-Brahm, who last listened to the Raretones when they played at the Mercer Island Sister City soiree in May.

On Aug. 30, the Raretones will be playing at Mercerdale Park as the last show of Music in the Park’s 2009 summer series. The group was originally scheduled to play on Aug. 6, but the show was cancelled due to rain.

Anderson, who is one of the group’s main organizers, said he was thrilled that the city decided to reschedule the gig, especially since Music in the Park formally ended last week.

“We’re really excited about Music in the Park because we’ve done it in the past and there’s a very large audience,” the vocalist said.

On average, the Raretones perform 10 to 15 shows a year. They mostly play at small functions — Island community events, corporate parties or wedding receptions. At one time years ago, however, they performed at big venues such as Bumbershoot and baseball games at the Kingdome. They also sang for radio and local TV commercials.

“We did Bumbershoot five years in a row. We’ve done commercials for Pizza Haven and Dairy Farmers of Washington,” Anderson said, adding that the group was much bigger when they began in 1977. “We started after [meeting up] at my 10-year high school reunion at Franklin [High School]. Back then, there were 22 vocalists and pianists.”

Today, the group is down to seven vocalists: Anderson and his wife, Sue, along with another Island couple of similar names, Andy and Susan Hamp; guitarist Charlie Solerno, who has played for years at the Presbyterian Church; Island violinist Tom O’dell; Judy Bloom, a retired music teacher from the Northshore School District; and North Seattle resident Chris Evanson.

In addition to these seven, the group will often hire “casuals,” instrumentalists who join the band with piano, bass, drum or guitar.

“We try to use them as often as possible,” Anderson said.

The Raretones doesn’t make much money from its shows, but they have a great time. After all, they’ve been singing together for years.

“We all have the collective mindset of loving music. Over the years, we’ve come to love each other. It’s a wonderful hobby and a wonderful group of friends,” Anderson said.

Asked to describe the Raretones’ music, the vocalist said it’s a mixture of Broadway tunes, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll from the ’50s and ’60s.

“We have about 180 tunes on our list. The bulk of our tunes are from 1955 to 1970; The Beatles, Chuck Berry and other early rock ‘n’ roll. The songs we do have been revived,” he said.

Some of Anderson’s favorite memories with the Raretones are when they play “sock-hop” concerts at the local elementary schools. The band has performed three times at West Mercer and Island Park, along with other Western Washington schools.

“Those are the most fun things we do of all,” he said. “They bring in pizza and Coke. The parents dress in poodle skirts and blue jeans. The look on the kids’ eyes when they walk into their own gym with lights reflecting off the stage and a live band up there — it’s really an amazing thing.”

Anderson is hoping for a similar reaction at next week’s Music in the Park. The musician is hoping to end the summer season with a concert that Islanders will remember, even if the Raretones is “the longest-running Island band you’ve never heard of.”

The Raretones will perform at Mercerdale Park from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30. For more information, please call (206) 275-7609.