(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Rockapella has become one of the world’s most sophisticated and imitated vocal groups, and on Thursday, December 13, at 7:30 pm., the quintet comes to Toms River to take the stage at the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts.
As one of the progenitors of the astonishing full band sound of “contemporary” a cappella, Rockapella has shown audiences 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.
Since the early 1990s, when they first achieved national television fame on PBS’s Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, Rockapella has toured the globe and provided a funky powerful soundtrack to several generations of vocal music fans. With tons of catchy original pop songs, and complete contemporary revisions of sparkling Motown, pop, and soul classics, this group has always been one to watch.
“We make it rock and make it interesting,” explains Scott Leonard, the group’s chief songwriter, arranger, and an architect of their ever-evolving dynamic sound. “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.”
USA Today summed up the group’s lasting appeal: “The best musical instrument of all is the human voice – if you’ve seen Rockapella you know that’s the truth.”
Rockapella currently features: Scott Leonard (high tenor), Jeff Thacher (vocal percussionist), Calvin Jones (tenor), Mitchell Rains (tenor), and Bryant Vance (bass). This line-up marks a new generation of Rockapella, which remains keenly focused on musical excellence.
Tickets are $35–$39, and can be purchased online at grunincenter.org; by phone at 732-255-0500; or in person at the Grunin Center Box Office, Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ask about group and student rates. The Grunin Center is located on the OCC Main Campus, College Drive, Toms River, NJ.
