PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION
October 22, 2012
CONTACT: Jerry Biebesheimer, (501) 450-3682; jerryb@uca.edu
A CAPPELLA GROUP STRAIGHT NO CHASER SET FOR REYNOLDS DATE
By Carissa Gan
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — Straight No Chaser, a professional a cappella group, will perform at a sold-out Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall on Sunday, Nov. 11 at the University of Central Arkansas.
The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Who wouldn’t want to be serenaded by a group of 10 charming men in suits with euphonious voices?
“This is a group that we’ve been trying to pursue for two years,” said Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA’s public appearances, said.
Although the show is a sell-out, some tickets may become available at 2 p.m. on the day of the performance. If available, tickets would be $10 for students and $23 to $40 for the public.
As stated on the group’s website, “Straight No Chaser are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch.” The group formed in 1996 at Indiana University, consisting of Dan Ponce, Randy Stine, Charlie Mechling, Steve Morgan, Jerome Collins, Dave Roberts, Walter Chase, Mike Itkoff, Patrick Hachey and Kevin Carroll. The name of the group was inspired by the title track of Thelonious Monk’s 1967 album, Straight, No Chaser.
Their 1998 video “The 12 Days of Christmas” gained widespread YouTube popularity in 2006, which led the CEO of Atlantic Records, Craig Kallman, to contact Stine about a potential recording deal. Initially, Stine thought it was a prank but decided otherwise when he and the other guys were flown to Los Angeles to meet with Kallman and discuss recording plans.
With more than 20 million views on YouTube, Straight No Chaser has recorded five albums, including Holiday Spirits in 2008 and Christmas Cheers in 2009. In the summer of 2009, the group performed a live concert in New York that was aired as a Christmas special on the city’s PBS stations. That year, Straight No Chaser won the CARA award for Best Holiday Spirit Album and was nominated for Best Holiday Song.
The group has performed in various venues across the nation, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Navy Pier in Chicago.
“They’re very popular, especially among young people,” Ashley Love, director of finance and marketing for UCA’s Public Appearances, said. “They cover lots of famous songs, including movie themes and pop songs.”
The group performs a wide range of songs, from Disney to movie medleys, and from Lady Gaga to Jason Mraz. “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz was a hit, along with “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” by The Script.
Apart from excelling at the art of harmonization, these men also enjoy giving the audience something more to look forward to by incorporating humor and dance into their performances.
For further information, contact Biebesheimer at (501) 450-3682 or jerryb@uca.edu.
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