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Straight No Chaser (SNC) is the name of two related but separate male a cappella singing groups. One is a collegiate singing group made up of 10 to 12 undergraduate students at Indiana University, whose membership changes each year due to graduation and new additions - SNC, the Indiana University College Group. The other is a professional singing group made up of previous members of the collegiate SNC, who were featured in a 1998 video of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that went viral in 2006 and who subsequently signed a five-album record deal with Atlantic Records in 2008 - SNC, the Atlantic Recording Artists. The popular YouTube video was viewed by more than 10 million people, including the chairman and chief executive of Atlantic Records, Craig Kallman, who arranged the recording deal.[1] Both groups continue to perform under the name Straight No Chaser, and both groups are featured on separate CDs. The shared Web site at sncproductions.com provides separate links to the two different groups.

Contents

History

The collegiate group was formed in 1996 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Together the 10 students -- Dan Ponce (the founder), Randy Stine, Charlie Mechling, Steve Morgan, Jerome Collins, Dave Roberts, Walter Chase, Mike Itkoff, Patrick Hachey, and Kevin Caroll—became Straight No Chaser.[2] Their name, Straight No Chaser (SNC), was inspired by a Thelonious Monk composition.

SNC’s debut was at a 36-hour dance marathon.[2] The original members performed at Chicago's Wrigley Field, Comiskey Park and Navy Pier, opened for Lou Rawls and even toured the country, playing such venues as Carnegie Hall.[1] The original 10 remained together from 1996 until 1999 when new students were selected to replace the graduating members. As of 2009, approximately 50 students have been members of Straight No Chaser.[2]

In 1998, SNC performed their version of The Cars' "Just What I Needed," for the participants in Indiana University's Intensive Freshman Seminar (ifs), following a buffet meal.

Original group reunites

In April 2006, a 1998 recording of The 12 Days of Christmas was posted to YouTube. The video was an adaptation of Richard C. Gregory's 1967 comic arrangement of the song for his Williston Caterwaulers, but SNC added their own touches, including songs like “I Have a Little Dreidel” and Toto’s “Africa”.[1] It has received more than 10,000,000 hits.[1] Craig Kallman, CEO of Atlantic Records, offered the original group a five-album deal based upon the success of YouTube videos. It is an offer that could lead to television appearances, movie performances (in both short films and feature-length productions), live concerts, concert recordings (in various digital formats, including DVD and Blu-Ray Disc), various pitch opportunities on multiple coasts, and the possibility of discussing the idea of an a cappella-based reality show. Many of these performances would be eligible for awards such as Emmys, Grammys, et cetera.[1]

In July 2008, eight of the original 1996-1999 SNC members—Dan Ponce, Randy Stine, Charlie Mechling, Steve Morgan, Jerome Collins, Dave Roberts, Walter Chase, and Mike Itkoff—along with two 2000-2003 SNC members— Mike Luginbill and Ryan Ahlwardt—met at a recording studio in Bloomington, Indiana. There they recorded a Christmas album, Holiday Spirits. Prior to its release, Holiday Spirits was Atlantic Records's third-best pre-selling album ever.[citation needed] After an appearances on TNT's Christmas in Washington, Fox's Fox & Friends, and NBC's The Today Show on December 22, 2008, Holiday Spirits became the #1 selling album on both the iTunes and Amazon.com charts.

On August 18, 2009, SNC announced that Michael Itkoff and Steve Morgan had decided to step down from the group to spend more time with their families.[3] SNC replaced them with Seggie Isho, originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Tyler Trepp, originally from Urbandale, Iowa. Both the multitalented Isho, who was a defensive specialist on Indiana University's Men's Volleyball Club,[4] and Trepp, who discovered his love for a capella music through his father's longtime involvement in a gospel quartet,[5] were members of the collegiate SNC group at Indiana University.

SNC taped a live concert special in New York City during the summer of 2009 that will be aired on local PBS stations during the December 2009 pledge drive as a Christmas special.[6]

On August 31, 2009, Straight No Chaser released an EP of six songs, titled "Six Pack." On November 3, 2009, they released their second Christmas album, "Christmas Cheers" co-produced with Deke Sharon,[7] and they are also working on a non-Christmas album, "With a Twist" for release on April 13, 2010. The album will have 12 songs with one featuring Barry Manilow[8]

Awards

In 1999, Indiana University SNC won the CARA awards for both Best Male Collegiate Album (Last Call) and Best Male Collegiate Song ("Ghost Train" on Last Call),[9] and Michael Itkoff was nominated as Best Male Collegiate Soloist.[10] In 2000, SNC was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Song ("Without Your Love" on Live at Alumni Hall).[11] In 2007, SNC member Corey Frye was nominated for Best Male Collegiate Soloist ("Ordinary People" on Another Round).[12]

In 1998, Indiana University SNC placed second in the finals of the (now defunct) National Championships of College A Cappella.[13]

In 1998, Indiana University SNC placed first in the Midwest Region quarterfinals of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.[14] In 2000, SNC was recognized as having the Best Arrangement in the ICCA Midwest Region quarterfinals.[14] In 2005, SNC placed first in the ICCA divisionals and was also selected for Best Choreography at the division level. They went on to place first in the Midwest Regional Finals, and competed in the ICCA finals at the Lincoln Center in New York.[14]

In 2009, Atlantic Records SNC won the CARA award for Best Holiday Album (Holiday Spirits)[15] and was nominated for Best Holiday Song ("Carol Of The Bells" on Holiday Spirits).[16]

Albums

Atlantic Recording Artists SNC Albums
Holiday Spirits Atlantic Records 2008
Six Pack (EP) Atlantic Records 2009
Christmas Cheers Atlantic Records 2009
With a Twist Atlantic Records Apr 13, 2010
Indiana University College Group SNC Albums
Name Year
Straight No Chaser 1998
Last Call 1998
Live at Alumni Hall 1999
Indiana 2000
Thank You 2001 - 2002
Another Round 2005 - 2006
Facebook Stalkin' Single 2006 - 2007
Live @ the Musical Arts Center DVD 2006

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mickey Rapkin (Published: October 3, 2008). "Music - The a Cappella Group Straight No Chaser - Reunited Singers, Recently Discovered and Replete With a Five-Album Contract - NYTimes.com". Nytimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/arts/music/05rapk.html?_r=1&sq=Straight%20No%20Chaser&st=cse&scp=5&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  2. ^ a b c "snc". Php.indiana.edu. http://php.indiana.edu/~snc/SNC.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-11. 
  3. ^ "PBS Taping/New SNC Members". http://www.sncmusic.com/blog/pbs-taping-new-snc-members/. Retrieved 01 March 2010. 
  4. ^ "Indiana University Men's Volleyball Club". www.indiana.edu. Indiana University. http://www.indiana.edu/~imvbc/archives/0102/pages/seggie_isho.html. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 
  5. ^ "Student Stories Project: Tyler Trepp". alumni.indiana.edu. Indiana University. http://alumni.indiana.edu/profiles/students/transcripts/trepp_transcript.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-27. 
  6. ^ "SNC PBS Schedule announced". Virgin Atlantic Records. http://sncmusic.com/pbsspecial/. Retrieved 12-10-2009. 
  7. ^ Be of Good Cheer - Straight No Chaser Is Back! Acclaimed A Cappella Group Returns With All-New Holiday-Themed Collection; Major U.S. Concert Tour Presented by Southwest Airlin...
  8. ^ Straight No Chaser (2010-02-23). "http://www.sncmusic.com/blog/pre-order-with-a-twist-now/". Virgin Atlantic. http://www.sncmusic.com/blog/pre-order-with-a-twist-now/. Retrieved 2010-02-23. 
  9. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "1999 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Winners". http://www.casa.org/cara1999w. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  10. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "1999 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Nominees". http://www.casa.org/cara1999n. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  11. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "2000 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Nominees". http://www.casa.org/cara2000n. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  12. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "2007 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Nominees". http://www.casa.org/cara2007n. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  13. ^ RARB: Recorded A Cappella Review Board. "RARB Reviews of Straight No Chaser - Last Call". http://www.rarb.org/reviews/86.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  14. ^ a b c ICCA: International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. "ICCA & ICHSA Previous Results". http://www.varsityvocals.com/acappella-results-previous.html. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  15. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "2009 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Winners". http://www.casa.org/cara2009w. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 
  16. ^ CASA: the Contemporary A Cappella Society. "2009 Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award Nominees". http://www.casa.org/cara2009n. Retrieved 28 February 2010. 

External links

Disambiguation

Indiana University College Group

Atlantic Recording Artists








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