Who's Who in A Cappella

There are many individuals who are responsible for creating the music we love so well, or for making it possible in some other way. Here is a brief guide to some of the names behind the music

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M -
N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Aitken, Gene
was for many years Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. Under his guidance the program has received more Down Beat magazine awards and National Endowment for the Arts grants than any other post-secondary institution in the United States, and the only one to receive a Grammy nomination in Vocal Jazz. He was also the director of UNC Jazz Press, and was inducted in the International Association of Jazz Educator's Hall of Fame in 1995.

Altman, Sean
Founder of Rockapella and a member, writer and arranger for the group for 11 years - through a half-dozen Japanese albums and five years of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. He left Rockapella in 1997 to pursue a solo career, releasing SeanDEMOnium in 1997 and occasionally performing a cappella with his new group, the GrooveBarbers, made up of former Rockapella members.

Ames, Morgan
A Grammy-winning producer, she has sung and/or written vocal arrangements for artists that include Bette Midler, Vanessa Williams and Frank Sinatra. Morgan is the leader and principle arranger for the a cappella group Inner Voices (on Rhino Records), a NARAS Governor and has taught songwriting at UCLA.

Armstrong, Dr. Anton
The Conductor of the St. Olaf Choir since 1990, he is only the fourth conductor since its founding in 1912. Dr. Armstrong spent more than 20 years on the summer faculty of the American Boychoir School, serves on the National Board of Directors of Choristers Guild and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Boychoir School.

B

Backhouse, Tony
Tony Backhouse is a singer, composer and author who directs two Australian gospel groups, the Heavenly Lights and the long-running a cappella choir Cafe At the Gate of Salvation (which won three runner-up awards in the 1993 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards). He has a B.Mus in composition and runs vocal workshops in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Tony's web site is www.tonybackhouse.com.au

Baos, René
The founder and creative force behind Vocal Sampling, he is also one of the group's primary composers. René is a graduate of the National School of Music in Cuba, where he studied piano.

Barnwell, Dr. Ysaye
A member of Sweet Honey in the Rock since 1979, she also writes for the group. With collaborators she has won awards from Meet the Composer. An experienced choral director, Dr. Barnwell conducts vocal workshops on African-American songs and singing traditions. She has written composed music for such varies organizations as Sesame Street and Tenesseee Repertory Theater.

Barford, Jean
Jean Barford has won gold both as Director and quartet singer, taking chorus and quartet medals at the same time. She is a five-time winner as Director of the Dayton, OH, Gem City Sweet Adelines Chorus, and sang tenor with the Sounds Of Music. She is an active Music Judge, coach, and also directs the two-time champion Southern Gateway Chorus from Cincinnati. She's the first woman director in SPEBSQSA to have won medals in International competition (5th in '97 and 4th in '98).

Botto, Louis
The late artistic director and founder of renowned men's ensemble Chanticleer, he held music degrees from University of Texas, Incarnate Word College (San Antonio) and Dominican College (San Rafael, CA). Louis also was, for many years, a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and served on the board of directors for Chorus America. He passed away in 1997.

C

Callen, Michael
Singer-songwriter Callen was the founder and driving force behind the first openly-gay a cappella group, The Flirtations. Best known for their appearance in the Tom Hanks' film "Philadelphia," the Flirtations were for years the spokesmen of the Gay community and tolerance in a cappella.

Carrington, Simon
A founding member of the King's Singer, after his 1993 departure he was professor, artist-in-residence and director of choral activities, including the master's and doctoral degree programs in choral conducting, at the University of Kansas. In the Fall of 2001, he became head of choral music at the New England Conservatory, and subsequently took a position as Professor of Choral Conducting and Conductor of the Yale Schola Cantorum at the Music School and Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University.

Carroll, Wes
Wes got his start in pro vocal percussion with Boston's Five O'Clock Shadow before moving on to San Francisco's House Jacks. The creator of the vocal percussion instructional video series, Wes has been giving panels on VP at Summits on the American East and West coast for years.

Cash, O.C and Hall, Rupert
SPEBSQSA founders. Meeting by accident in a Kansas City hotel, the two Tulsa natives invited 33 men to a songfest on April 11, 1938 that lead to the formation of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA).

Chaiken, Andrew
The original vocal percussionist with the House Jacks, one of the first a cappella groups with full-time vocal percussion, Andrew was the inspiration for a generation of vocal percussionists around the United States, making guest appearances on albums by the Persuasdions, the Bobs and +4db. He now performs as a one-man band under the name of Kid Beyond, combining vocal percussion and singing with the aid of live multi-tracking equipment.

Chao, Elaine
One of a very rare breed - a female vocal percussionist in a mixed group - Elaine is also a songwriter, arranger, singer, writer of musicals and the founder of "Got Spit?" productions, a service which includes vocal percussionist T-Shirts and and active instructional website for aspiring vocal percussionists.

Clancy, Jim
Jim has been the director of Dallas' Vocal Majority chorus for more than 25 years. This chorus has won the gold medal ten times (1975, '79, '82, '85, '88, '91, '94, '97', '00 & '03 - SPEBQSA rules require gold medal winners to wait three years to enter again), the most of any chorus in the society.

Clausen, Dr. René
The long-time conductor of the Concordia Choir at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, he teaches choral conducting and serves as artistic director of the college's nationally-broadcast (radio and TV) Christmas concerts each year. Dr. Clausen also regularly conducts major choral and orchestral performances, and choral festivals.

Cooper, Paul
In 1978, four actor friends in Toronto began singing together after Paul, listening to the Persuasions on the radio, hit upon the idea of the Nylons - and history was born, creating one of the most covered and imitated a cappella groups on the planet. In his decade+ with the group, they were nominated for Artist of the Year in the Candian music awards, won the Best Singer award at the Tokyo Music Festival, and released Gold and Platinum records.

Craig, Renee
Credited by many as the leading influence in the modern sound of women's barbershop, she was the lead and arranger for the Cracker Jills, the 1957 International Sweet Adelines championship quartet.

Crenshaw, Randy
The Grammy-nominated singer has sung with many a cappella groups, including No Strings Attached, Terra Nova (1987 Hennessey Jazz Search grand prize winners), Vocal Nation, The Berklee Vocal Jazz Choir, Just 4 Kicks and The Haven Quartet. Randy is also an arranger, with more than 40 of his works currently available through UNC Jazz Press.

D

Daulne, Marie
Marie is the Zairian born, Belgian-raised founder of the women's ensemble Zap Mama, whose debut album was the biggest-selling non-compilation album in the history of Luaka Bop Records. When she heard a recording of traditional pygmy music at age 20, she decided to return to Africa to learn about her heritage. She was trained in pygmy onomatopoeic vocal techniques.

DeBar, Phil
A registered SPEBSQSA judge, Phil is the host of several a cappella radio shows and for many years was co-producer and host of A Cappella Radio International, making him "the voice of a cappella" on radio stations on four continents. He started in a cappella with the Stanford Mendicants in 1974, served as a substitute baritone for Chanticleer in 1984, and has been a member of SPEBSQSA since 1976, including being part of five Northern California quartet championship quartets.

Dent, Dr. Cedric
Take 6's baritone, Dr. Dent has a doctorate in music theory from the University of Maryland. Best known as a vocalist and arranger for the Grammy-award winning group, his training began with piano.

Diamond, Jessika
Founder of the Northern Harmony Canadian A Cappella competition and CASA vice president, Jessika is co-producer of the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. She is also the web designer for Mainely A Cappella and works on our International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and the BOCA disc projects.

Dustman, Tom
The founder and director of of the a cappella jazz group Beachfront Property, he also sings with the group. Tom is also a professor of music at Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California.

E

Edenroth, Anders
Originally a pianist, this Swedish State Academy of Music-educated singer has degrees in music education and classical voice. Anders writes and arranges for (as well as sings counter-tenor with) the Real Group.

F

Farb, Adam
Adam is the founder of the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and the annual Best of College A Cappella compilation CDs, which were taken over by Mainely A Cappella in 1999. For a number of years, Adam was "Mr. College A Cappella" in the United States.

Finetti, Joe
Formerly a member of the Grammy-nominated PM Singers and Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra, Joe now sings with the Bobs, although his musical training began with the trombone, which he studied for 12 years and played in various orchestras.

G

Gentil, Tom
A record-breaking barbershop director, Tom is the only person to win gold medals as chorus director in both SPEBSQSA and Sweet Adelines, Inc.(Southern Gateway Barbershop Chorus, 1973, and the Seven Hills Sweet Adeline Chorus in 1981). Tom currently is active as a Music Judge and Arranger, and is a retired Music Educator living in Cincinnati.

Gooding, Don
Founder of the A-CAPPELLA.COM catalog (as well as the Primarily A Cappella catalog), Don's musical experiences include the original U.S. Kodaly pilot class (1969-1972), director of the Yale SOBs and singer with the Yale Whiffenpoofs, various barbershop quartets, King's Singers wannabes Talisman, professional chorister with Christ Church in New Haven, CT, and director of Jersey Transit. As an a cappella entrepreneur his is also involved in the Varsity Vocals student a cappella contests, sheet music publishing through Contemporary A Cappella Publishing, and various initiatives as a board member of CASA.

Gray, Don
Don is an accomplished arranger and Judge (former category specialist) in SPEBSQSA who's arranged about everything that can be sung a cappella! His accomplishments include arranging full Broadway scores such as "Guys 'N Dolls" and Gilbert & Sullivans operetta "HMS Pinafore" - all a cappella! Don also sang tenor with the medal winning "Roaring 20's" quartet, as well as provided the charts for International Champion Southern Gateway Chorus for almost 40 years!

Greene, Richard
Nominated for a Grammy in 1984 for his arrangement of Helter Skelter, Richard "Bob" is a singer (he sings bass), arranger and producer for such a cappella groups as Toxic Audio and Da Vinci's Notebook, and writes many of the Bobs' original works.

H

Hairston, Jester
A renowned composer, arranger and conductor, he is best known in the singing world as a composer and arranger of more than 300 spirituals sung by generations. He conducted the first integrated choir in Hollywood, derved as the singing voice for Sydney Poitier in Lillies of the Field, and arranged the music for numerous Hollywood productions, including the Academy Award winner Lost Horizon. Jester died in January 2000 at the age of 98.

Harris, BJ
A founding member of one of Canada's first professional a cappella groups, STREETNiX, BJ was also one of the first vocal percussionists in Canada. During his 10 years with the group, their ground-breaking electronica-a cappella sound took the CARA for Best Pop/Rock Album and brought the group to a new level of international recognition.

Hayes, Jimmy
Founder of the Persuasions, he has been making a cappella - and influencing a cappella fans and singers around the world, including the founding members of Rockapella and the Nylons - since the 1960's.

Hendricks, Jon
A world-famous vocalist and lyricist, he is often referred to as "the Poet Laureate of Jazz." One third of the famed vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, he has made a name for himself in writing lyrics for instrumental pieces such as "Cottontail" and "Li'l Darlin." He is also a multiple Grammy Award winner.

Hicks, Dr. Val
Professional music educator, arranger, barbershop historian, editor of the definitive SPEBSQSA history book, "Heritage of Harmony." In the 1960s, Dr. Hicks coached a young family group of singers that appeared on The Andy Williams Show as a barbershop quartet -- The Osmond Brothers.

Hogan, Moses
The Artist in Residence at Dillard University in New Orleans, he is also the artistic director of the Moses Hogan Chorale, an arranger and a composer. Moses has created works for many prestigious organizations including PBS and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and much of his work has become a staple in the repertoires of high school, college, church, community and professional choirs.

I

Italiano, Ronnie
President of Clifton Records and head of the United in Group Harmony Association, Ronnie is "Mr. Doo-wop," the guiding force behind the resurgent popularity of this truly American musical form. He is also the producer for the New York regional of the Harmony Sweepstakes.

J

Johnson, Will
The founder of the East Coast A Cappella Summit, Will is the man who decided the American East Coast deserved an annual a cappella Summit. Over the years Will has sung in many collegiate and post-collegiate a cappella groups, including on the competitive level

Jordan, Dan
Dan has four international Barbershop bronze medals (three with Grand Tradition, one with the 139th St. Quartet), and a gold from 1985 with The New Tradition. Dan is known for being the voice of Homer Simpson in the cartoon's Be Sharps quartet and the co-founder of the World A Cappella Association, Executive Producer of the World Acappellafest, where he served as liaison to NARAS for A Cappella music category consideration.

K

King, Freddie
Barbershop arranger and chorus director of the Dundalk Pride of the Chesapeake, 1971 international chorus champions, he is also a quartet singer, the baritone of the 1970 international quartet champs Oriole Four. Freddie is also one of the only men in barbershop history to have won gold as both a quartet singer and a chorus director.

L

Lancaster, Keith
The visionary and driving force behind The Acappella Company, he is a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer. Keith was Acappella's first lead singer, later producer of Acappella and the Acappella Vocal Band. His first album was recorded when he was 19 - and he sang all the parts on it, a cappella.

Landsberg, Olivia
Olivia is one of the driving forces behind the British a cappella scene, as the producer of the British Broadcasting Corporation's In Good Voice a cappella series.

Lawson, Jerry
Jerry is one of the founding members of the four-decade-old group, and one-quarter of the original membership still singing with the Godfathers of a cappella. He is also the co-producer of of such Persuasions' albums at Frankly A Cappella.

Leonard, Scott
Rockapella's sky-high tenor originally fronted a rock band at both Disney World and Tokyo Disney, and was instrumental in securing Rockapella their original Japanese record contract. Scott, who joined the group shortly before their stint on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego began, also writes much of the group's original music.

Lyne, Dr. Gregory K
Director of Music Education and Services for the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA), he comes to the SPEBSQSA staff from Arizona State University in Tempe, where he was Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. Other insitutions Dr. Lyne taught at include California State University - Long Beach, DePaul University, Eastern New Mexico University and the University of Washington.

M

Malucelli, Ken
A charter member of the San Francisco Boy's Chorus, he has taught piano, voice, theory, harmony and composition, served as choral director and composer, and won Grand Prize in the Bay Area Composers' Competition in 1978. He is the founder of the Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers, the world's largest caroling organization, and A Cappella Central, the a cappella booking agency.

Madsen, Gunnar
He is best known in a cappella as founder, songwriter and performer with the Bobs, garnering a Grammy nomination for their debut album. He's released two solo albums since leaving the group in 1991. He's received seven ASCAP songwriter's awards. He is featured on the soundtrack of "At Play in the Fields of the Lord," in the National Geographic Special "Asteroids: Deadly Impact," and as the voice of Sammy Davis, Jr. in the HBO film "The Rat Pack."

Matsuoka, Yumiko
A founding member of Boston's award-winning vocal jazz group Vox One, Yumiko is a composer, performer, arranger, educator and clinician. An assistant professor at Berklee School of Music, teaching ear training and vocal writing, arrangements have appeared on numerous other a cappella groups' discs, including Harmony Sweepstakes champs m-pact and Toxic Audio.

Mattson, Phil
The Grammy-nominated Director of the School for Music Vocations at Southwestern Community College (Cresten, IA), he also started the Phil Mattson School for singers and led the P.M. Singers. Currently he arranges for such professional vocal and a cappella groups as the Real Group, Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer and Beachfront Property.

McFerrin, Bobby
Many people's first introduction to contemporary a cappella was his number one hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Through his work with Voicestra and his "Circle Songs," he has explored many musical styles and forms and won a number of Grammys. His experimental use of vocal sounds has influenced a cappella singers around the world.

Miller, Jim
Jim Miller is the only music director in SPEBSQSA to have won eight gold medals (seven with the Louisville Thoroughbred Chorus, one with Cincinnati's Southern Gateway Chorus). He has been a successful quartet coach (Bluegrass Student Union, Marquis) and was the lead singer with the top 10 Citations Quartet.

Morrison, Claude
Claude is the last original Nylon still with the group, having been around through the group's nearly two decades of success, international tours, gold and platinum albums, Billboard hits and Juno (Canadian equivalent of the Grammys) nominations.

Murphy-Collins, Lisa
Founder of the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, Lisa's the one who got the ball rolling on the idea of a cappella competitions, encouraging others around the world to emulate her formula for success.

N - O

Neal, John
President of Primarily A Cappella Records and National Producer of the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival (a U.S.-wide tournament of professional a cappella groups).

P - Q

Puerling, Gene
A Grammy Award-winning arranger and leader of The Singers Unlimited and the Hi-Lo's, he has spread the Puerling sound to numerous other groups by arranging for Manhattan Transfer, Chanticleer, Glad, Vocal Majority, Real Group and Gold Company. His arrangements have influenced virtually every vocal jazz ensemble.

R

Raugh, Anne
Anne is responsible, single-handedly or with a collaborator, for the Contemporary A Cappella Songbooks (I & II), and transcribing the Bobs', Trenchcoats' and Blenders' Songbooks. She's 1/3rd of Contemporary A Cappella Publishing (with Deke Sharon and Don Gooding), and privately does typesetting of original works (songs, an opera, piano concerti, etc.) for use in publication and in mounting productions.

Rathbone, Jonathan
The former musical director of the Swingle Singers, he arranged much of the music for the group he joined in 1984. Jonathan got his start in music as a choirboy at Coventry Cathedral, later winning a choral scholarship to Christ's College, Cambridge, and after that doing a music degree (specialization singing and composition) at the British Royal Academy of Music.

Reagon, Bernice Johnson
The founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock and its artistic director for more than two decades, she is also one of the group's songwriters and was featured in the 1992 Emmy-nominated "The Songs are Free: Bernice Johnson Reagon with Bill Moyers." Her work has included a three-album collection "Voice of the Civil Rights Movement: African-American Freedom Songs" and the music for the PBS series "Africans in America."

Robinson, Arnold
The only American Nylon, Arnold first came to fame with "Sonny Turner and Sounds Limited" (formerly known as the Platters). He joined the Nylons in 1981 and has been with them ever since. He is also accomplished in many other aspects of the music industry, including management, recording and production.

Rhiannon
A former member of SoVoS, Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra and the touring ensemble of Circlesongs, she has also taught voice and improvisation for more than 25 years. Rhiannon's singing background - originally classical - includes 10 years with the women's jazz quintet Alive!, and solo albums.

gabriel rutman
One of the founding members of award-winning, groundbreaking Los Angeles a cappella group spiralmouth, in his college days gabe had a big part in making University of Pennsylvania's Off The Beat into the trend-setting group it is (the only group to appear on every single regular Best of College A cappella disc). He now dedicates a lot of energy towards CD production, working with groups in Southern California to create award-winning albums.

Rose, Johanna Maria
The idea behind the creation of the world famous ensemble Anonymous 4, Johanna is a native of New York state. Her degrees include Voice from the Manhattan School of Music and a MFA in the Performance of Medieval and Renaissance Music from Sarah Lawrence College. Her Anonymous 4 responsibilities include language pronunciation research.

Rutter, John
During his tenure as Director of Music at Clare College (Cambridge, England), he founded the now world-renowned Cambridge Singers. Four of his recordings with the Cambridge Singers have appeared on the Billboard Classical Top 25. The record company John owns, Collegiaum Music, is the leading choral music label in the United States.

Rust, Darren
One of the founding members of the award-winning group The Blenders, which has been together for 15 years. Getting his start in the vocal production business with the group's many albums, he later began his own production company, Skyland Productions, and has produced albums by other a cappella groups such as Go Fish, Tonic Sol Fa and Harmony Sweepstakes champs Naturally Seven (among others)..

S

Shabalala, Joseph
Instrumental in putting South African music in the international music map, Joseph is the founder of the acclaimed ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo, best known outside a cappella circles for their work on the Graceland album with Paul Simon and numerous TV and radio appearances around the world.

Sharon, Deke
Founder of The Contemporary A Cappella Society (originally the Collegiate A Cappella Newsletter) out of his dorm room at Tufts University, Deke later went on to start the Ultimate A Cappella Arranging Service, The House Jacks (for whom he also serves as musical director), A Cappella Radio International and numerous other programs that make a cappella a community of singers and fans who help each other.

Shaw, Dr. Kirby
A music educator and the founder/director of numerous ensembles (including the Just 4 Kicks, the COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble at College of the Siskiyous in California, and similar groups at Colorado State University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City), Dr. Shaw's compositions and arrangements have sold millions of copies around the world, resulting in - among other things - multiple ASCAP awards.

Shaw, Robert
A multiple Grammy winner (12), he was the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's music director for 21 years and in 1991 received the Kennedy Center Honors for an outstanding contribution to the American arts. He was also awarded the national Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony in 1992; spent 17 years touring with the Robert Shaw Chorale; and founded the Robert Shaw Institute to foster excellence in music, especially choral music. He passed away in 1999.

Snyder, Dean
SPEBSQSA Historian Emeritus, he was the founder of Alexandria Harmonizers Chorus in 1945, and was a barbershop visionary since the 1950s. Even in 1998 at the ripe age of 95, Dean was still active in the affairs of the Society, as a counsel to the international board and staff.

Stevens, Dave
SPEBSQSA staff music man from 1965-1985, barbershop arranger, editor of the landmark Heritage of Harmony Songbook (available from Mainely A Cappella). Stevens presented his definitive "What Are We Trying To Preserve?" lecture to hundreds of chapters throughout the Society, and a video is available from SPEBSQSA.

Stoloff, Bob
The author of "Scat! Vocal Improvisation Techniques," Bob is a professor and the Assistant Chair of the Voice Department at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. A jazz vocalist and instrumentalist, he is a recognized clinician, jazz choir consultant and adjudicator, and has made international festival appearnaces with Bobby McFerrin's Vocal Summit.

Swingle, Ward
A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory, he took the scat singing idea and applied it to the works of Bach, creating The Swingle Singers, winning five Grammys in their original incarnation. He retired from the group in 1984, but still serves as their musical advisor. Most of his time now is spent giving seminars, guest conducting and building his publishing company, Swingle Music.

T - U - V

Thacher, Jeff
After getting his start in Boston's Five O'Clock Shadow, Jeff made the move to Rockapella in 1992. A graduate of Berklee School of Music, he is not only one of the best vocal percussionists in the business, he is building a solid reputation in the CD production business, including albums by Extempo, Vocal Tonic and the ExBoyfriends.

W - X - Y - Z

Warland, Dale
A recipient of the prestigious Michael Korn Founder's Award from Chorus America, he is the founder, musical director and conductor of the Dale Warland Singers, one of America's premiere choral ensembles. He also been co-chair of the choral and recording panels of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Warren, Mervyn
A founding member of Take 6, he sang with the group for 11 years and appeared on one gold-selling and one platinum-selling Take 6 discs, winning with the group four Grammys, six Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards and a Soul Train award. His solo work has included scores for soundtracks ranging from Sister Act II to Do The Right Thing.

Wilson, Todd
As tenor with Acoustix, Todd is the only second-generation International Gold Quartet Gold Medalist in SPEBSQSA's 60-year history (his father sang with the 1961 winners, the Suntones). He has also won five International Chorus Championship Gold Medals with the Vocal Majority, for which he is a section leader and member of the music staff.

Wright, David
David is a renowned arranger of barbershop music, and has set his talents to other genres such as gospel, jazz and pop a cappella. An advisor to International calibre quartets, David is a certified barbershop judge and a barbershop historian, not to mention director of the Ambassadors of Harmony.

Are there any names you think are missing? This is an ever-growing list and only the recommendations of a few people. If you think there's someone who's made an indelible contribution to a cappella, why not suggest them? Please include biographical information or a contact address at which to get some.