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.
In 1989 Charlie quit to continue a career in software design. After three months of auditions, Barry Carl was heard, loved and convinced to join. Barry had been a scholarship student at Julliard, four years with the New York City Opera, performer in musical theater and done voice-overs for commercials. The new quartet did a demo at a studio belonging to friends of Sean featuring the rocking "Zombie Jamboree." That was the tune which propelled them to the Spike Lee & Company's TV special, Do It A-Capella. International audiences paid attention and one of that number was the producer of the incipient PBS game show for kids, "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego." Rockapella was asked to write the theme song and perform in the show. At this point, Steve decided to continue at Fordham Law School. Audition time again!
Scott Leonard had just returned from Japan where he had been lead of a Tokyo Disneyland rock band and recorded a solo album. Sean and Elliot screened hundreds of high tenors and auditioned thirty of them. When they heard Scott it was a no-brainer. Thus the lineup at the beginning of Carmen Sandiego was born. Scott sent Rockapella's demos to Japan and they signed their first recording contract with For Life Records. In 1992 they released three recordings in Japan where they became the best selling new foreign artists. To this day they have recorded seven CDs in Japan and sell out major venues in that country where they are big stars. During 1993 Jeff Thatcher, vocal percussionist extraordinaire, often joined the group in live concert performance. Jeff had graduated from the Berklee College of Music and by 1995 had joined them on the set of Carmen Sandiego.
After 295 episodes of Carmen their participation came to an end, to the sorrow and relief of the group. They then began serious touring in the Unites States and, of course continued their fabulous career in Japan. To the shock of those of us who have become big fans of Rockapella, Sean Altman left the group. He wanted to get back to his rock band roots (where's that guitar, anyway). His vocal parts have been taken over by Kevin Wright who sang his first solo in church at age two! Since then he's been lead singer in Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, national tours and many national advertisements. The writing and arranging chores which were handled mostly by Scott Leonard and Sean have been taken over by Scott who is producing many of the tunes as well. In 2001, legendary bass singer Barry Carl retired and the group welcomed newcomer and formidable talent George Baldi as his successor. In 2004, Elliott Kerman hung up his pitch pipe and the soulful, one-of-a-kind talent, John J. Brown, was added to the group.
So, take five natural singing talents of superlative capacity, add significant personal development in shows and all sorts of performance, put them through 295 TV shows and all the creative professionalism that requires, and you will begin to understand just why Rockapella is one of the best a cappella groups in the world today. They put on one of the best shows you will ever see. That same drive for perfection is reflected in their recordings.
Scott Leonard, high tenor - Kevin Wright, tenor - John Brown, baritone - George Baldi, bass - Jeff Thacher, vocal percussion
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House of the Rising Sun Moments of You Here Comes the Sun Love Potion #9 No Doubt at All Use Me A Change in My Life Have a Little Faith Don't Do It Long Cool Woman My Girl Pretty Woman Ellie My Love Ue O Muite Aruku Papa Was A Rolling Stone Summertime Blues Carmen Sandiego Zombie Jamboree Keep on Smilin' Smile in My Heart Dance With Me I'll Hear Your Voice |
Recorded on tour in Japan in June of 2003, "Live in Japan" puts us in the excited audience of one of Rockapella's fabled live performances. We have heard these songs before, the patented smooth, dynamic arrangements by Scott Leonard and Sean Altman, Jeff Thacher's flawless, rock-solid beatbox, and the soaring leads of Kevin Wright and Elliott Kerman on the Animals' "House of the Rising Sun," "Moments of You," the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun," "Love Potion #9," "No Doubt At All," "Use Me," "A Change In My Life," "Have A Little Faith," "Don't Do It," "Long Cool Woman," the Motown hit "My Girl," Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman," "Ellie My Love," "Ue O Muite Aruku" (aka "Sukiyaki" in the USA), "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," "Summertime Blues," "Carmen Sandiego," "Zombie Jamboree," "Keep On Smilin'," "Smile In My Heart," "Dance With Me," and "I'll Hear Your Voice." These 22 songs have all appeared on other Rockapella CDs, but with their fresh, crisp sound and new arrangements it's as if we're hearing them for the first time. And the group has changed?just listen to (excellent addition to the group) George Baldi's gravel-deep bass lines on "Use Me" and "Summertime Blues," his sweet backup anchor on "My Girl" and his powerful lead on "Papa Was A Rolling Stone." There is a looseness here, an easy confidence, a showing off just exactly how good they know they are, that adds up to some big fun?and another winner for legendary Rockapell
Listen to House of the Rising Sun
| 7410 CD $15.98 |
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Shambala Flamingo Sing Here Comes the Sun Off My Mind Summertime Blues Lazy River Smile in my Heart Dance With Me No Doubt at All Millennial Lady Jenny Come Away Surfin' Safari |
The title says it all - this is a cheerful and buoyant CD, one that speaks to the simple pleasures of summer. As chief writer Scott Leonard says in "Smile In My Heart": "no more dark days, only summer always." Rockapella's polished harmonies and solidly-crafted arrangements have always conveyed a fundamental stability - no unexpected dissonance, no gratuitous notes or an intonation falling short. Here, with the addition of new bass vocalist George Baldi, who takes over for the much loved Barry Carl (the two share the bass registers on this CD), the band consolidates their quintessential American appeal with songs such as "Shambala," "Dance With Me," "Summertime Blues" and "Surfin' Safari." ´Two slower numbers, "Lazy River" and Elliott Kerman's "No Doubt At All," conjure up reminiscences of lazy hot evenings, the relaxed swing feel a gentle reminder of generations past. So leave your cares behind with Rockapella and smile!
Listen to Dance With Me and Shambala
| 6965 CD $15.98 |
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Little Mary Snowflake Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Merry Christmas Darling Love And The Lights I'll Be Home For Christmas This Christmas Day Home For The Holidays Please Come Home For Christmas Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Snowstar Peace On Earth It's A Small World |
From the first notes of "Little Mary Snowflake," as the Rockapella sound washes over our eager ears, we notice a subtle change that becomes much more obvious in the next cut, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." There's a new member of the group, George Baldi (replacing Barry Carl) who sings a growly-mean deep bass on a tight scat-percussion solo. Next comes a couple of new songs, the sweet, romantic "Merry Christmas Darling" and "Love and the Lights." George sings a delicious Crosby-esque lead on the classic "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Then another fresh new Christmas song with some soaring Rockapella blends, "This Christmas Day." One of our favorites, "There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays," is sung as a jazzy, doo-woppy thing with a vocal Salvation Army band solo. "Please Come Home For Christmas," a soulful bluesy lament, features George's hilarious Elvis "romantic mumbling" parody. An upbeat, moving "Rock Around The Christmas Tree" has some surprising harmonic whistling. A driving "Snow Star," another sweet new song, "Peace on Earth," and finally "It's A Small World" is Rockapellized, with sampling, vocal percussion and that sublime, soaring trademark harmony. We loved Rockapella's first Christmas CD, and we love "Comfort!"
Listen to "It's A Small World" in Real Audio.
| 6980 CD $15.98 |
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I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day The Hope We Hold Glow Worm / It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas Silver Bells Christmas Without You Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Winter Wonderland The Christmas Song White Christmas Hold Out For Christmas You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch |
One of our most favorite groups (who don't need any introduction, we're sure) graces this holiday season with a dozen songs which cover the entire spectrum of aural moods from past to present. Opening with a sweetly lilting "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" which captures the traditional spirit with only a touch of Rockapellan embellishment we proceed to a Thatcherized (clever light vocal percussion), upbeat, Scott Leonard song which has one wondering just which year it became a big hit. It did, didn't it? It must have, it just sounds so familiar. We immediately are segued into an almost vaudevillian "Glow Worm/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" medley. Through beautiful tradition and several of Scott Leonard's original compositions our heart strings are plucked to a fare-the-well. At the end of this grand recording we have Scott's "Hold Out for Christmas" which has only been released prior to this CD on one of the Rockapella Japanese imports. Then are sent off with our harmony hats in hand by Barry Carl's unbelievable bass and Jeff Thatchers pyrotechnics on "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch." This seasonal recording will add a sparkle of joy to your holiday.
Listen to "Winter Wonderland" in Real Audio.
| 2901 CD $15.98 |
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That's The Way People Change Tempted This Isn't Love Is It In You? Doorman Of My Heart Bring Some Love Where Would We Be? One Day After Day All That Comes To Mind Blah Blah Blah Rockin' Morning Holiday Wake-Up |
The release of a new Rockapella CD is an event, a happening, a momentous occasion!
Riding high with the excitement generated from their Folger's commercials, these
five gifted performers have readied a bumper crop of originals, and included
their signature jingles as well. As the most popular and professional of contemporary
a cappella groups, Rockapella's sound is readily identifiable, completely polished,
and ever buoyant. Produced by Scott Leonard, who wrote or co-wrote most of the
songs, each track will feel immediately familiar, due to the consistency of
the Rockapella style. Whether the Latin groove of "Doorman Of My Heart," the
classically pretty melody of "People Change" or the upbeat "This Isn't Love,"
the arrangements are saturated with thick harmonies, a luxuriant backdrop that,
along with the pulse of vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher, are the quintet's
trademark. "Tempted," the sultry rock/soul hit made famous by the English group
Squeeze, is the CD's only cover, and it's an outstanding choice. Rockapella
is bringing a cappella into the mainstream, and "2" can only further their reputation.
| 2196 CD $15.98 |
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Tight. Exciting. Explosive. This is Rockapella, circa 1999: the freshest, most
contemporary vocal band sound ever, and new tracks: "Hold Out For Christmas,"
and" Moments of You," (the latter song never before released in the
U.S.) . The remaining songs were on their Rockapella self-titled CD, but have
been given a new sheen and a boost in production values. Featuring the charismatic
presence of Scott Leonard and the fiery vocal percussion of Jeff Thacher- providing
the current that throws the switch on the Rockapella sound- the group has melded
into a force that is undeniable. Their popularity owes much to solid songwriting:
classic harmonic progressions that are new, yet familar at the same time, a
"I Am Your Man". Rockapella's notes stack up in perfect formation,
creating a Spectoresque wall-of-sound; this precision, where each note is crafted
and placed, performing its specific role in relation to the other, creates a
brilliance of tone that soaks right into the skin. Their many live radio appearances
- Rockapella are favored guests of the Mark and Brian show on KLOS, and the
Scott and Todd program on WPLJ- have created a demand that is unheard of in
a cappella, and is threatening to break free of earth's gravity. Dont miss this
one!
| 2514 CD $15.98 |
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Dance With Me Have A Little Faith Here Comes The Sun I'll Hear Your Voice Moments of You |
In the spring of 1991, a new beat arrived in the fledgling world of modern a cappella - a beat in the form of Scott Leonard. Beyond the initial impact and power of his performances on stage and on reordings, he brought arrangements full of groove and heart. Unfamiliar with the growing "cult" of a cappella, his arrangements arrived influenced by the R&B-flavored pop of his Stevie Wonder-rich childhood, and a love for vocal groups of the past from the Mills Brothers to Bread to the Jackson Five. From the first bar of his first arrangement for Rockapella, 'Bed of Nails,' he brought a different approach. Since that first arrangement, Scott has arranged 100+ originals and covers for Rockapella. Here, finally, is an attempt to scratch the surface!
| 9120 SONGBOOK $9.95 |
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This Christmas Day Merry Christmas Darling Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Silver Bells |
This new collection of TTBB a cappella arrangements from Rockapella's Scott Leonard includes: Christmas Without You, Merry Christmas Darling, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silver Bells, This Christmas Day.
| 9118 SONGBOOK $9.95 |
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