Amalgamates

The Amalgamates are a coed collegiate a cappella group at Tufts University in Medford, MA.

With members from all over the United States and the world, the "Mates" have a tradition of musical excellence represented by both the current singers and a network of over 170 alumni worldwide. The Mates arrange and learn a new repertoire of rock, pop, R&B, alternative, and jazz covers every semester, performing at Tufts as well as other universities, local secondary schools and at private functions around New England throughout the school year. Each year, the Mates travel within the US or abroad on a Spring Break tour, performing at various venues including colleges, high schools and a cappella festivals.^[1]

History

Name and Formation

The Amalgamates were founded in 1984 by Tufts students Joanne Cohen, Craig Everett, and David Wiley. "Amalgamate" means "combine or unite to form one organization or structure"; thus, founding members chose the name Amalgamates to indicate the formation of the first coed a cappella group at Tufts. With the aid of Marti Fernandi and Fiona Wright-Hall, members of the two other existing groups, the Beelzebubs and Jackson Jills respectively, the fledgling group held auditions in November of that year, and from the thirty people who auditioned, chose ten more members. The Mates first official college performance was at the University of Vermont, followed soon thereafter by their first home concert at Goddard Chapel with the Bubs and the Jills on April 4, 1985. Other performances in the spring of 1985 were at the University of New Hampshire, Wellesley College, and on campus at the dedication of the newly built Mayer Campus Center.

Reputation

The Mates became an a cappella household name with their rendition of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror, with soloist Amy Birnbaum, on the 1996 release Hat Sale! Get Mama!.^[2] The song went on to win the 1997 CARA Award for Best Coed Collegiate Song and runner-up for Best Coed Collegiate Soloist, and was chosen as the opening track for BOCA: Best of College A Cappella, Vol. 3.^[3] Subsequent albums have perennially been selected for a variety of Awards; in addition to CARA and BOCA honors, Mates tracks have appeared on Voices Only and SING compilations.

25th Anniversary

The group has firmly established traditions that include the homecoming show in the Chapel, a weekend retreat, biannual studio album releases, and a number of social events that have become an intrinsic part of the Amalgamates experience. In 2009, in honor of the milestone 25th Anniversary, over one hundred Mates alumni gathered for Homecoming weekend, October 9-October 11, for a gala event.^[4] A committee of alumni worked in conjunction with the Tufts Alumni association for over a year to organize an evening that included remarks by Mates from across the years, a slideshow, and casual performances by the groups from each year. Mates alumnus John Clark, a recording engineer, enlisted alumni and current group members to create a tribute album of rerecorded or never-before recorded songs, even going so far as to use the original soloists.

In addition to the gala, other events that took place during the course of the anniversary weekend included the traditional singing on the Tisch Library roof, a visit to the Mates Room at the Hayes House on Chetwynd Ave., and a Sunday morning brunch at Christopher's Bar and Grill on Porter Square in Cambridge.

Recording

See Discography.

Touring, Gigs, and Workshops

Performing the National Anthem at Fenway Park
Sept 15, 2009

In addition to on campus performances that span from short "dorm sings" during orientation to Chapel shows such as the annual Homecoming performances, to special university events such as trustee dinners at President Anthony Monaco's Gifford House, the Mates travel throughout Massachusetts and New England regularly over the course of the year. The group often performs at middle schools and high schools, typically conducting a workshop with the schools' students in addition to the show. Workshops typically explain the way a popular song becomes a Mates song and involve teaching a portion of a Mates song and basic vocal percussion techniques to the students.

Each year, the Mates travel to a more distant destination for a spring break tour. Past tour locations include Madrid and Barcelona, London, France and Germany, New Orleans, Jamaica, Florida, California, and Aruba. Most recently, the Mates toured in Austin, Texas.

The Mates have sung at a number of prestigious venues and events, including the National Portrait Gallery in London, for then-presidential candidate John Kerry at a fundraiser at the Boston Convention Center, the Wang Center (now the Citi Performing Arts Center), Disney World, and Boston's Symphony Hall. On September 15, 2009, the Mates performed the National Anthem at Fenway Park, for the second time in just two seasons.^[4]

Discography

As of 2014, the Mates have recorded 13 studio albums. They are currently working on their fourteenth untitled album.

The Mates Logo

• Odd Man In (2013)^[5]
• Hands Off The Mannequin! (2011)^[6]
• 25th Anniversary Tribute Album (2009)
• Teaser - Extended Single (2009)^[7]
• Prime (2008)^[8]
• Baggage Claim (2006)^[9]
• Stopping for Breakfast (2004)^[10]
• Bamboo (2002)^[11]
• Juice (2000)^[12]
• Grandma's Camper (1998)^[13]
• Hat Sale! Get Mama! (1996)^[2]
• Unexpected Guests - Live (1994)^[14]
• Quarter Past Six (1991)^[15]
• The Chartreuse Album (1988)^[16]
• Strange Pair of Shoes (1986)<ref name"="test13">Strange Pair of Shoes</ref>

Awards

External links

• The Tufts Amalgamates - Amalgaweb (official site)
• The Contemporary A Cappella Society (official site)
• Read Mates reviews by the Recorded A Cappella Review Board (RARB)

References

1. ↑
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hat Sale! Get Mama! on Amalgamates.com
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 BOCA Vol. 3
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Tufts E-News: On the Right Note
5. ↑ "Odd Man In"
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hands off the Mannequin!
7. ↑ Teaser
8. ↑ Prime
9. ↑ Baggage Claim
10. ↑ Stopping For Breakfast
11. ↑ Bamboo
12. ↑ Juice
13. ↑ Grandma's Camper
14. ↑ Unexpected Guests
15. ↑ Quarter Past Six
16. ↑ The Chartreuse Album
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6
19. ↑
20. ↑ Voices Only 2010
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 2010 CARA Winners
22. ↑ Sing VI: Sunny Side Up
23. ↑ Voices Only 2009
24. ↑ CARA Shortlist
25. ↑ BOCA 2007
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 2007 CARA Nominations
27. ↑ BOCA 2005
28. ↑ BOCA 2003
29. ↑ BOCA 2001
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 2001 CARA Winners
31. ↑ BOCA 1999
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 1992 CARA Winners