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June 2009
We do not make jokes, we simply watch the LA Times, the Orange County Register and CID/HOA board of directors and report the facts
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Try Saddleback College
Posted by CotoBlogzz 05/21/2009 1:00 PM
Mission Viejo, CA – Rockapella players wrote and performed the theme song for PBS’s hit show Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? and they are scheduled to perform it a cappella style as the first guest artist in Saddleback College ’s Unconventional Summer Season series on Friday, June 12th at 8:00 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre.
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Rockapella, Photo courtesy Saddleback College |
Long ago and far away in
Providence , Rhode Island , a few young men began
something which, over the next decade, would build
from a collegiate hobby into a national phenomenon.
Often imitated; never duplicated, this certifiably
unique pop musical group has taken the previously
stodgy music genre of a cappella and brought it
full-force into the 21st century. Their story is like
no other, and they create a sound and impression like
no one else! Finding them on television over the years
has become a frequent and pleasant surprise for
millions, whether on numerous national commercials and
talk shows, or as regulars for five seasons on the
award-winning PBS television program Where In The
World Is Carmen Sandiego?
The original quartet, a group of young Brown
University alumni, was formed for the sheer love of
performing and singing on New York City street corners
with a hat out at their feet. They would earn enough
from passersby to get dinner, and business cards
dropped in their hat led to work at private parties
and club appearances. One thing led to another, and as
the '90s began, they caught the eye of a producer
putting together a television special about the
growing genre of "contemporary" a cappella
music. After filmmaker Spike Lee and entertainer
Debbie Allen signed on to host this program, it became
Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella, and aired
for several years on PBS, producing a soundtrack and
video as well. Where In The World Is Carmen
Sandiego? was born together with a companion
soundtrack CD containing original music by the group.
As the undisputed kings of contemporary a cappella
music, Rockapella continues to offer proof to
everyone of their boundless ability to inspire and
attract devoted fans, new and old.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (949) 582-4656 (noon-4
weekdays) or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.
Ticket prices are $36 general; $33
students/seniors/Angels; $25 children 12 and
under.
Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in
Mission Viejo , just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery
Parkway exit. Parking is available in Lot 12.
Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to
the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s
Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and
take the third left to “ Theatre Circle ,” turning
right into Lot 12.
Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College
provides quality higher education and training to the
greater south Orange County community. Having
served more than 500,000 students since 1968,
Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and
certificate programs to help students reach their
personal, career, and educational goals. For
more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.
For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.
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Comments.
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Kevin Wright's angelic voice lights up Rockapella's
sound. Kevin grew up in Winter Haven , Florida , where
he sang his first solo in church at the ripe age of
two! Football, baseball, and being a state medalist
swimmer were his life until a game injury thrust him
back into the world of performing. Kevin and Scott met
while appearing in dinner theaters throughout Florida
many years ago, and it was this connection that
brought Kevin's sweet soulful style to the attention
of the group. Before joining Rockapella, he was seen
in many national commercials and had achieved New York
theater acclaim co-starring with George Wendt, Cleo
Laine, Lauren Hill, Betty Buckley, and others, in
shows on and off Broadway and on national tours.
The amazing percussion sounds you hear in a
Rockapella show are performed vocally by Jeff
Thacher, completing Rockapella's
band-without- instruments sound. Born of a musical
family and raised on piano lessons from an early age,
he later added frequent vocal and choral experience.
After receiving a degree in music and recording from
Boston 's renowned Berklee College , Jeff spent a few
years working in the radio and television industries
while singing and experimenting with vocal percussion
on the side. Since joining up with Rockapella in 1993,
he's become a pioneering legend among professional
mouth drummers (a select group of beatboxers) who, as
he likes to put it, "spit for a living".
Jeff's powerful virtuosity forms the funky rhythmic
heartbeat of Rockapella, delighting and astonishing
audiences everywhere.
Super-bass George Baldi hails from Philadelphia ,
Pennsylvannia. We found him while he was playing a
handsome singing Frankenstein at Universal Studios,
Osaka , Japan ! His rich soulful bass voice,
remarkable solo range, overall top notch musicianship
and good looks were a great fit for the group and he
was nabbed to be in the group quickly. George's prior
swipe with fame was as a member of a group that would
later become Boyz 2 Men. Just as the Boyz were about
to gain greater fame, George's family sent him off to
college. Bummer for the Boyz...great for Rockapella...
Pyrotechnics is a word often used to describe Scott
Leonard's singing voice. Scott grew up in
Indianapolis , Indiana , and though he departed the
Hoosier State for the University of Tampa on a
baseball scholarship, he ended up a voice major. He
sang in rock groups for Disney in both Orlando and
Tokyo for two years, releasing solo albums while in
Japan . Scott's soaring vocals and songwriting prowess
have played major roles in shaping Rockapella's
characteristic sound.
John K. Brown began
singing in church at the age of nine and never
stopped. He grew up in Louisville , KY , and attended
performing arts schools up through college, graduating
from the New World School in Miami . After seeing Ben
Vereen in the musical "Pippin" he said,
"Mom, that's what l want to do!" Since then
he has performed across the country, on Broadway and
Off Broadway, and has shared stages with greats such
as Phil Collins, Tina Turner, and Julie Andrews.
John's liquid gold voice fills the top of Rockapella's
range with soulful goodness.
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