Rockapella

 
Artist:

Rockapella

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Rockapella

  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues
  • Active: '90s, 2000s
  • Major Members: Wright, Kevin [2], Jeff Thacher, Scott Leonard, Elliott Kerman, Barry Carl, Sean Altman

Biography

Rockapella successfully modernized the art of a cappella performing, texturing their rich five-part vocals with elements of rock, jazz, R&B and doo-wop. The group was formed during the mid-'80s by Brown University students Sean Altman (tenor) and Elliott Kerman (baritone), who met while members of the school's male a cappella ensemble the High Jinks. They soon formed a spin-off streetcorner group dubbed the Lunchtime Specials, gradually evolving into Rockapella -- although other members came and went, both Altman and Kerman stayed on throughout the lean years, eventually joined by tenor Scott Leonard and bass Barry Carl. In 1990 the group appeared on the PBS special Spike Lee and Company: Do It A Cappella, leading to an invitation to become the house band on the network's educational series Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, where they remained for five seasons. Although no American record deal was immediately forthcoming, Rockapella soon signed to the Japanese label For Life, issuing their debut LP To NY in 1992. Two more albums, From NY and Bash!, appeared that same year, and in 1993 vocal percussionist Jeff Thacher joined the lineup in time to record 1994's Vocobeat. The Christmas release Out Cold was issued just months later, and in 1995 Rockapella issued their first American collection, Primer. In the wake of 1996's Lucky Seven, Altman left the lineup and was replaced by Kevin Wright; the retooled roster issued Don't Tell Me You Do in early 1999. The seasonal effort Christmas Album was issued in fall 2000, and the concert release Live was issued in early 2001. For their fifth album, 2002's Smilin', Rockapella welcomed guest vocals from singer George Baldi. That same year, the vocal group released the holiday effort Comfort and Joy. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Representative Songs:

"Zombie Jamboree," "A Change in My Life," "Moments of You"

Representative Albums:

Don't Tell Me You Do, Rockapella, Comfort & Joy

Similar Artists:

Wise Guys, The Nylons, The Manhattan Transfer, George Michael, Color Me Badd, Boyz II Men, Basia, Anita Baker, Third World, Take 6

Performed Songs By:

David Yazbek, Sean Altman
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Wikipedia: Rockapella
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Rockapella
Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003
Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003
Background information
Origin Flag of the United States New York, New York, USA
Genre(s) A Cappella
Years active 1986 — Present
Label(s) Shakariki Records
Amerigo Records
J-Bird Records
Rentrak Records
ForLife Records
Website Rockapella.com
Members
Scott Leonard
(join 1991)
Jeff Thacher
(join 1993)
Kevin Wright
(join 1997)
George Baldi III
(join 2002)
John K. Brown
(join 2004)
Former members
David Stix
(1986-1987)
Charlie Evett
(1987-1989)
Steve Keyes
(1986-1991)
Sean Altman
(1986-1997)
Barry Carl
(1989-2002)
Elliott Kerman
(1986-2004)

Rockapella is an American a cappella musical group best known for their series of Folgers Coffee commercials and the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song. "Rockapella" is a portmanteau of "rock" and "a cappella". In addition to original vocal music, the group also perform a cappella covers of pop songs.

The original group members consisted of Brown University alumni Elliott Kerman, David Stix, Sean Altman, and Steve Keyes, who started performing together sheerly out of their love for music. Stix left the group early on and was replaced with Charlie Evett. After having performed on New York City street corners for passers-by the group met a producer who found them a spot on the television show Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella, hosted by Spike Lee. It was this show that put them in the national spotlight. [1]

The text "All sounds provided by the voices and appendages of Rockapella," the central idea of the group, appears on the group's label debut, Don't Tell Me You Do.

None of the original members of Rockapella currently remain in the group. Founding members Sean Altman and Steve Keyes, Rockapella alum Charlie Evett, and non-Rockapella-related baritone Kevin Weist now comprise an a cappella group called The GrooveBarbers. They can be seen on a current nationwide television ad for Astelin nasal spray as 'The Astelins'. Founding member Elliott Kerman, is working independently on jazz music compilations.

Frequently, songs downloaded on file-sharing programs are mis-tagged as Rockapella, when they are instead by other a cappella artists, including collegiate groups, Moxy Früvous, The Nylons, and Da Vinci's Notebook, as well as for other, less similar acts, such as Eddie From Ohio, or They Might Be Giants.

Membership history

(1986-1987)
(1987-1989)
  • Steve Keyes - High tenor
  • Sean Altman - Tenor
  • Elliott Kerman - Baritone
  • Charlie Evett - Bass
(1989-1991)
  • Steve Keyes - High tenor
  • Sean Altman - Tenor
  • Elliott Kerman - Baritone
  • Barry Carl - Bass
(1991-1993)
(1993-1997)
(1997-2002)
(2002-2004)
  • Scott Leonard - High tenor
  • Kevin Wright - Tenor
  • Elliott Kerman - Baritone
  • George Baldi III - Bass
  • Jeff Thacher - Vocal percussion
(2004-Present)
  • Scott Leonard - High tenor
  • Kevin Wright - Tenor
  • John K. Brown - Tenor
  • George Baldi III - Bass
  • Jeff Thacher - Vocal percussion

Temporary members

  • Kenny X - Vocal percussion (1992/1993)
  • David Yazbek - Vocal percussion (1992) (on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego)

Discography

Domestic releases

Release Date Album Line-up Label
June
2004		 Live In Japan Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Baldi, Thacher Shakariki Records
November
2002		 Comfort & Joy Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Baldi, Thacher Amerigo Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
August
2002		 Smilin' Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Baldi, Thacher Amerigo Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
March
2001		 In Concert Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
October
2000		 Christmas Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
March
2000		 2 Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
February
1999		 Don't Tell Me You Do Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004
Summer
1997		 Rockapella aka 'Devilbaby' Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Independent
Summer
1996		 Lucky Seven Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Independent
Summer
1995		 Primer Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Independent

International releases

Year Album Line-up Label
2002 More Than Ever Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Rentrak Records
2002 In Concert Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Rentrak Records
2001 Christmas Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher Rentrak Records
November
1996		 Lucky Seven:
Memories And Dreams		 Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher For Life Records
November
1995		 Best Fest Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher For Life Records
November
1994		 Out Cold Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher ForLife Records
April
1994		 Vocobeat Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher ForLife Records
December
1992		 Bash! Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl ForLife Records
May
1992		 From N.Y. Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl ForLife Records
May
1992		 To N.Y. Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl ForLife Records

Compilation releases

Year Album Line-up Song
2002 20 Christmas Stars, Vol. IV Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Baldi, Thacher "Merry Christmas Darling"
1996 Voices Only: A Cappella Originals Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher "Bed Of Nails"
1993 Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Big Wet Rag"
1993 Put On Your Green Shoes Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Light Of The Sun" w/Richie Havens
1993 Muppet Beach Party Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "PapaOomMowMow"
1992 Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Capital", "Everything To Me", "My Home", "Let's Get Away From It All", "Indiana", "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?"
1992 Modern A Cappella Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Zombie Jamboree"
1991 Zappa's Universe Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Elvis Has Left The Building", "Heavenly Bank Account"
1990 Spike Lee & Company: Do It A Cappella Keyes, Altman, Kerman, Carl "Zombie Jamboree " & "Under The Boardwalk"

Unaffiliated releases

Release Date Album Line-up Label
Summer 2005 Live At Duo Music Exchange Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Baldi, Thacher Duo Records
Summer 2004 Best A Cappella Leonard, Altman, Kerman, Carl, Thacher ForLife Records

Solo/Other CDs

  • The OGs Featuring Scott Leonard ... Scott Leonard
Release Date Album Artist
May 2007 1 Man 1 Mike Scott Leonard
My Favorites: The Bee Gees Scott Leonard
Nice Kitty Scott Leonard (Fi Ling Fader)
Bluespeel Scott Leonard (Flying Faders)
Unorthodox Sean Altman (What I Like About Jew)
Losing Streak Sean Altman
alt.mania Sean Altman
SeanDEMOnium Sean Altman
The SoLow Project Barry Carl
Glory The Groovebarbers

Songs in commercials

Many people believe Rockapella performed Coca Cola commercials and performed the Gummi Bears theme. These sound clips are available online, but are not Rockapella's work, but rather the Brown Derbies.


External links


Rockapella
Biographies Sean Altman  · Scott Leonard
Studio albums Primer (1995) · Lucky Seven (1996) · Rockapella (1997) · Don't Tell Me You Do (1999) · 2 (2000) · Christmas (2000) · In Concert (2001) · Smilin' (2002) · Comfort & Joy (2002) · Live in Japan (2004)
Singles "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?"

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Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ® , a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rockapella".  Read more

 

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