The Essentials (band)

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The Essentials
The Essentials' current line-up (left to right): Joon Nah, Joe Oliva, Thom Speck, Dan Speck.
The Essentials' current line-up (left to right): Joon Nah, Joe Oliva, Thom Speck, Dan Speck.
Background information
Origin London, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s) A Cappella
Pop
Occupation(s) Singers
Musicians
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1992–present
Website www.essentialsmusic.com
Members
Joon Nah (1992-present)
Joe Oliva (1992-present)
Dan Speck (1995-present)
Thom Speck (2005-present)
Former members
Mike Ferfolia (2005-2006)
Jimmy Koumanis (1992-1995)
Phil Papadopoulos (1995-1996)
Rob Sylvester (1992-1998)
Bob Van Gieson (1992-2005)

The Essentials are a Canadian a cappella group founded in London, Ontario, Canada in 1992, now based out of Toronto. Band founders Joon Nah and Joe Oliva attended London Central Secondary School together where they formed a predecessor a cappella group to The Essentials, called The Humdingers, in 1989.

In 1995, Dan Speck was introduced to Nah and Oliva through Emm Gryner and he joined the band. Dan Speck's younger brother Thom then joined the band in 2005. Both Speck brothers and Gryner have known each other since their youth in the small town of Forest, Ontario.

Since their inception, The Essentials have focused mostly on performances in Canada and the United States, but have also ventured into Europe. They have performed thousands of shows including the national anthems for the Toronto Blue Jays and are currently regular anthem performers for the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs[1] which has garnered them more national television exposure in Canada.

In 1999, they played a role in a CBS movie entitled A Holiday Romance[2] starring Andy Griffith, Naomi Judd and Gerald McRaney.

Their first two albums were produced by highly regarded record producer Jack Richardson, and their 2007 Christmas recording was certified gold in December of that year.

Contents

[edit] Discography

  • Oh What A Night! (1994)
  • ...And Then Some (1996)
  • Bare (2000, live)
  • Stocking Stuffer (2007, certified gold[3])

[edit] Compilations

  • When The Lights Come On At Christmas (1997), for a genetic research charity
  • Scenes From A Dream (2000)
  • Come Together: An A Cappella Tribute to the Beatles (2001), also includes a contribution from another Canadian a cappella group, The Nylons

[edit] References

[edit] External links