Michigan Jake

Michigan Jake are the 2001 International Gold Medalist Quartet. Named after a Warner Brothers cartoon frog, this exciting, young quartet has made a name for itself with a smooth, distinctive sound and unique treatment of jazz rhythms. They began singing in 1995 and have become a much sought after quartet, giving performances in Australia, Canada, England, Germany and throughout the United States. Though the original Jake foursome lived in the Louisville, Kentucky area, they have now migrated far apart, calling Anaheim, California, Tampa, Florida, Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky, home. Nevertheless, Michigan Jake has maintained a busy show and recording schedule, and they have risen to the top of the Barbershop Harmony Society.

The quartet placed tenth in their first International Competition in 1996 and then eighth the next year. By March of 1998 they found themselves in need of a new baritone and called upon their friend Joel Wilson. Joel had started singing in the Louisville Times in 1993 when he was sixteen, and had grown accustomed to the singing techniques of Michigan Jake. This, and the fact that he's so darned good, made it easy for him to slip effortlessly into the Michigan Jake sound. With just inside of four months together, the quartet jumped to the second place silver medalist position in Atlanta that summer. At the 1999 convention in Anaheim Michigan Jake took the third place bronze medal behind crowd favorite FRED, and in 2000 they earned another silver medal with PLATINUM winning the gold. Finally in July of 2001 in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, Michigan Jake won the coveted gold medals besting a field of fifty competitors by a margin of 256 points.

Group members: Greg Hollander, Joel Wilson, Drew Kirkman, Mark Hale

Discography

How Rhythm Was Born

Sweet Lorraine Something's Coming Too Marvelous for Words Twilight Time The Old Piano Roll Blues Tangerine Hey, Good Lookin' Time Was Look Me Up When You're in Dixie Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams Somebody Knows Once in a Lifetime How Rhythm Was Born Bill Bailey Montage

Founded in 1995 and taking their name from a Warner Bros. cartoon frog who would maddeningly sing and dance only for the guy who finds him, Michigan Jake rose slowly but surely in the SPEBSQSA world until the year 2000, when they were named International Silver Medalist Quartet. In 2001 they won Gold, and since then this exciting, young male quartet has become one of the most sought after quartets in the country, giving performances around the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia and England, and have been inducted into Pennyslvania's Vocal Group Hall of Fame. "Rhythm" is MJ's 2nd CD, their first the excellent "For The Record." These 13 songs really show off the group's versatility: a brilliantly arranged "Something's Coming" from West Side Story, "Too Marvelous For Words," "Twilight Time," "The Old Piano Roll Blues," a jazzy, bluenote "Tangerine," Hank Williams' deathless, upbeat hit "Hey, Good Looking'," "Time Was," "Look Me Up When You're In Dixie," "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams," "Somebody Knows," "Once In A Lifetime," "That's How Rhythm Was Born" and a brilliant "Bill Bailey Montage" that takes us on a musical odyssey from the 1930's to the 1960s, 70s and 80s, coming to a very funny finish in 18th century Germany. And we'll bet that Bill Bailey never once crossed your mind while listening to the Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl." In any case, "Rhythm" is top-drawer (a) ringing barbershop harmony, (b) entertainment and (c) big fun. Enjoy!

Listen to How Rhythm Was Born in Real Audio

For The Record

Sweet Lorraine Give Me A Night in June Always Louise Imagination Im Beginning to See The Light You Make Me Feel So Young My Ideal Tea For Two All The Pretty Horses Dinah Gershwin Medley

Michigan Jake's first recording is a hotly anticipated commodity. Beginning with their debut in 1996 (where they placed tenth at Salt Lake), the quartet, from the Cardinal District, has steadily gained traction, pausing temporarily at the number 2 spot in Kansas City. They are odds-on to go all the way next year. Many of their arrangements are by the group's own Mark Hale, Director of the Masters of Harmony Chorus, which says a lot about the caliber of Michigan Jake. They favor the standards of the great American songwriters Kern, Berlin et al, and their sound evokes that elegant and graceful era in style and flavor. Songs such as "Tea For Two" and "Imagination" have an easy swing feel and unaffected delivery that entrances with subtle charm, basking the ear with bright warmth. "Sweet Lorraine" smiles with courtly delight, emphasizing its point with triplets, and sliding into an exuberant finish. Michigan Jake harkens back to the glory days of barbershop while adding a modern freshness and vitality.

Listen to All The Pretty Horses in Real Audio

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