Deke Sharon

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Deke Sharon: vocalizing an electric guitar, on stage with the House Jacks, 2006

Deke Sharon (born December 12, 1967) is a singer, arranger, composer, director, producer and teacher of a cappella music, and is one of the leaders of the contemporary a cappella community and a pioneer of the contemporary a cappella style ^[1]^[2]^[3].

He currently lives in San Francisco where he was born and raised, attending Town school and San Francisco University High School as well as singing in the San Francisco Boys Chorus. He spent his college years in Boston, graduating cum laude from Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music. In college, he directed the collegiate a cappella group the Tufts Beelzebubs^[4], transforming the group's sound to reflect modern rock, complete with vocal percussion.

In his dorm room, he founded The Contemporary A Cappella Society^[5]^[6]^[7], The Ultimate A Cappella Arranging Service (which became TotalVocal), and The House Jacks ^[8], the first a cappella group to feature vocal percussion ^[9] (Andrew Chaikin, aka Kid Beyond, was the House Jacks' first vocal percussionist).^[10]

In addition, he co-founded The Best of College A Cappella (BOCA)^[11], the International Championship of College A Cappella (ICCA), the A Cappella Summit, and a number of other a cappella-related projects, programs and events^[12]. He also founded and directed a cappella groups at Disneyworld/Epcot (American Vybe) and Disneyland (Groove 66)^[13], who currently perform in Southern California as Vybration. In addition he has worked on a cappella musical theater projects including "Street" and "Our World." ^[14]

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Marine, Craig. (June 24, 1992) San Francisco Examiner Home of some very brave singers at the coliseum, A's anthem contest brings out talented and otherwise. Section: News; Page A5.
Carnes, Jim. (May 21, 1993) The Sacramento Bee Jacks of all vocal trades. Section: Ticket; Page 15.
Scott, Jane. (October 19, 1993) Cleveland Plain Dealer Jacking up music with edgy a cappella. Section: Arts & Living; Page C14.
Birmingham News (October 7, 1994) Crime reports. Section: News; Page 2.
Winn, Steven. (March 6, 1996) San Francisco Chronicle "Media" to reopen stage door. Section: Daily Datebook; Page E1.
Eichenwald, Kurt. (June 22, 1997) New York Times Pop/jazz; 'Doo-Wop-a-Doo' will no longer do. Section 2; Page 232.
Eichenwald, Kurt. (July 17, 1997) Albany Times Union A cappella groups push vocal limits. Section: Preview; Page 6.
Associated Press (December 8, 1997) A Cappella Renaissance. Section: Entertainment.
Roberts, Alison. (February 4, 1999) The Sacramento Bee Mouthin' to it: Boyz nite out takes the a cappella approach to rock 'n' roll. Section: Scene; Page F1.
Muther, Christopher. (February 21, 1999) Boston Globe Different sounds of music group aims to make its mark in a cappella. Section: City Weekly; Page 9.
Sharon, Deke. (August 2, 2000) San Francisco Examiner Letters to the editor Section: News.
PR Newswire (October 10, 2000) Internet Radio Is Home for the Adventurous, May Force Traditional Radio to Change Its Tune Says Expert.
Alexander, Sandy. (February 25, 2001) Baltimore Sun Campuses in tune with singers Music: The voices-only sound of a cappella groups catches on at colleges in Maryland and across the nation. Section: Special Tab; Page 1S.
Alarik, Scott. (April 22, 2001) Boston Globe "B-doom doom doom" they're not your father's a cappella. Section: Northwest weekly; Page 11.
Burrell, Jackie. (March 4, 2006) Contra Costa Times Old style, new sounds. Section: Local; Page F4.
Gomeztagle, Frances. (December 14, 2006) Colorado Springs Independent Sound effects. Volume 14; Issue 50; Page 28.