C. R. Avery
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C. R. Avery (born August 20, 1976 in Ontario, Canada) is a beatboxer, singer-songwriter, poet and musician. He performs both solo and with a four piece band, and also performs as part of Tons Of Fun University and The Fugitives (both spoken word poetry-oriented). His performances incorporate spoken word poetry, beatboxing, harmonica, keytar, piano, and more recently acoustic guitar. He often combines these elements, simultaneously singing, beat-boxing, playing harmonica and keyboards.
Avery has developed a reputation for being an exhilarating performer. He rarely leaves the stage without being bathed in sweat. Avery's song style has been compared to a combination of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Tom Waits. He is the author of four (as they are called) hip hop operas, an energetic style of theatre informed by the stories and rhythms of the streets.
A frequent performer, C.R. Avery has averaged over one hundred performances per year for the past five years. His main project is The C. R. Avery Band, which consists of four key members: Avery, on vocals, harmonica, keyboards, and beat-boxing, Noah Walker on guitar, Paul Surjadinata on bass guitar, and David "Doc" Herbert on drums. Avery often performs in a poetry setting as well, at poetry slams and poetry nights, and as a guest with other performers (example: Tom Waits, The Be Good Tanyas, Ani DiFranco).
[edit] Side projects
Avery is a member of Tons Of Fun University and a former member of The Fugitives, both Canada-based spoken word groups.
Tons Of Fun University is considered a spoken word supergroup, teaming Avery with Shane Koyzcan and "Mighty" Mike McGee. Both Koyczan and McGee have been awarded Individual Champion at the National Poetry Slam, in 2000 and 2006 respectively. The three are all high profile players in the spoken word poetry scene. Tons Of Fun University has toured the Canadian summer festival circuit for the past three years (2004-2006 at the time of this writing) to wide acclaim. They have performed in front of crowds as large as fifteen thousand (Vancouver Folk Fest 2005).
The Fugitives, who Avery left in summer 2006, are composed mainly of members of the 2004 Vancouver Slam (Poetry) Team. Brendan McLeod, Barbara Adler, and Mark Berube are members along with Avery. They have toured multiple times in North America, Europe, and the UK.
[edit] Poetry slam
Since 1998 Avery has competed at the Vancouver, B.C. Poetry Slam. He was a member of the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Vancouver Poetry Slam teams that competed at the American National Poetry Slam Championship.
In 2005, Avery won CBC's Poetry Face-Off, competing with some of Canada's finest poets and spoken word artists on live television.
