The Making of Rockapella
Jeff Thacher
The astonishing percussion sounds you hear in a Rockapella show are performed vocally by Jeff Thacher, completing Rockapella’s band-without-instruments sound. Jeff was born of a very musical family and raised on music skills from an early age. Not long after receiving a degree in music and recording from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, Jeff began experimenting with vocal percussion in various groups, developing his unique sound. Since joining Rockapella in ’93, he’s been known as a pioneering giant among professional mouth drummers (a select group of beatboxers) who, as he likes to put it, “spit for a living”. Jeff’s powerful virtuosity forms the funky rhythmic heartbeat of Rockapella, delighting and astonishing audiences everywhere. An American original, for sure!
Jeff’s video & audio work is based out of Ninjapella Multimedia
Calvin C. Jones
Calvin C. Jones was born and raised in East St. Louis, IL, and grew up idolizing Michael Jackson & Stevie Wonder. He started singing at an early age, then joined the vocal group Men Of Note at 13 and traveled the world as one of their lead singers for many years. Singing led to a passion for theater, and he went on to be featured in shows such as Dreamgirls, Fabulous 50’s, & Little Shop of Horrors, and brought his talents as a lead singer to the group SouthTown Fever. Rockapella had the good fortune to find Calvin while he was showcasing his silky smooth voice as a featured singer at Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL. Cal is an amazing one-of-a-kind talent!
Scott Leonard
Pyrotechnics is a word often used to describe Scott Leonard‘s singing voice. Scott grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and though he departed the Hoosier State for the University of Tampa on a baseball scholarship, he ended up a voice major. He sang in rock groups for Disney in both Orlando and Tokyo for two years, releasing solo albums while in Japan. Scott’s soaring vocals and songwriting & arranging prowess have played indespensable roles in shaping Rockapella’s characteristic sound.
Manny Houston
Manny Houston is our newest member, and brings a wealth of musical savvy and experience to the group. He’s a seasoned broadway and solo performer with a degree in piano performance, and is currently appearing in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Freestyle Love Supreme” in Las Vegas when not touring with us! We can’t wait to show off this super talented & charming guy ome more!
George Baldi
Our amazing & beloved bass, George Baldi, returned to Rockapella after stepping away a few years ago. His long tenure with the group includes many of our albums and tours and we’re thrilled to have him back! Those enormous bass “pipes” are very hard to find in combination with such virtuosic music skills, and it wouldn’t be “Rockapella” without such fantastic thunderous talent holding down the low end!