All of a Sudden, All-4-One’s a Group With a Hit Single : Pop music: The Antelope Valley vocal quartet was put together to record a remake of 1963’s ‘So Much in Love.’ An album is in the works.

Be careful with assumptions when talking about All-4-One, the Antelope Valley R&B; vocal quartet whose dreamy recording of “So Much in Love” has leaped into the national Top 10.

First of all, don’t assume that All-4-One recorded the single as a tribute to such early doo-wop groups as the Tymes, which did the original single in 1963.

“We’d never heard the song or knew anything about the Tymes before we did the single,” says All-4-One’s Jamie Jones, 19, during lunch in West Hollywood, where he’s flanked by another member, Tony Borowiak, 21.

“We’d been singing Boyz II Men songs for fun, and we like some other current vocal groups,” he continues. “But old doo-wop is our parents’ music. We’d hear this music around the house sometimes because of them. We like the Temptations and the Four Tops, but we didn’t know a whole lot about doo-wop. A producer called us and asked us to record the single, which was all arranged. All we had to do was sing it.”

Another wrong assumption, the members say, is that their multi-ethnic makeup--the group consists of a white (Borowiak) two blacks (Jones and Delious Kennedy) and one Mexican American (Alfred Nevarez)--is part of a marketing strategy designed to appeal to various demographics.

“This ‘United Nations’ look wasn’t planned,” Jones insists. “We were just looking to put together the best vocal mix. Alfred is in the group because he has a strong bass voice that complements ours--not because he’s a Mexican who can attract Mexican fans.”

But the singers do see a value in the diversity. Says Borowiak, “Having people of different backgrounds in the group, I think it makes us more interesting and more distinctive. It gives people something to talk about.”

Another thing the pop world is talking about is All-4-One’s meteoric rise.

This wasn’t even a group until they recorded “So Much in Love” last fall. None of the members--all in their late teens or early 20s--had any significant experience beyond singing in church choirs, amateur groups or talent shows.

“As a group we’ve just done one show,” Borowiak points out. “Nothing we’d done before really prepared us for what we’re doing now. We’re on another level now. We’ve got a lot of work to do before we start performing on a regular basis.”

What’s more, Jones and Borowiak admit they’d never even done a media interview before.

“In every area of this business, we’re like babes in the woods--or worse than that if it’s possible,” Jones cracks.

Jones, Borowiak and Nevarez were singing jingles for KAVS-FM in Antelope Valley when producer Gary St. Clair asked them to assemble a group to record “So Much in Love” last fall for Blitzz Records, a Chatsworth label affiliated with Atlantic Records.

Deciding to make it a quartet, they brought in Kennedy, whom they had met at a karaoke showcase last summer. Kennedy, originally from New York and the oldest member of the group at 23, had come to town looking for a break in show business.

“That fourth voice was important,” Jones explains. “When one guy is singing lead there’s still three voices behind him with a three-part melody--which sounds better. You also get a much fuller overall sound with four voices.”

The Blitzz deal was just for a single, but since it became a hit, the group has been working furiously on its debut album, written by the members and co-produced by St. Clair and Blitzz president Tim O’Brien.

“We’re learning as we go along,” Jones explains. “It’s really the tough way to do this. We’re learning about each other too, since we’ve never worked together in this kind of situation. We’re learning about writing and recording--every phase of the business. None of us thought we’d be here right now in a group. It’s been an incredible scramble these past few months.”

Adds Borowiak, clearly still awe-struck by it all, “All of sudden--bam!--we have a group, an album, a career. We’re living the dream of every unknown singer and musician. All I can say is: Wow!”

Before doo-wop devotees get too excited about the group’s first album, “All-4-One”--due March 29--Borowiak had some bad news. Not only are there no other doo-wop remakes on the album, but only one other song sounds anything like “So Much in Love.”

“If we did a whole album of that kind of music, people would think that’s all we can do,” he says. “When you come from out of nowhere like we have, people are ready to confine you in some category right away. We don’t want that.”