Rockapella
Rockapella | |
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Sean Altman Elliott Kerman Steve Keyes David Stix (deceased) Charlie Evett Barry Carl Kevin Wright John K. Brown George Baldi III Steven Dorian Ryan Chappelle Mitchell Rains Jose Rosario Bryant Vance | |
Website | www.rockapella.com |
Rockapella is an American
In addition to three compilation albums in Japan, Rockapella has released 19 albums in the US and Japan. Since the band's vocal percussionist was hired, the line "All sounds provided by the voices and appendages of Rockapella" has been printed on each of their CDs.
Band history
Early years (1986–1990)
The founding members of Rockapella consisted of
Stix left the group in 1987 to pursue his artistic career and was replaced by Charlie Evett. That same year, a dinner party performance for television personality
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991–1996)
With a
Rockapella first appeared on the half-hour game show in 1991 and later continued to appear daily for five seasons, catapulting the band's four members into mid-level television celebrity status and making the Rockapella-performed theme song (which was penned by Altman and his childhood friend, David Yazbek) as one of the best known television themes in history. Jeff Thacher joined Rockapella as the band's permanent vocal percussionist in 1993, although he only appeared on Carmen Sandiego during its fifth and final season two years later. While Rockapella was seen daily in homes across America, Leonard used his connections to the Japanese music market to acquire a recording contract with ForLife Records. The group released seven albums of original and cover material under this label in Japan during their run on Carmen Sandiego and for two years after that, being the first to bring contemporary a cappella music to Japan.[2]
Post-Carmen Sandiego years (1997–present)
Following the end of Carmen Sandiego in 1996, Altman left Rockapella to pursue his solo career the following year, and was replaced by Kevin Wright. They did two
The project to make "Bang", the title track off their newest album, the first track in Rock Band to feature full, four-instrument gameplay based on no live or synthesized instruments began in the summer of 2010,
In 2022, Jose Rosario left the group and was replaced by Manny Houston. Bryant Vance left the group at that time as well, allowing George Baldi III to return. By mid-2023, Baldi left the group once again and was replaced by Armand Hutton.
Personnel
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Timeline
Discography
US albums
Country | Release Date | Title | Line-up | Label |
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Japan | May 21, 1992 | To N.Y. | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | ForLife Records |
May 21, 1992 | From N.Y. | |||
December 16, 1992 | Bash! | |||
April 21, 1994 | Vocobeat | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | ||
November 18, 1994 | Out Cold | |||
USA | 1995 | Primer | Independent | |
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Lucky Seven |
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USA | 1997 | Rockapella | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright | Independent |
February 16, 1999 | Don't Tell Me You Do | J-Bird Records | ||
March 28, 2000 | 2 | |||
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Christmas |
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In Concert | |||
USA | August 13, 2002 | Smilin' | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright, Baldi | Amerigo Records |
November 12, 2002 | Comfort & Joy | Kerman, Leonard, Thacher, Wright, Baldi | ||
June 2004 | Live in Japan | Shakariki Records | ||
November 16, 2011 | A Rockapella Holiday | Leonard, Thacher, Dorian, Baldi, Brown | ||
September 21, 2010 | Bang | |||
March 15, 2013 | Motown & More | |||
September 2017 | Jams, Vol. 1 | Leonard, Thacher, Rains, Jones, Vance | ||
December 2018 | Jams, Vol. 2 | |||
December 2019 | Christmas Live |
All albums from Don't Tell Me You Do through Comfort & Joy were re-released in the US by Shakariki Records in 2004.
Compilation albums
Country | Release Date | Album | Line-up | Label |
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Japan | November 17, 1995 | Best Fest | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | ForLife Records |
September 2002 | Best A Cappella | |||
September 25, 2002 | More Than Ever | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright | Rentrak Records |
Miscellaneous albums
Release Date | Album | Line-up |
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2005 | Live at Duo Music Exchange
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Kerman, Baldi, Leonard, Thacher, Wright |
Singles and EPs
Release Date[10] | Title | Line-up | Label |
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1993 | "Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?"[11] | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | Zoom Express |
April 11, 2015 | "Rock Around the Clock/Tell Me Something Good" | Leonard, Thacher, Dorian, Jones, Chappelle | Shakariki Records |
February 9, 2016 | "Candy Man" | Shakariki Records | |
July 23, 2016 | "Sir GotALot" | Shakariki Records | |
November 4, 2016 | "Better 2gether" | Leonard, Thacher, Rains, Jones, Vance | Shakariki Records |
June 1, 2017 | "Workin My Way to You" | Shakariki Records | |
November 22, 2017 | "How 'Bout Now?" | Shakariki Records | |
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Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? EP |
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September 24, 2021 | "Gimme Money (Con and On and On)" (From the game, The Big Con) | Leonard, Thacher, Jones, Vance, Rosario | Skybound Games |
Other appearances
Year | Artist | Album | Song(s) | Line-up |
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1990 | Spike Lee & Company: Do It a Cappella |
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Altman, Keyes, Kerman, Carl | |
1991 | Zappa's Universe |
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Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | |
1992 | Modern A Cappella |
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Altman, Keyes, Kerman, Carl | |
1992 | Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? |
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Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | |
1993 | The Muppets | Muppet Beach Party | "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard |
1993 | Put on Your Green Shoes | "Light of the Sun" (with Richie Havens) | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | |
1993 | Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World | "Big Wet Rag" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | |
1994 | Biggest Little Ticket |
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Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | |
1994 | 95.5 WPLJ Presents Scott & Todd's Scam-America Comedy Album Vol. II | "Where in the World Is Joseph P. Nolan" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | |
1994 | 1994 World University Games | ”Pass on the Torch (I Know New York)" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | |
1995 | Ben & Jerry's One World One Heart for Kids | "The Light of the Sun" (with Richie Havens) | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | |
1995 | Anri | Opus 21 | ”Moon in the Rain" (background vocals) | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard |
1996 | Voices Only: A Cappella Originals | "Bed of Nails" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher | |
1997 | Anri | Twin Soul | ”Wiper on a Sunny Day" (background vocals) | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher |
1999 | Sam Harris | Revival | "A Change in My Life" (background vocals) | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright |
2000 | A Cappella Christmas Party | "Hold Out for Christmas" | Altman, Kerman, Carl, Leonard | |
2000 | Mark and Brian: Little Drummer Boys | "Silver Bells" (live) | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright | |
2002 | 20 Christmas Stars, Vol. IV | "Merry Christmas Darling" | Kerman, Leonard, Thacher, Wright, Baldi | |
2007 | Hokie Nation : An A Cappella Tribute
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"I'll Hear Your Voice" | Kerman, Carl, Leonard, Thacher, Wright | |
2016 | Sing 13: Superstition | "Sir GotALot" | Leonard, Thacher, Jones, Vance, Rains |
Solo albums and appearances
Release Date | Artist | Album | Song(s) |
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1996 | Scott Leonard | My Favorites: The Bee Gees | |
1997 | Sean Altman | SeanDEMOnium
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February 1999 | fi-Ling Fader (Scott Leonard) | Bluespeel | |
2002 | Nice Kitty | ||
March 2002 | Sean Altman | Alt.mania
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July 2004 | Barry Carl | The SoLow Project | |
2005 | Sean Altman | Losing Streak | |
2005 | The Groovebarbers (Altman, Evett, Keyes) | Glory | |
2006 | Jewmongous (Sean Altman) | Unorthodox | |
May 2007 | Scott Leonard | 1man1mike | |
2008 | Jewmongous (Sean Altman) | Taller Than Jesus | |
January 2009 | John K. Brown | Essence of Worship | |
January 2009 | God Has a Hold on Me | ||
2010 | The Groovebarbers (Altman, Evett, Keyes) | Guts | |
March 2009 | Altman, Carl, Kerman | Schoolhouse Rock! Earth | "You Oughta Be Savin' Water" |
Altman, Carl | "Save the Ocean" | ||
March 2010 | Scott Leonard | Tokyo Robots - 1M1M2 | |
June 2010 | John K. Brown | bOOmbOOm | |
June 2011 | Unplugged | ||
November 2012 | A "Just Play It" Christmas | ||
2014 | The Groovebarbers (Altman, Evett, Keyes) | Warning: Barbershop! | |
2016 | Zombie Jamboree | ||
2019 | Sean Altman | Salt |
Songs used in commercials
- Gnomeo and Juliet- feature film trailer
- Folgers coffee
- The Today Show promos for the earliest version of the program's "Where in the World is Matt Lauer?" segment. The song was re-recorded later in different styles by other musicians.
- Mounds/Almond Joy
- Doritos
- Mazola
- Kent Super Lights - Japan-only
- Showtime - (Became "We Got A Happy Holiday" song from Japan-only album "Bash")
- HBO
- Taco Bell
- Bacardi
- Budweiser
- AFLACinsurance
- ProScan televisions
- Arby's
- Ozone Ford - Long Island, NY dealership (now defunct)
- Tools To Help You Choose (an infomercial about the TV Ratings System) feat. Bob Keeshan (aka Captain Kangaroo)
- BuiltBar Health Bars
- The Big Con, a 2021 video game
This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021) |
Filmography
- WPIX's 40th Anniversary (1988, guest appearance)
- Comic Strip Live (1989, guest appearance)
- Spike Lee & Co. Do It A Capella (1990, guest appearance)
- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1995, house band and comedy troupe)
- Chez Whoopi (1991, guest appearance)
- Zappa's Universe (1991, guest appearance)
- The Tonight Show (1992, guest appearance)
- The Biggest Little Ticket (1993, guest appearance)
- The 1996 Orange Bowl Parade
- Joe's Apartment (1996, were the voices of The Roach Chorus)
- Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1997, were the voices of The Five Little Piggies in the special, "Mother Goose: A Rapping and Rhyming Special")
- Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular (1998, guest appearance)
- Where in the Universe Is Carmen Sandiego? (1999)
- The 1999 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- So You Think You Can Dance Canada (2011, guest appearance)
Notes
References
- ^ Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella Review | TV Reviews and News. EW.com (October 05, 1990). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ a b The Showbiz Wizard: ROCKAPELLA'S SCOTT LEONARD!. Theshowbizwizard.blogspot.com (January 03, 2011). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ News – Spring '06 | News Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. Rockapella. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Kevin Wright Says a Loving Goodbye to Rockapella | News Archived 2009-08-30 at the Wayback Machine. Rockapella. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Kevin Wright's Final Shows with Rockapella | News Archived 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. Rockapella. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Rockapella to Do It on the RBN[usurped]. Rockbandaide.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Did you hear that.... Facebook. (December 22, 2010). Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Full Song – "Bang" – Xbox.com. Marketplace.xbox.com. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Featured in Gnomeo and Juliet Commercial | News Archived 2011-03-23 at the Wayback Machine. Rockapella. Retrieved on October 17, 2011.
- ^ Rockapella on iTunes
- ^ "Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?" at Discogs
- ^ Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? at Discogs (list of releases)