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“The sound you are about to hear has occurred once in the history of pop music,” claims Rockapella producer, writer, arranger Scott Leonard. “Every element of this sound is unique – four world-class voices and one freak of nature – combining to shred the noise’s glare and free the music’s simple soulful ass-kicking light.” USA TODAY puts it simply, “Some say the best musical instrument of all is the human voice - if you’ve seen Rockapella you know that’s the truth.”
Rockapella reached its first milestone as a featured performer on the PBS television special Do It A Cappella, hosted by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. Created to showcase the supreme capability and virtuosity of the human voice, the program was a perfect platform for Rockapella’s talent and infectious energy to be noticed.
When their appearance on Do It A Cappella hit the airwaves, the doo-wop stereotype of vocal group pop music was crushed and crushed so hard that PBS eagerly came calling again. They quickly requested Rockapella not only write and record the theme music for their soon-to-be-hit show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? but asked that the group star in the show as the house band. The daily Rockapellafest of Carmen brought ten million viewers every week for the next five years, and to this very day, at every concert the group performs, the crowd screams to hear the theme song they remember from the show.
HBO caught the buzz and cast Rockapella alongside Hollywood stars Whoopi Goldberg & Denzel Washington in their inventive hit family series, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. Whoopi Goldberg “had to have the boys” perform on her HBO special, Chez Whoopi. Whoopi’s televised introduction of Rockapella, “These guys knock the shit out of me, they’re amazing!” heralded an experience to come for millions.
These HBO and PBS television programs ignited the flame that placed Rockapella in demand by North America’s top media outlets. Rockapella has appeared with the best – The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC’s Today Show with Katie Couric & Matt Lauer, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, the CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel, CBS’s Orange Bowl Parade - the list goes on.
Praise comes not only from television but from print media and radio; the NEW YORK TIMES said simply, “… the most accomplished contemporary a cappella group,” the NEW YORK POST wrote, “Rockapella: pure magical talent,” and PLAYBOY MAGAZINE’s review stated, “…the hippest and hottest a cappella group to hit the airwaves! Flawless harmonies.” WPLJ New York’s hit morning DJ, Todd Pettengill, raved “Rockapella’s music is so contagious it should come with a warning label… Five voices that blend into a symphony, Rockapella is the sound of the future, today! Incredible.”
Responding to popular demand, the group took their original songs, their arrangements, and their signature harmonies into the studio. The outcome: seven albums for North America, ten albums for Japan. About Rockapella’s studio recordings the NEW YORK POST raved, “«««« Innovative, well-produced, the band brilliantly incorporates different styles and ideas. Hooray for Rockapella!” The accolades come with every new release, from every concert, and every market Rockapella appears in across the United States and the world.
A solid chain, Rockapella’s players are the top of their craft. Scott Leonard, the group’s high tenor, has found himself in the center of contemporary a cappella creating the arrangements, sounds, and songs of this multi-national phenomenon. Profoundly influenced by the Motown greats and especially Stevie Wonder, Scott Leonard’s music emerges as a unique brand of pop and soul – smart, often witty and entertaining. Scott also finds comfort behind the console and in the producer’s chair writing, producing and recording the group’s albums and most of the group’s original songs as well as their arrangements of popular songs. When traveling in Japan, it is not uncommon to find young a cappella singers sweating to transcribe one of his arrangements.
Pulling pure talent together is the key to Rockapella’s incredible and unique sound. From Louisville, Kentucky via the stages of Broadway, off-Broadway, Disney and shared stages with Tina Tuner, Phil Collins, and Julie Andrews, (tenor) John K. Brown’s talent shines very brightly. His gorgeously fluid voice slips into your mind and brings a smile to your face, topping Rockapella’s plate of sound like warm butter & hot sauce.
A worldwide talent search led Rockapella to Steven Dorian (tenor), a former baseball star at the University of Massachusetts. Steven comes to Rockapella straight from the world famous stages of Disney, having played many major roles in Disney productions, including Disney’s Festival of the Lion King. Steven is a man of many talents whose singing, dancing and guitar playing have been showcased from Branson to New York, opening for Kenny Rogers, performing for international audiences. With his gorgeous vocals, smooth style, and magical grace on the stage, Steven rounds out the savory blend of Rockapella’s three tenors.
A true bass voice is perhaps one of the most challenging voices to find. George Baldi, a native of Philadelphia and member of the group Unique Attraction, that later became Boyz II Men, came to Rockapella after performing in various other groups around the world for Universal Studios. His formidable talent, charm, and the delicious contemporary soul of his massive voice gives Rockapella the perfect harmonic foundation.
The amazing drum and percussion sounds you hear in the Rockapella sound are performed vocally by Jeff Thacher. This “vocal percussionist” is among the top in his craft, who as he likes to put it, “spits for a living”. A graduate of the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, his musical roots are broad, but funk and flair are never far from the well he taps to make music. Jeff’s role in Rockapella completes their arsenal of “human music”. In concert, faint of heart beware, his percussion solo explodes and brings down the house in every venue, every city, every media outlet he goes near – absolutely mind-blowing!
Rockapella are the progenitors of a new flavor of contemporary pop music; one that has spread virally across the United States, Asia and Europe. Rockapella’s widespread appeal has built legions of fans throughout the USA and across the globe. Since 2003, Rockapella has been cris-crossing the country with their annual “A Rockapella Holiday” tour, spreading the joy of the holiday season through their music. Rockapella has also collaborated with the world famous Boston Pops orchestra and together they’ve sold-out venues throughout the US. Often imitated, never duplicated, Rockapella remains an innovative burst of talent continuing to sell out venues around the world. The group is currently touring the globe and laying the foundation for their next recording, set to be released in May 2010.
