FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 6, 2008
STRAIGHT NO CHASER CELEBRATES THE SEASON
WITH ATCO/ATLANTIC RECORDS DEBUT, “HOLIDAY SPIRITS”;
ACCLAIMED A CAPPELLA GROUP TO HERALD RELEASE
WITH SPECIAL INDIANA UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING SHOW;
ALBUM ARRIVES OCTOBER 28TH
ATCO/Atlantic Records has announced the signing of acclaimed a cappella group Straight No Chaser. The Indiana University-born, ten-man ensemble – which caused a YouTube sensation with their unique take on “The 12 Days of Christmas” – will release their debut album, entitled “HOLIDAY SPIRITS,” on October 28th. The album’s forthcoming release is heralded by a front page story in Sunday’s New York Times Arts & Leisure section (10/5 edition), entitled “A Cappella Dreaming,” which notes that “This may be the year’s most unlikely major-label story.”
Taking off from the runaway success of “The 12 Days Of Christmas” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8 ), “HOLIDAY SPIRITS” sees Straight No Chaser re-energizing holiday classics such as “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” with their captivating and powerful vocal arrangements. “HOLIDAY SPIRITS” also includes two original Christmas-themed compositions, penned by group founder Dan Ponce (see attached tracklisting).
“I think their potential is unlimited,” said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, who personally signed Straight No Chaser. “The incredible combination of their amazing voices, great material, fantastic sense of humor, and huge charisma sets them completely apart from what anyone usually thinks of when they think ‘a cappella group.’ They’re just a great group, period. I believe they have a terrific future ahead of them in the musical mainstream.”
Straight No Chaser will celebrate the release of “HOLIDAY SPIRITS” with a special Homecoming Show at their alma mater, Indiana University. Tickets to the concert – set for October 25th at the Indiana University Auditorium – are priced at $16.50, or $22.50 with a copy of “HOLIDAY SPIRITS.” For more information, please visit www.iuauditorium.com .
“HOLIDAY SPIRITS” can be pre-ordered now through the Straight No Chaser website, www.sncmusic.com/preorder . All fans who pre-order the album will be able to purchase it for $6 less than the suggested retail price. In addition, the first 225 people who pre-order the album through the website will receive an autographed CD booklet.
Founded at Indiana University in the fall of 1996, Straight No Chaser’s goal was to expand the boundaries of the traditional college a cappella group. From the start, they viewed themselves more like a local band that just happened to use their voices as their instruments. As original member Randy Stine comments, “We take the music very seriously; we just don’t take ourselves too seriously.” In the process, they are reinventing the idea of a cappella on the modern pop landscape.
The 10-man group performed at campus events and sorority functions, and soon found themselves headlining their own concerts. Within two years, Straight No Chaser was touring nationally. They opened for artists like Lou Rawls, performed at Chicago Cubs and White Sox games, and blew away a sold-out Carnegie Hall crowd at the National Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.
In 1999, the graduating members of Straight No Chaser chose their replacements, ensuring that the new tradition they had created would continue on with successive generations of IU undergrads. Then, in 2006, the unexpected happened – Indiana University decided to host a reunion concert for the original members. In honor of the event, Randy Stine posted footage from one of their 1998 concerts on YouTube.
To the group’s surprise, Straight No Chaser’s version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” – interpolating Toto’s “Africa” – became the hottest viral video of the holiday season, receiving more than 7 million views in December 2007 alone. Among those millions of viewers was Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, who tracked the group down and promptly signed them to the label.
The birth of Straight No Chaser’s second life is a story of talent, drive, and some very good luck. But their goal remains the same as it was back in their college days. As Stine says, “We want the audience to not miss the instruments, be surprised by what we’re doing, and in the end, appreciate the songs in a whole new way.”
Straight No Chaser is: Ryan Ahlwardt * Jerome Collins * Walter Chase * Michael Itkoff * Michael Luginbill * Charlie Mechling * Steve Morgan * Dan Ponce * David Roberts * Randy Stine.
For up-to-the-minute news and information, visit www.sncmusic.com , www.myspace.com/sncmusic, and www.youtube.com/sncmusic .
Straight No Chaser is managed by STILETTO Entertainment. For booking inquiries, please contact Garry C. Kief or David Britz at [email protected] or [email protected].
STRAIGHT NO CHASER
“HOLIDAY SPIRITS” (Atlantic)
Release Date: October 28, 2008
1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
2. Jingle Bell Rock
3. The Christmas Song
4. This Christmas
5. Christmas Wish
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Angels We Have Heard On High
7. Little Saint Nick
8. The 12 Days of Christmas (Live)
9. Indiana Christmas
10. Sweet Little Jesus Boy
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
12. Carol of the Bells
13. Silent Night
14. Auld Lang Syne
Produced by Straight No Chaser
Co-Produced by Dave Weber
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