\Rockapella is like the collegiate a capella dream,"" says Maureen Ayers Lobby of Redefined. In fact, the group was started by a group of Brown University students who loved to sing so much that they used to perform on the streets of Manhattan. Since Rockapella's start in the early 1990s, the group continues to grow professionally, producing a previously unheard-of brand of a capella.
Their pop sound is inspired by jazz, R&B, soul and rock, renewing a capella's image and inspiring the sound of collegiate groups, like Redefined and Madhatters. In addition, Rockapella's innovative decision to include a full-time vocal percussionist-a member who orally produces sounds that imitate a drum-in their group has allowed them to create a fuller sound.
Today, Rockapella has produced numerous albums both in the U.S. and Japan. They also appeared in the 1990s television show, ""Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?"" and numerous TV shows.
The group comes to Madison to perform this coming Friday and Saturday. Madhatters will open for them Friday and Redefined opens Saturday. The performances will take place at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
-Annie Van Cleve
