5th Annual

Bay Area Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, acapella singing competition, san francisco

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The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. The annual national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals.

1989 Bay Area Champions

Edlos

The EDLOS, you might ask? Four guys who sing without instrumental accompaniment... A Cappella. What's with the name? The story they tell is that the name is an acronym for Excessive Decibel Levels from Outer Space and that they're refugees from the planet "A" which circles the star Capella in the constellation Auriga. The story goes on, but let's cut to reality here for a minute. These four classically trained guys; Eric, Larry, Ed, and Craig were destined to take their schooling, talent, and juicy voices into the 21st century, always breaking new ground in their never ending pursuit of A Cappella diversity and originality. Speaking of diversity, the EDLOS have three shows to offer. Their critically acclaimed Popourri Show, which consistently draws standing ovations, is made up of eclectic originals and familiar favorites.

1989 Results

1st
Edlos
Audience Favorite
Edlos


1989 Participating Groups

Bachelors
The Bachelors met during the workshop production of “Boardwalk” (at T.A.M) and were immediately drawn together because of their (collective) inability to get a date since 1978. These dating woes contributed to the boys spending many a Friday night singing in the Canal area for no apparent reason. Composed of three of the more dynamic entertainers in the North , MURRAY AND STAN HAVE COMBINED THEIR TALENTS TO PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN FASCINATING BRAND OF SINGING THEY DUB “KNUCKLEHEAD A CAPPELLA”. THE BACHELORS Recently appeared on ABC in Good Morning bay Area’s first annual talent contest and came away with 1st place! When not performing a cappella the boys sing with the band “About Face” at local venues. Members: Murry Orrick, Stan Johnson, Mat Silverman

Edlos
The EDLOS, you might ask? Four guys who sing without instrumental accompaniment... A Cappella. What's with the name? The story they tell is that the name is an acronym for Excessive Decibel Levels from Outer Space and that they're refugees from the planet "A" which circles the star Capella in the constellation Auriga. The story goes on, but let's cut to reality here for a minute. These four classically trained guys; Eric, Larry, Ed, and Craig were destined to take their schooling, talent, and juicy voices into the 21st century, always breaking new ground in their never ending pursuit of A Cappella diversity and originality. Speaking of diversity, the EDLOS have three shows to offer. Their critically acclaimed Popourri Show, which consistently draws standing ovations, is made up of eclectic originals and familiar favorites.Members: Eric Morris, Bill Davis, Larry Venza, Ed Cohn

Fat Chance
Fat chance: Beech wood-aged and cold-filtered for the past six months. Six smooth and mellow members, with that fresh-brewed sound. As good as the originals, but with only half the calories. Works gently overnight. Crunch all you like - we’ll sing louder! Tonight, let it be Fat Chance.Members: Gina De Luca, Fritz Stewart, Ken Groves, Kevin Quinn, Kyla Kent, Carl Gabrielson

Full House
Full House is a vocal a cappella quintet which performs in the doo-wop, blues, jazz, gospel, and folk music styles in the Davis/Sacramento area. In addition to their own monthly live evenings at the Fox & Goose pub in Sacto, at 10th and R Streets (last Friday of every month: they have opened for Taj Mahal, The BOBS, and Jesse Winchester at the Palms Public Playhouse in Davis. They have also opened for Bobby Hutcherson, the Jazz Vibraharpist, at Sacto’s Crest Theater. they appear regularly at malarkey's in Sacramento, and the Blue Mango in Davis. Members: Heidi Bekebrede, Bill Cavins, Robert Davis, Frank Fox, Antoinette Zachem-Rau

The Genuine Diamelles
After opening the show for Edie Brickell and New Bohemians at the fillmore in the last days of the Reagan administration, this off-the-wall a cappella quartet has emerged from their long winter hibernation with a bunch of goodies. Adding a guitar, and the dreaded Euphonium on some tunes, their material ranges from country ranch to Led Zeppelin, gospel to swing. The members have over 26 combined years of experience in the San Francisco music scene.Members: Scott Young, Dave Kelley, Debora Tennerino, Mark Gunnion

Girls’ Night Out
These three sisters-in-song have dazzled local audiences for four years. Perennial favorites at such events as the Sausalito Art Festival, they also appear regularly at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley. You may have seen them recently on channel 36, but they most often sing at private or corporate functions.Members: Donna Turner, Maggie Catfish, Carol Joy Harris

The Quintuplets
Sprung from the loins of parents residing on Three-Mile Island, the Quintuplets have garnered a multitude of glowing reviews. Their explosive performances melt down hearts where ever they appear. Indeed, enthusiasm for the “Quints” has mushroomed since ; they emerged harmonizing from the fallout shelter. You won’t duck and cover when you hear these voices! Members: Renee Homes, Kerrigan Black, Shelly Higgins, Matt Skinner, Susan Streitwieser

Ruby, Duluth & Indigo
Once upon a time there were three girls who all went to the police academy together ... oops, wrong story (that was Charlie’s Angels). Once upon a time (January ‘89) there were three women who got together because they loved to sing, and they soon became known as “ Ruby, Duluth & Indigo” (it’s a long story). With tight harmonies and original arrangements you will hear them sing everything from Cole Porter to Prince. Ruby, Duluth & Indigo have performed at the Plush Room and are currently appearing at the Mason Street Wine Bar in San Francisco.Members: Sam Ellis, Carla Hatley, Harrye Hayward

Vocal Point
Once upon a time, in a far off jungle four people met quite by accident (something like this could never happen on purpose). There was Richard, who was found tree slamming as jumping off cliffs hurt so much: Bill, who was about to become supper for a group of hungry cannibals until they realized he was totally tasteless; Dan, who was found nearly gummed to death by a ferocious pride of toothless lions; and Kathleen, a frustrated salesperson from Cleveland selling vacuum cleaners hut-to-hut. Feeling down on their luck they applied to a cappella correspondence course that included a free Ronco pitch piep (some assembly required) and graduated Summa Sing Laude and thus was born Vocal PointMembers: Kathleen Kuebelbeck, Dan Cudworth, Bill Anderson, Richard Maddux

Warp Three
Holotropic breath and Mongolian overtones, primeval screams,and haunting - texturally woven passages best describe the uses to which these singers individually put their voice: in teaching (Susan), in musicals (Greg), and in recording studios (Catheryn) Members: Susan Casey, Greg Grabow, Catheryn Zaro

1989 Judges

Greg Cahill   

Editor, feature writer, reporter - print and digital: background in investigative reporting and arts reporting as well as magazine production and design; currently editorial director Stringletter Publishing; editor Acoustic Guitar and Strings magazines; former editor of two AAN newsweeklies; music reviewer for the Absolute Sound, Pacific Sun and other publications; and occasional program notes writer for the Mill Valley Film Festival, SF Film Fest, and others.

Deke Sharon   

Born in San Francisco, California, Deke Sharon has been performing professionally since the age of 8, and as a child toured North America and shared the stage in operas with the likes of Pavarotti. Heralded as "The Father of Contemporary A Cappella," he is responsible for the current sound of modern a cappella, having created the dense vocal-instrumental sound in college, subsequently spreading it around the world.

As the founder, director and arranger for the House Jacks, the original "Rock Band Without Instruments," Deke has shared the stage with countless music legends, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Crosby Stills and Nash, Run DMC, The Temptations, LL Cool J and the Four Tops, and performed for luminaries including President Bill Clinton. The House Jacks have eight albums, and dozens of international tours to their names, including multiple appearances Carnegie Hall, and performed the Monday Night Football Theme with Hank Williams Jr. in 2011.

Annie Stocking   

Annie Stocking is a veteran of the Bay Area music scene with 35 years experience as a professional vocalist, producer, and teacher. She has toured or recorded with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Van Morrison, George Benson, Whitney Houston, Santana, Todd Rundgren and many others. Her a cappella credits include performing on the classic Bobs recording “Cover The Songs Of.” As the first singers' representative in the Bay Area for SAG and AFTRA, she contracted most of the Bay Area singers for jingles, film, and other session work for many years. She continues to arrange harmony vocals and produces lead and back-up vocals for many independent artists and is a highly regarded voice teacher.


Complete list of 1989 participants




Interested in Performing?

We are always seeking groups who would like to participate in our events.

Groups of any style are welcome, but you must have between 3 and 12 members. We have a rule book which explains many of the details of the event, which you can see by clicking here. All groups must audition in order to compete. Generally this is done by sending a current tape and photo, although live auditions are sometimes arranged. The purpose of the audition is to make sure the group is appropriate for the Festival and to help the Director determine the performance order. If a group has competed previously, the audition process may be waived.

How to enter

Please send music and photos to the regional director :

John Neal (Bay Area) Beginning as a local event the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, under Neal’s guidance, has grown to become the most significant live showcase for a cappella music in the nation and attracts hundreds of groups and thousands of audience members every year. The Harmony Sweepstakes was the original inspiration for the NBC prime time series The Sing-Off and Neal was hired as a consultant to the series. Neal is president of Primarily A Cappella - (www.singers.com) which is the nation’s leading vendor of a cappella music including recordings, arrangements, DVDs, songbooks and instructional material for singers. Neal writes the informative blog at www.acappellanews.com which has a large and loyal readership.

PO Box D, San Anselmo, CA 94979
415-455-8602
festival (at) harmony-sweepstakes.com


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