AC Rock brings a cappella covers, music education to schools

With their hands held high and clapping to the music, the students rocked the gym as they joined the harmonizing singers in the melody "Down on the Corner."

The AC Rock singing group entertained school children at Copeland Manor School in Libertyville recently with their a cappella versions of rock 'n roll favorites, such as "Rockin' Me Baby," "Some Kind of Wonderful," and the Elvis Presley hit, "Don't Be Cruel."

It wasn't all fun and games, though. In between songs, the singers also try to educate the children about basic musical vocabulary and terms. For example, "a cappella" is an Italian term meaning "singing without musical instruments."

The group consists of Paul Iams of Wilmette; Gary DeVar of Woodstock; Chris Brown of Naperville; and Mark McLean of Willow Springs.

The group got its start 17 years ago after the members sang together Christmas caroling. Since then, they have performed around 100 shows a year at schools all around the state.

"We perform songs that children are familiar with, such as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which has been in several Disney movies," said Iams. "And songs that they can relate to, like 'Peanut Butter.' "

The show was a hit at Copeland Manor.

Nine-year-old Elaina Paul said, "I really liked the show. I liked the music and how they played it and how they entertained all the stuff that they did, like how they used the mask of Elvis. I was clapping and snapping."