Mixed contemporary a cappella groups

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again – mixed groups have all the advantages, and really are the best of both worlds. They can have a sound that hits the stratosphere and the basement all at once, and their blend conveys that little tingle to the listener that a single-gender group just can’t give. If you like the contemporary sound, and enjoy either male or female groups, we dare you to give our mixed groups a listen – you’ll find something (or quite a few somethings) to write home about, we promise!

17th Ave All Stars

The The 17th Avenue Allstars have been recognized as one of the bright stars of contemporary a cappella, since their beginnings in Denver, Colorado over a decade ago. Whether they are performing their award winning Pop Music Show at a family concert, large scale music festival or corporate party, one thing is for sure, the Allstars will go the distance to create a completely entertaining and astounding musical experience for their audience!

The 17th Avenue Allstars are three time Western Regional A Cappella Winners and achieved top honors in 1993 as National A Cappella Champions at the Harmony Sweepstakes, the "super bowl" of a cappella competition. The group's soulful renditions of popular music cover a wide variety of musical styles and span five decades of hits. Recordings

Accidentals

A unique mixed-voice octet, the Accidentals won the 1995 National Finals of the Harmony Sweepstakes. The group won three out of four prizes: first prize, audience favorite, and best song. They have since received the 1997 MAC Award (Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs) as well as the 1997 Back Stage Bistro Award, both awards for Best Vocal Group, adding these to their growing list of accomplishments. Their two CD's have met with wide acclaim from the national a cappella audience.

The first CD, "Mostly Accidental" won Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for Best Contemporary Song ("You Win"), Best Humorous Song, ("Rudiana") and runner up for Best Classical Song ("In Just Spring"). Songs from the second CD, "An Accidental Christmas" have been included in two 1999 feature films, "Enemy of the State" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." With material ranging from the haunting "You Win" ('95 Sweeps Best Song) to their outrageous take on "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the brilliantly comic tribute to Hollywood's worst movie director, Ed Wood, Jr., the Accidentals bring their sophisticated harmonies and wacky sense of humor to an eclectic set of pop originals. Recordings

Bar and Grill Singers

The first annual Bar & Grill Show was held on September 19, 1992, at the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. Prior to that show, Claude Ducloux and Paul Carmona collaborated on writing skits and songs for entertainment at various law-related events in Austin, including the annual "Bench-Bar" conference by the Travis County Bar Association, and the annual "Pro Bono Banquet" sponsored by Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas.

The first Bar & Grill Show, which included a cast of over two dozen lawyers, was a two-hour production of skits and songs that parodied the legal profession. One of the numbers in that show was the "Medley," a tight-harmony singing group that consisted of the original Bar & Grill Singers: Paul Carmona, Claude Ducloux, Annette Chaires, Alan Waldrop, Walter Taylor, Paula Jones and Kim Nugent-Anderson. The inaccurately-named "medley group" was an instant hit, and was the nucleus of what is now known as the Bar & Grill Singers. In the fall of 1993, the "Medley" began performing for groups outside of the annual Bar & Grill Show. Two years later, in October of 1995, the group became known as the Bar & Grill Singers, and soon thereafter began traveling around the country entertaining at bar association events, judicial conferences, and law firm functions. Recordings

The Bobs

Western Onion went broke. Say what? Yep, they went broke, leaving all the singing telegram deliverers broke and unemployed. That was the Great San Francisco Singing Telegram Depression of 1981. Two of the unemployed were Gunnar Madsen and Matthew Bob Stull. They placed a twenty-five-words-or-less ad in the free classifieds, looking for a bass singer. They got one call, from Richard 'Bob' Greene who was not only a bass but a songwriter and recording engineer.

At first all the arranging that Gunnar and Richard did was cover tunes. As they began writing their own songs, the need for another voice became an imperative. Auditions found Janie 'Bob' Scott. Lots of local appearances caused the stage show to gel. A record contract with a local record company, Kaleidoscope Records, produced the first album, The Bobs. A Grammy nomination for their arrangement of "Helter Skelter," a nation wide tour, and soon they were on radio, then TV, eventually traveling to Europe doing huge festivals and concerts. When the first CARA Awards were released in 1992, The Bobs won Best Arrangement for "Helter Skelter." (they also won the category - Signed Professional Best Album, 1992, and ever since, they've won CARA Awards too numerous to mention) The description of the song which accompanying the award was the following. "Rather than translating instrumental parts to voices or relying on cliched syllables and voicings, Gunnar and Richard created a new vocabulary of sounds and textures. The arrangement deconstructs the song line by line, transforming the Beatles classic into an a cappella, post-modern performance art piece." That's a definitive description, accurate too! Recordings

Cartoon Johnny

Cartoon Johnny is an energetic vocal band that pushes the limits of traditional a cappella. Drawing on influences from classic soul to modern alternative, they've crafted a sound and a repertoire of sure-fire favorites and original music that brings audiences to their feet show after show. The group has performed up and down the East Coast, and has been honored to share the stage with some of the best in the business, including DC favorites DaVinci's Notebook and 2003 Harmony Sweepstakes Champions The Idea of North. Harmony, rhythm, and soul, with a touch of mischief and a whole lotta fun - that's Cartoon Johnny. Recordings

Chromatics

This group of techies (engineers, scientists, computer geeks, and NASA employees) performs pop and rock covers and original songs inspired by our modern world. The World Wide Web, television, and fast food - they're all subjects of Chromatics originals. The Chromies have also written astronomically-correct a cappella songs to be used in classrooms for a project called AstroCappella. The Chromatics have presented AstroCappella from Palm Springs, California to Orlando, Florida, from Las Vegas to Space Day on the Washington DC Mall, had their lyrics quoted in the New York Times and their CD has flown in space! No kidding! The Chromatics have presented their "normal" repertoire at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, at First Night Annapolis, at the 1996 and 1999 Atlantic Region Harmony Sweepstakes (where they took 3rd place in 1999), the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles (1996 and 1997), and holiday music at the White House's candlelight tours (1996). Recordings

Denver A Cappella Project

Formed in the fall of 1999, the Denver A Cappella Project started as a group of musical friends getting together to see what kinds of sounds they could make. With over 150 years of combined musical performance experience amongst them, the talented mixed octet quickly found themselves performing in numerous shows throughout Colorado and the region. Now performing nationwide, and an annual favorite at the International Barbershop Harmony Convention, the Denver A Cappella Project has wowed a wide variety of audiences, from the few to the thousands. Featuring three sets of spouses, two sets of siblings and two sets of in-laws, D.A.P. is truly a family affair. Their shows highlight the group's love for different musical styles - whether crooning a jazz tune or belting out a gospel number, D.A.P. remains true to each style. Every entertaining performance is designed to provide that little something for everyone. Recordings

Euphorics

The Euphorics (U4X) are a joyous, energetic a cappella quartet, who, since 1983, have been delighting audiences internationally on radio, television, and concert stages, at schools, festivals, and special events of all kinds. Individually, members of the Euphories are powerful lead singers. Joani Bye (alto), fronts her own band, the Homewreckers, and her voice has graced countless albums (including those of Bon Jovi, David Bowie, INXS, and Cher). Helen Davis (soprano) leads her own jazz quartet and has backed up Doug and She Slugs, and Kathi Hof Donald. Bing Jensen, bass, long-time Vancouver performer, winner of the 1993 CARAS award for best children's album and the West Coast Music Award for Best Children's album in 1998. David Steele, tenor, is a singer songwriter who has worked with numerous internationally recognized artists. Together, they create a rich and soulful blend with a repertoire of top-notch originals and innovative arrangements of covers in a wide variety of styles. The Euphorics celebrate their passion for music with plenty of humor and dynamic audience interaction. Recordings

Fork

Bands are often formed in a bar after a few drinks. They then perform their own versions of popular songs. Fork's tale had a slightly different start. But Fork is in no way an ordinary band - neither as a rock group nor as an a cappella group. Fork's basic idea is to do things the unconventional way; so the band does rock and pop songs a cappella. When it comes to a cappella Fork has always had a few trump cards of their own up their sleeve. As band so elegantly puts it: Fork does to a cappella what Jimi Hendrix did to guitar music and what Viagra does to a man! This has been the case ever since the three actors and one police man were having a cup of tea in the kitchen of an apartment in Helsinki back in 1996 and decided to start a band. There was just one problem: it was impossible to form a rock band with the instruments the four could play - the piano, the violin, the recorder and the bass. But then it dawned on them; they all could sing. Recordings

The Idea of North

The Idea of North is regarded by its peers as one of the best and most unique live musical acts in Australia. Over the last few years as one of Australia's only fully professional vocal quartets, they have reinvented a cappella and taken it to new heights. Their stunning visual presence and incredible sound has built them a legion of adoring fans here and across Europe, Asia and the USA. The Idea of North is an exhilarating live act presenting a blend of uniquely arranged contemporary classics and original material. Thus at their own concerts and at corporate events audiences are treated to a show that includes spectacular original arrangements of artists as varied as Sting, Stevie Wonder and The Bee Gees, together with an eclectic mix of jazz, soul, gospel and originals. Having played with some of Australia's greats, including James Morrison and Don Burrows, "The Idea of North" has been shaping this new sound in music now for over eight years. It's a style grounded on the classic musicianship that these four friends crafted at two of Australia's premier music academies, the Canberra School of Music and the Elder Conservatorium of Music (Adelaide). Recordings

Minimum Wage

Minimum Wage is a group that can only be described as inventive, insane and delightful! Picture the Marx Brothers, Forever Plaid and the Flying Karamozov Brothers rolled into one. Por example, one might witness a lecture on Spatula techniques that goes hilariously awry. Or a capricious, musical history lesson about the "'Histoire du le Burger." Or even a rap number with wildly eclectic choreography. They won a Bistro award for Outstanding Musical Comedy Act by BackStage Magazine and in 1999 they were chosen as the Mid Atlantic Harmony Sweepstakes Champions and went on to win "Audience Favorite" in the National Finals. They can be seen pseudo- regularly on the Food Network's, Doorknock Dinners and other TV appearances include The Fox Network, Comedy Central, Good Day New York, The Veronica Network and America's Funniest People(Grand Prize Winners). Recordings

Sixth Wave

The members of Sixth Wave are jazz souls raised in a pop generation. Trained in all genres of vocal music (classical to pop, jazz to rock), the six members of the group make their individual livings as celebrated concert and studio singers in Los Angeles. Together they explore a wide range of styles, including radio-ready pop originals, straight-ahead jazz charts, innovative reworkings of classic rock songs and 70's funk tunes. The arrangers in the ensemble bring complementary visions to their respective charts, making Sixth Wave's repertoire varied and provocative. They are the 2001 National Harmony Sweepstakes Champions and have performed in venues as varied as L.A.'s venerable Jazz Bakery and the brand new Walt Disney Concert Hall. Recordings

Toxic Audio

"Toxic Audio is a 5-member theatrical mixed vocal band who combine popular and original songs, musical improvisation, and comedic sound effects in their high energy performances without the use of musical instruments. The Toxins create their unique sound by combining tight a cappella harmonies with vocal percussion and voice effects processors. Styles include contemporary pop, rock-n-roll, jazz, hip-hop, comedy, and improvisational songs. They've traveled across the country performing their concert show and opening for the likes of Tony Bennett, Ziggy Marley, The Rippingtons, and The Bobs.

In the year 2003, Toxic Audio's album, Chemistry was named "Album of the Year" by the Contemporary Acappella Society of America. The group has made national TV appearances with Ed McMahon and Wayne Brady, and even got to sing a reggae-style weather report on ESPN2's morning show "Cold Pizza". Toxic Audio won the 2004 Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience” for their Off-Broadway Show in New York’s John Houseman Theatre where they continue to electrify audiences by exploring the boundaries of the human voice. Recordings

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Mixed Contemporary A Cappella Groups

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