Rockapella

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Rockapella
Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003.
Rockapella performs in Freeport, Maine in 2003.
Background information
Origin 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 (1991-present)
Jeff Thacher (1993-present)
Kevin Wright (1997-present)
George Baldi III (2002-present)
John K. Brown (2004-present)
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 performs a cappella covers of pop songs.

The original group members consisted of Brown University alumni Elliott Kerman, David Stix, Sean Altman, and Steve Keyes. 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, 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, or The Nylons.

Contents

[edit] Membership history

Year High tenor Tenor Baritone /
Second tenor		 Bass Vocal
percussion
1986 Steve Keyes Sean Altman Elliott Kerman David Stix
1987
Charlie Evett
1988
1989 Barry Carl
1990
1991 Scott Leonard
1992
1993 Jeff Thacher
1994
1995
1996
1997 Kevin Wright
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003 George Baldi III
2004 John K. Brown
2005
2006
2007
2008

[edit] Temporary members

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

[edit] Discography

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Compilation releases

Year Album Line-up Song
2007 Hokie Nation: An Cappella Tribute Leonard, Wright, Kerman, Carl, Thacher "I'll Hear Your Voice"
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"

[edit] 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

[edit] Solo/Other CDs

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)
The OGs Featuring Scott Leonard Scott Leonard
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

[edit] Songs in commercials

Many people believe Rockapella performed Coca Cola commercials and did a version of the Gummi Bears theme, but they did not.

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

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Rockapella
Scott Leonard  · Jeff Thacher  · Kevin Wright  · George Baldi III  · John K. Brown
David Stix  · Charlie Evett  · Steve Keyes  · Sean Altman  · Barry Carl  · Elliott Kerman
Studio albums
To N.Y. (1992) · From N.Y. (1992) · Primer (1995) · Lucky Seven (1996) · Rockapella (1997) · Don't Tell Me You Do (1999) · 2 (2000) · In Concert (2001) · Smilin' (2002) · Live in Japan (2004)
Christmas albums
Bash! (1992) · Christmas (2000) · Comfort & Joy (2002)
Related articles
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?: theme song · game show
Languages