4:2:Five

4:2:Five is not your parents' a cappella. What used to be street-corner barbershop and doo-wop, has now evolved into a fresh new sound and 4:2:Five is right at the breakpoint. With driving vocal bass, slamming vocal percussion, and tight harmonies, these five young men create a sound that is all their own using nothing more than their highly trained mouths. 4:2:Five has performed at the 2000 Orlando International Fringe Festival, on several radio stations, and won Ed McMahons internet based talent search www.Nextbigstar.com. The guys have been seen at NBC's Today Show, every news station in the Orlando area, and you might even catch 4:2:Five on a television commercial or doing a jingle on the radio. 4:2:Five's unique sound is derived from the diverse backgrounds of it's members, the individual talents possessed by each, and the belief that the music always has and always will come first. Recordings

Ball In The House

Ball in the House is five guys, five voices, that's it. This Boston-based group takes a cappella to the next stage, with vocal drums/beatbox and vocal bass under their pop harmonies to create a sound that's hard to believe. They've been astounding audiences nationally, both with their exciting live show (over 250 a year!) and with their recordings (their own CDs as well as the Cool Whip radio and TV ads). "Jaw-dropping a cappella brilliance, Top 10 song crafting skills, and genius arrangements make Ball in the House one of the best bands around bar none." (Songwriter's Monthly). Recordings

baSix

baSix is a remarkable Danish a cappella group consisting of six guys. Spanning pop, jazz, r&b, soul, and rock and blending strong, original compositions with innovative arrangements of timeless songs, baSix has presented first-rate a cappella to fans around the world since 1999. An honorable second place in "Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2001" (the national forerunner of the Eurovision Song Contest), broadcast live on national TV, seriously kick-started the career of the six singers, who have continued to dazzle their audiences ever since.

baSix has performed in concert halls, theaters, clubs, cafés, churches, festivals, at conferences, and private events in Denmark as well as abroad and has appeared on national radio and television numerous times. Latest in November 2004, where baSix performed with (among others) Mick Hucknall (Simply Red), Westlife, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ana Johnson, Katie Melua in "The great Christmas Show". Next to various guest performances on several other artists' albums, baSix has released three personal albums so far: "The grass" (2001), "Embodiment" (2003) and “Christmastime” (2004). Right after its release, "The grass" broke into the charts and attained the best placing of an a cappella album ever recorded in Denmark, and only a few months later, it earned the group a gold album for selling more than 25,000 copies! Recordings

The Blanks

The Blanks are Sam, Paul, George and Philip, a quartet of friends who like to sing a cappella music. For a few years now they've been appearing on the television show Scrubs where, as luck would have it, they have to pretend to be a quartet of friends who like to sing a cappella music. They sing in a wide range of styles from original pop and doo-wop to TV and movie themes. They've even been known to sing songs with talking toys--that's right, four grown men who still play with dolls--er, action figures. But all is not fun and games with The Blanks, as they have been known to lapse into sentimental ballads too. Recordings

Blue Jupiter

Blue Jupiter formed in late 2001 and has already been compared to Rockapella, M-Pact, and The Blenders. In the short year Blue Jupiter has been together, they've carved themselves a reputation for delivering power-packed shows, stunning arrangements, and creative, inspiring original music. Hailed as "the next shining star of vocal music," They have spent their last year touring fifteen states, recording, and arranging, and have been growing in popularity day by day with help from their manager, The Blenders' Tim Kasper. With Kasper's keen insight and Blue Jupiter's raw talent and creativity, there is little this group cannot do. As a vocal band, Blue Jupiter takes every opportunity to explore and celebrate the power and versatility of the human voice, whether a cappella or lightly accompanied. Musical integriy is set at a premium: three Blue Jupiter members attended school at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, which may also explain why Blue Jupiter has been able to succesfully handle production, recording, arranging, and programming duties themselves. Recordings

Cadence

Four men, four microphones, no instruments. This is the formula for Toronto’s celebrated vocal band, Cadence whose members include Dylan Bell, Carl Berger, Kevin Fox, and Ross Lynde. This formidable foursome has been dishing up its unique blend of tight harmony, instrumental imitation, high-energy antics, and audience interaction to sold-out audiences—and getting people genuinely excited about vocal music! The results have earned Cadence international recognition as “one of the finest quartets to make an appearance in the a cappella scene” (Primarily A Cappella).

During the recent past, the Cadence performance schedule has been highlighted by appearances on radio and television, at Toronto's SkyDome, and the 2001 World Leaders tribute to Quincy Jones. In 2003, Cadence took home first place and “Audience Favourite” at the Harmony Sweepstakes (New York). The group has also had the honour of sharing the stage during an impromptu performance with Bobby McFerrin at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Cadence was nominated for a 2001 Juno Award (Canada) and received two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for their debut CD, “frost-free”. The album is a collection of popular and lesser-known songs representing different musical styles, and mirrors the band’s approach to live performance. Whether you’re into jazz, doo-wop, classical, funk, or something in between, Cadence delivers. Recordings

The Coats

The Coats vocal band started on the street corners of Seattle, Washington's famous Pike Place Market. Singing for tourists, locals, fish vendors, and fellow buskers, their humble ambitions of earning a few clams to fight off the tuition bills quickly evolved into a full-time international performance career. They've since won national vocal competitions, sang for the President of the United States, and have been fortunate enough to share the stage with such talented fellow entertainers as Ronnie Milsap, Trisha Yearwood, Montgomery Gentry, The Beach Boys, Tanya Tucker, Billy Dean, Crystal Gayle, and Colin Ray, just to name a few, all while continuing their tradition of outreach performances and workshops supporting music in schools throughout the northwest. The group formed in January of 1987 at the University of Washington when four guys who enjoyed a cappella got together to sing. Wrapped up in their vocal synergy, they spent the early days bouncing harmonies off campus walls, passing students and patrons of the Pike Place Market. Finally, their big break came when a local high school music teacher asked the group to perform for her class. An instant hit with that age group, they decided to try their performance before audiences of all ages. A new group was born. Recordings

Cosmos

Being acknowledged as the best young Latvian group during the first year of its existence, Vocal Group Cosmos’ first album received an award as the best pop album of 2003 and achieved platinum status in sales. Cosmos have released three new albums since then and they all greatly enjoy the love of audience in many, many countries. Their distinctive style of a cappella singing and charismatic concert performances, gave these six young musicians the chance to skyrocket into the forefront of popular and academic music scenes. Drawing on a professional musical education and with a very broad range of voices, Cosmos give full expression to their talents across a broad range of musical styles and genres from medieval chant to modern jazz and pop music. Their performance is entirely live and free of any backing tracks. Moving bass, startling counter-tenor, trumpet sound and even the beat-box - everything you hear is created only by voices of six singers right in front of your eyes. Recordings

Eclipse

Eclipse is an ensemble of six who met while attending Utah State University in northern Utah. They have performed extensively with the USU Department of Programs and Entertainment, which was instrumental in helping them gain exposure when they were getting started. In January 2000, they toured Thailand with Colors and the USU Sunburst Singers. Last year they were featured on a Christmas CD produced for the USU Aggie Carolers. Eclipse is currently recording their own debut album, due out in March 2001. Their repertoire consists of an eclectic mix of vocal jazz, pop, R&B B, and even big band tunes. Recordings

Face

Ben Lunstad and Joseph DiMasi had a vision to create a vocal band unlike any other – not just passion and power, not just a wall of sound, but also a musical experience that leaves people breathless with every moment of every song. Ben and Joseph both had a habit of founding award-winning vocal ensembles, each starting groups of their own while undergrads.

Face is the two-time Champions of the Rocky Mountain Regional Harmony Sweepstakes, winning Audience Favorite in all four of its regional appearances. In 2005 they went on to place 2nd in the National Competition, as well as winning the coveted National Audience Favorite Award, and now the guys are poised to make even more noise on the national scene. Recordings

Flying Pickets

The Flying Pickets are commonly regarded as being one of the leading pop a-cappella groups in Europe. Their dynamic stage shows and acclaimed innovative albums have all contributed to their recognition as the undisputed masters of their field. The group was first formed in 1982 by members of the 7:84 Theatre group, a socialist fringe theatre group who used acappella singing in a production called One Big Blow, the story of the 1982 miner's strike in England, from the miner's point of view. The first recording was a live show 'Live at the Albany Empire' on the group's own label, which sold so well that they soon came to the attention of Virgin Records, who signed the group in 1983.

The very first single with Virgin, "Only You", a cover of a recent song by Yazoo, went straight to number 1 in the UK charts and was to remain there for five weeks over the Christmas of 1983 before going on to repeat the success throughout almost every country in Europe. This was soon followed by the Lost Boys album (1984). Two more albums followed - Flying Pickets Live (1986) and Waiting For Trains (1988), but sadly none of the four albums from the eighties are still available, although some of the tracks can be found on the 'Best Of Flying Pickets' album in some countries. Recordings

HeeBee Jeebees

The Heebee-jeebees sang their first notes together in the fall of 1993. They have been entertaining audiences ever since. The group has won international acclaim for their original vocal stylings. In 1995, the Heebee-jeebees released their first CD, "Hurry Up and Wait". In 1997, they released their Christmas album, "Waiting Under the Mistletoe". Calgarians will be familiar with the group from their numerous public appearances over the years. The Heebee-jeebees have performed in events from the First Night Festival, the Winter Festival, to Calgary Flames Games. They have also appeared on local television and radio stations. The Heebee-jeebees are reaching nationwide fame through several appearances on CBC's This Morning. Recordings

House Jacks

The original Jacks met each other while singing in a cappella groups at their various colleges on the East Coast. They all moved to San Francisco to form the House Jacks in September 1991. Since then, there have been several membership changes, culminating in the tight ensemble showcased and loved today around the world. They found thier name in the Yellow Pages under Heavy Equipment Rental: a "house jack" is what you use when you want to move a house. Anyone who's seen them perform live will tell you that the name is appropriate. "Raise the roof" takes on a whole new meaning with the House Jacks.

They have headlined in many famous venues around the country, including The Bottom Line and The Bitter End (NYC), The Great American Music Hall (SF), The House Of Blues (Boston), The Birchmere (Alexandria, VA), and The Iron Horse (Northampton, MA). In addition, they have begun to make waves in Europe, headlining at many well-known German venues, including: Spectaculum Mundi (Munich), Theater am Aegi (Hannover), and Cafe Schlotte (Berlin). In the fall of 2001, the Jacks toured Japan. Recordings

Inside Out

The six-man, all-vocal group, InsideOut, is rapidly establishing a reputation for exceptional entertainment. With their musical capability, surprising vocal percussion, and captivating performances, InsideOut has entertained both small and large audiences across the West.

Before becoming a part of InsideOut, each member of the group was involved in performing in other vocal groups, such as the well-known BYU Men's Chorus. The group had its beginning in the winter of 1997. Two brothers, Ben and Layne Haacke, pulled in Kimball Brown, a home town friend, Ryan Hinton, a "real" bass, and some other local singers to form InsideOut. It started as a hobby, and they performed for friends and the local a cappella club. A couple of members left the group at the end of the school semester, so InsideOut recruited the last two members of the current group to replace them. Paul Hatch was brought on as a high tenor, and Jason Smith filled in with his exceptional vocal percussion. Recordings

Knudsen Brothers

In 1975, the musically talented father a large family (eight of the ten sons were born at the time) introduced his five oldest to a cappella music, barbershop style. Barry, who was 14, sang bass. Kevin, at 12 sang lead. Lynn (11) and Jak (9) sang baritone and Owen (8) sang tenor with occasional help from Jak. It began as a practical hobby to keep the kids off the streets, and was a cappella for they had no money for instruments. They were living in a two bedroom house at the time. Singing for family and friends soon became talent shows, school assemblies, charity affairs and company parties. In 1976 the local SPEBSQSA chapter discovered their talent and loved it. They provided the opportunity for the young Knudsen Brothers to be guests at chapter shows throughout the region.

The big thrill of their youthful careers was singing on the nationally televised Donnie & Marie Show. A move to L.A. and their own efforts, performing for departing patrons after major shows at the Los Angeles Music Center, soon had them well known in celebrity circles. In 1994, all six of the brothers who had been in and out of the group decided to become an a cappella sextet with Owen doing vocal percussion, Jak being a sort of stand up bass, and the other four, Barry, Kevin, Lynn and Curtis doing the vocal and instrumental parts. They showcased this arrangement to wildly enthusiastic audiences in 1995 and remain with that grouping to this day. Recordings

measureXmeasure

Hailed by critics as "a high-energy vocal phenomenon that'll simply knock your socks off!" (JazzBeat), measureXmeasure (measure by measure) is an a cappella sensation that proves the human voice is indeed the most versatile of all instruments. Despite what the listeners’ ears may tell them, mXm uses no drum machines, synthesizers, pre-recorded material or instruments of any kind. Every sound - whether it be soaring five-part vocal harmonies, jaw-dropping vocal bass, or astonishing beat-box vocal percussion - is produced live by the voices of these five young men. Originally formed in the mid-1990’s as a student group at the University of Kansas, the Kansas City-based quintet now travels coast-to-coast year-round headlining concerts halls, festivals and college campuses everywhere.

measureXmeasure is also a strong advocate for music education. Since 1999, the band has been developing and presenting its “Get Vocal!” program, which seeks to raise awareness and support for school music programs, while teaching young people to use their voices as a means of artistic and emotional expression. Along with its performances and clinics for the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Kansas Choral Directors Association, mXm has had the privilege of delivering its message of perseverance, dedication, hard work and music appreciation to thousands of music students throughout the Midwest and across the country. Recordings

Moosebutter

moosebutter is a wacky music ensemble from Provo, Utah. moosebutter croons about truth justice and the vegetable way. moosebutter loves peanut butter and igloos. moosebutter is just like a cutting-edge, hard-core hip-hop group, except moosebutter is from Utah, all white, not interested in controversy, and also doesn't perform hip-hop. Weston, however, does perform the "hip pop" when he does the splits. moosebutter likes you. Recordings

Octapella

The 8 members of Octappella originally met while singing in a college musical ensemble. Motivated by their friendship and passion for music, they formed Octappella in the summer of 1999 and now work to promote the popular and growing genre of a cappella music. Proud to be a unique and sought-after a capella group specializing in vocal instrumentation and complex, tight harmonies, the members of Octappella have sought distinction in their artistic interpretation, vocal ability, musical arrangements, and performance personality. They've recorded two albums, made numerous radio and television appearances, and have performed at many university, corporate and community events. They were featured performers during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games and appeared on international and national television and radio broadcasts. The members of Octappella comprise a broad collection of performance experience and musical talent. Their repertoire features a variety of musical genres spanning many decades, including old and new, classical and popular, as well as holiday and inspirational. Their diverse song selections, "marinated with the Octappella flavor," utilize rich harmonies with amazing vocal instrumentation and percussion. Recordings

Return 2 Zero

Andrew C. White, Sammy Pawlak, Marshall Webb, and Doug Teel began singing together in the early nineties while performing with the Hollywood Hi-Tones at Universal Studios Florida. Return 2 Zero was formed in 1994 and began singing at various theme parks and conventions. They competed in several national a cappella competitions, winning prestigious honors in group and arrangement categories. The extraordinary arranging talents of Doug Teel and Marshall Webb have carved out the sound that millions have grown to love from Return 2 Zero. For over ten years “the guys” have been surprising and delighting crowds daily at Disney’s MGM Studios as “Four For A Dollar.” Recordings

Rockapella

Elliot Kerman and Sean Altman were students at Brown University. As members of High Jinks they practiced their group singing. After graduation, in 1986, they hit the streetcorners in Manhattan with school pals, Steve Keys and David Stix. They performed for fun and spare change at first, often in front of the Haagen Dazs on the corner of Columbus and 74th. At the time Sean's main gig was singing lead for his rock band, Blind Dates. Elliott sang in a jazz club at night. Steve was going for corporate. Stix left the group after a year to continue a career in the arts and was replaced by another High Jinks friend, Charlie Everett. Their repertoire focused on the close harmony of barbershop arrangements with some doo-wop added. The street corner gigs were strong enough to gain invitations to perform the songs to alleviate the ennui of the upper classes. That paid the bills while the group honed their skills in contemporary rock tunes and originals, dropping the oldies and barbershop. Their first break was the Regis Philbin Show in 1988. Then Kathie Lee Gifford had them booked for Regis and Kathie Lee and they were national. Recordings

Sons of Pitches

Sons of Pitches is a group of five classically trained musicians who perform a wide variety of songs from pop, classic rock, country, and folk covers to many original songs. Their engaging stage presence along with their humor and energy make them highly charismatic performers. They are all formally trained vocal musicians who take their craft seriously and are now making a full time commitment to pursuing a professional performance career. Recently they began incoporating instrumentation into their arrangements while staying true to their vocal a cappella roots- with stunning results. Their performance venues range from school workshops to main stage concerts to opening for national acts. If you listen to their albums and see them in concert, you will realize that their sound is in no way contrived or processed. Reviewers and public comments proclaim the "dawn of a stunning group of musicians about to launch themselves into the national spotlight." Recordings

The Standards

The Standards are five Williams brothers from Twin Falls, Idaho singing R&B, Doo-wop, 50's-60's jazz, and their original material. They have been singing together as a group since 1994. Jordon is known for his rich tenor voice and extraordinary range. One of his passions is motor cycles and he owns a Harley Davidson, which he built from scratch. Morgan writes most of the original music and creates the artwork for the group, including album designs and promotional material. Nicholas is The Standards' bass. He is the "comedy of the group," known for his sense of humor. He is guaranteed to touch the lighter side of the audience. Nathan adds character to the performances with his distinctive voice and original choreography. His dream is to dance professionally in a major Broadway musical. Quinn gives strength to The Standards with his dynamic vocal quality and personal enthusiasm. His interests include roller-blading, snow-boarding, and bothering Morgan if he has nothing else to do in the day. All five brothers are eagle scouts and range in age from 24 to 17. Recordings

TMinus5

T Minus 5 is one of the hottest acts to come out of the Rocky Mountains, creating an a cappella frenzy everywhere they go. Having been described as a "group of 5 slightly goofy, eminently lovable guys that have so much fun together on stage it makes the audience want to take part , " T Minus 5 has toured the west creating smiles on the faces of the audience, both young, and not so young. In 2001, T Minus 5, was catapulted into stardom when they competed in, and took first place in the Rocky Mountain Harmony Sweepstakes. Since then, they have toured the West, performing for congressman, governors, and all around important people. Their sound is made up of tight harmony, blended with a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, and topped off with a whole lot of fun. T Minus 5 is: Jeff Petersen, Jared Allen, Joe Cheney, Jason Salmond, Karsten Longhurst, and a pet goldfish named Barracuda. Recordings

Tonic Sol-fa

Tonic Sol-fa is one of the hottest performing musical groups to come out of the Midwest, ignighting crowds from coast to coast. Last year alone, this all vocal quintet performed at over 200 shows in 32 states for sold out audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Critics halied this fivesome as "a hip mixture of Tony Bennett and Reality Bites", with "boy next door personalities". A typical Tonic So-fa show is packed with audience interaction and energy, and includes a little of everything from modern pop hits to classic oldies, country, award-winning originals, even comedy parodies and cartoons. Recordings

Vocaldente

2008 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival National Champions. With a rich and varied repertoire covering more than 80 years, they entertain and delight their audience with songs and pieces from the Comedian Harmonists to rock 'n' roll and ABBA, from the big 80s hits to the latest pop, always presented in the gloriously elaborate sound of five professionally educated voices. Recordings

Voice Male

Put a lawyer, an accountant, a graphic designer, a marketer, a commercial real estate agent, and a computer specialist together and what do you get... Voice Male, a six-man contemporary a cappella group that has been delighting audiences across the Mountain West since 1994 with shows that can only be described as pure, spontaneous fun!

In 1994, the members of Voice Male got together at Utah State University where they were all members of the New Horizons Choir. In the beginning, they were a nine-man group just looking to have some fun, but their energetic live shows ended up taking USU by storm. After a couple of years, three group members moved on leaving the six guys who make up Voice Male today. They sing a wide variety of covers and originals and have performed hundreds of times at all kinds of events for a combined audience of over a hundred thousand. In the process, they've developed a blend that lifts young and old alike. Recordings

Vocal Six

Vocal Six originates from Helsingborg. The music teacher at the Elineberg school, Lasse Holmström, had started a barbershop group, and the twelve lads of this choir soon divided into smaller constellations of their own. Two quartets with two mutual members were merged at one occasion. This made for a sextet consisting of Staffan Paulson and Niclas Kåse on top, Jens Friis-Hansen and Janne Olsson in the middle, and Martin Andersson and Peder Tennek at the base.

This was when the idea of singing professionally for one year was born and soon they entered a recording studio. In the month of May in 1992 the young men quit their jobs. They rented an office in Helsingborg where they rehearsed and administrated the business, finding sponsors and looking for jobs. In spite of the bad times for Swedish economy, Vocal Six made rather well. Many years later the group continues to perform regularly and are one of Swden's most popular vocal groups. Recordings