Rockapella

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Rockapella

Rockapella on the set of the show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (Top row, L-R: Carl, Altman; Center: Leonard; Bottom row, L-R: Kerman, Thacher)
Five man a cappella
Years active
1986-present
Known Best For
Series of Folgers Coffee commericals
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song
Official website
Rockapella.com

Rockapella is a five-man a cappella musical group, known best for the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? theme song and their series of Folgers Coffee commercials. "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.

Contents

[edit] Members

Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003
Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003

Current

Former

  • David Stix (bass, member 1986-1987)
  • Charlie Evett (bass, member 1987-1988)
  • Steve Keyes (high tenor, member 1986-1991)
  • Sean D. Altman (tenor, member 1986-1997)
  • Barry S. Carl (bass, member 1989-2002)
  • Elliott S. Kerman (baritone, member 1986-2004)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Independent Releases

  • Live in Japan (June 2004)

[edit] Amerigo Releases

  • Comfort & Joy (November 2002)
  • Smilin' (August 2002)

[edit] J-Bird Releases

  • In Concert (CD/DVD) (March 2001)
  • Christmas (October 2000)
  • Rockapella 2 (March 2000)
  • Don't Tell Me You Do (February 1999)

[edit] Limited-edition albums

  • Rockapella (aka 'Devilbaby') (Summer 1997)
  • Lucky Seven (Late Summer 1996)
  • Primer (Summer 1995)

[edit] Japan Releases

  • To NY (Spring 1992 ForLife)
  • From NY (Spring 1992 ForLife)
  • Bash! (Fall 1992 ForLife)
  • Vocobeat (Summer 1994 ForLife)
  • Out Cold (Fall 1994 ForLife)
  • Best Fest (Fall 1995 ForLife)
  • Lucky Seven (Fall 1996 ForLife)
  • Christmas (Fall 2001 Rentrak)
  • More Than Ever (Spring 2002 Rentrak)
  • In Concert (Spring 2002 Rentrak)

[edit] Compilation Releases

  • Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
  • Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World
  • Spike Lee & Company: Do It A Cappella
  • Modern A Cappella
  • Put On Your Green Shoes
  • Muppet Beach Party
  • Zappa's Universe
  • Voices Only: A Cappella Originals

[edit] Unaffiliated Releases

  • Live at Duo Music Exchange (CD/DVD) (Summer 2005)
  • Best A Cappella (Summer 2004 For Life)

[edit] Solo/Other CDs

  • The OGs Featuring Scott Leonard ... Scott Leonard
  • My Favorites: The Bee Gees ... Scott Leonard
  • Nice Kitty ... Fi Ling Fader (Scott Leonard)
  • Bluespeel ... Fi Ling Fader (Scott Leonard)
  • SeanDEMOnium ... Sean Altman
  • Alt.mania ... Sean Altman
  • Losing Streak ... Sean Altman
  • Unorthodox ... What I Like About Jew (Sean Altman)
  • The SoLow Project ... Barry Carl
  • Glory ... The GrooveBarbers

[edit] Songs in commercials

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

This song or music-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.


[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/o/c/Rockapella.html"
In other languages