A capella group performing at Aurora University
Stormy Weather, an a capella doo-wop quintet, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Aurora University's Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration at 407 S. Calumet Ave. in Aurora. The public is invited to this free event.
The concert is part of AU's 2009-2010 Celebrating Arts and Ideas series, which includes art exhibits, films, theater, music and lectures.
Steeped in the roots of rock and roll music, Stormy Weather sings everything from Hank Ballard to Stevie Ray Vaughan, from the Drifters to Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker, as well as their own compositions. The group follows the premise that the voice is the most expressive instrument there is.
One of the chief proponent of today's renewed interest in a cappella doo-wop sound, Stormy Weather is an instrument-free, five-part vocal harmony quintet from Gary and Hammond, Ind. Growing up, the members of the group idolized the singing group and local residents, the Spaniels, of "Goodnight, Sweetheart Goodnight" fame.
The quintet has doo-wopped with such diverse stars as Smokey Robinson, Carl Perkins, the Pointer Sisters, Bill Cosby, Frankie Valli, Tony Danza, Dion, Whoopi Goldberg, the Gatlins, Kenny Rogers, Bruce Willis plus many legendary rock 'n roll artists.
Their 14 recorded albums include the group's highly touted seasonal record series, "Street Carols," which has become a holiday classic. Their popularity includes four appearances at The White House for special Christmas and Easter presentations and the group has appeared and their videos have aired on: Entertainment Tonight, Oprah Winfrey, TNN, The Today Show, Hollywood Insider, The E! Network, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, VH-1, WGN super station, and the Fox Network, and over 600 video commercial outlets around the country.
The group has starred in three nationally syndicated television specials: "40th Anniversary of Rock 'n Roll," "Magic Moments" and "A Street Carol." They were one of 350 groups in the past 50 years to be selected as a major feature in the Billboard Book of American Singing Groups. They also have performed a cameo recording on Rhino Records' sports music perennial, "Baseball's Greatest Hits."
Their children's series CD, "Doo-Wop & Lollipops," has won numerous awards, including the Parent's Choice Gold Award and the Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award. The newest release from the group is titled "Voice Activated - The standard in a cappella."
The group is truly part of music history. Founding member Henry Farag wrote "The Signal," a highly reviewed book published by Indiana University Northwest, detailing the doo-wop sound. The book was profiled on E! True Hollywood Story and VH-1. Voice of America has broadcast the group in a live, in-studio concert to the world, with an estimated audience of 200 million.
The group is the only a cappella group to bring doo-wop to the world stage. They appeared at the 100th Olympiad and entertained U.S. troops in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sarajevo and the Balkans, and performed on street corners of Vienna and Amsterdam.
Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call (630) 844-4924, e-mail artsandideas@aurora.edu, or visit aurora.edu/artsandideas.