They’ve become one of the world’s most sophisticated, lasting, and imitated vocal groups around today. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more influential group out there in this Era of A Cappella, with movies and network television a cappella exposure, a cappella Grammy awards, and innumerable college groups on campuses everywhere. As one of the progenitors of the astonishing full-band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has shown every audience the raw power of pure vocal talent and originality. “There’s nothing in the way between us and the audience; it’s very human music,” says Rockapella’s human beatbox Jeff Thacher. No instruments, no tracks, no mirrors…but never lame.
Since the early ’90’s when they first achieved national television fame on PBS’s “Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?”, they’ve toured the globe and provided a funky powerful soundtrack to several generations of vocal music fans, while keeping it fresh along the way. With buckets of catchy original pop songs, and complete contemporary revisions of sparkling pop, and soul classics, and an unbeatable Christmas tour and catalog, this group has always been the one to watch. ”Often imitated – never duplicated” applies here. Now they’re better than ever! We make it rock and make it interesting,” explains Scott Leonard, the group’s chief songwriter, arranger, and an architect of their ever-evolving and imitated dynamic sound. USA Today summed up their lasting appeal: “The best musical instrument of all is the human voice – if you’ve seen Rockapella you know that’s the truth.” The New York Times agrees; they’re “Pure entertainment”!
The current Rockapella line-up features Scott Leonard (High Tenor & Arranger), Jeff Thacher (Vocal Percussionist), Calvin Jones (Tenor), George Baldi (Bass), and Manny Houston (Tenor). “People have a hard time believing it’s just us making all of that music. It’s still those same elements that make modern band music: percussion, bass, melody and harmonies,” says Scott. With a cappella groups multiplying across the world, Jeff adds “we know our longtime success is in the art of it – it’s not what you do, but how you do it!”. Rockapella has indeed proven that original pop & soul magic onstage is what sets them apart.
