17th Avenue Allstars cover songs from 50s doo-wop to today
The 17th Avenue Allstars have been trendsetters in a cappella musical performance for more than two decades. From their earliest gigs in 1989, standing by a jukebox at Acappella’s restaurant in downtown Denver, winning the national Harmony Sweepstakes, to twice being named the official anthem singers for the Denver Broncos in 2005 and 2006, they are consistent favorites on the vocal harmony scene.
The group will perform a free concert at Colorado Mountain College in Rifle, 3695 Airport Road, at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26. The concert is sponsored by Chevron and CMC, with post-concert catering donated by Grand River Health.
The 17th Avenue Allstars span a wide variety of musical styles. Their shows cover a wide musical spectrum, from the 1950s to today, with selections from doo-wop, R&B and pop music.
“We have a unique way to present music,” said Norm Silver, the group’s founder and bass vocalist. “We voice instruments, such as ‘vocal drums.’ You would swear that there’s a whole orchestra behind us. There’s always kind of a ‘wow’ factor.”
The Harmony Sweepstakes, the premier competition for vocal harmony, once referred to the group as “bright stars of contemporary a cappella.” They were three-time regional winners and won the national title in 1993.
Silver is joined by the group’s four other singers: baritone Barry Brown, percussionist Paul Lannon, alto and soprano Sarah Lippa and tenor Tim Rosendo.
Silver said the addition of Lannon about three years ago helped “changed the sound of our music.”
“When we started, we did the hand slaps and claps you find in a cappella music,” Silver said. “But having Paul has helped us sound like a full band.”
The Allstars have sung at the Aspen and Winter Park Jazz Festivals and the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, and are frequent performers in Vail. They have opened concerts for many performers, including the Nylons, Dave Mason, the Temptations and B.B. King.
Recent concerts have included songs by The Four Seasons, he noted, with a nod to the popularity of the movie, “Jersey Boys.”
For more information about the Sept. 26 concert in Rifle, call CMC ArtShare at 947-8367. For more about the 17th Avenue Allstars, go to 17thavenueallstars.com.