News

Jarrett Hothan - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Arts

Considering how Jay-Z has described Rockafella Records as a dynasty of the rap industry, Rockapella has built a similar reign over the world of a cappella music during the past two decades. The group, perhaps best known by our generation for singing such lines as "She put the Miss in misdemeanor when she stole the beans from Lima" in the theme song for the mid-90s game show "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" will perform A Rockapella Holiday today in Hancher at 7:30 p.m.

The original quartet was formed by a group of fresh-faced Brown University graduates in 1986, performing together out of sheer affection for a cappella choral arrangements. Rockapella specializes in performing adaptations of classic and original songs, all sonically created without the help of instruments. The lineup has changed over the years, but the group has relied on a vital chemistry and understanding among the veterans and new additions for continued success.

"As people come and go, everybody still maintains a level of consistency and skill," said Jeff Thacher, Rockapella's vocal percussionist.

"When a new person enters, he'll simply listen and adjust. To be in Rockapella, you have to be a team player in the musical sense."

Thacher's joining the band in 1993 is one reason Rockapella's live performances have excelled and remained organic. The group had drum samples on certain songs on early studio albums but didn't want to break the golden rule and use them during concerts.

"You're not allowed to have instruments, so what are you going to do? They auditioned a bunch of guys, and I got the job," Thacher said. "Beat boxing is an obvious tradition in hip-hop, but it was unprecedented to do it for two hours on stage in a show such as ours. Ever since we started, it just evolved. Now, it is just as a part of our show as anything else."

The Rockapella Holiday series is a perfect blend of Christmas favorites and vocal music; like hot chocolate and marshmallows, they just go well together. The group performs festive standards and originals, updated in its signature contemporary flavor.

"We'll take a normally slow song such as 'Angels We Have Heard on High' and speed it up," Thacher said. "It always connects really well."

All it takes is a quick search on YouTube to see the recent influx of high-school and college a cappella groups creating arrangements of their favorite songs, a development that has instilled great pride in journeyman performer Thatcher and his Rockapella counterparts.

"It's really snowballed recently. With no instruments, it's portable and cheap and anyone can do it," he said. "It isn't just kids from music programs doing it anymore, but engineers and English students too. You can sing your favorite song with your friends. Everybody gets to be a rock star."