| Tonic Sol-fa: Biography
Although they are simply four voices and a tambourine, Tonic Sol-fa has
spent the past decade on the road carving their niche as the nation's top
vocal group. In that time, this quartet has been named one of the top five
"must see" groups in America, has been awarded numerous original song and
album awards in pop, gospel and holiday genres, appeared on NBC's Today
Show and in the pages of Newsweek magazine. Outings with Jay Leno, Shawn
Colvin, Lonestar and Garrison Keillor have propelled album sales to more than
1,000,000 copies (mostly sold from the back of their trailer!) and have earned
the group thousands of intensely loyal fans.
By 2000, the quartet was voted into the Midwest Music Hall of Fame. In
2002, Tonic Sol-fa averaged over 150 shows annually in 48 states. 2005
brought the group's music to radio stations and retail stores nationwide. And
in 2006, Tonic Sol-fa's first public television Christmas special was broadcast
to over 1,800 stations across the United States, with an international launch
to begin this year.
The New York Times describes Tonic Sol-fa's sound as "A vocal
kaleidoscope...unique to the human voice." Improvisational and passionate
music combined with cutting-edge stage presence is the benchmark by which
critics and fans agree: nobody does it like Tonic Sol-fa.
Tonic Sol-fa
TSF performs approximately 150 concerts each year across 48 states to a combined audience of 250,000+.
The guys have released 5 CDS, sold 1,000,000+ albums independently, and have toured nationally and internationally for 12 years.
Tonic Sol-fa produces an annual, sold-out 20-city holiday tour in the Midwest as well as spring and summer concert tours throughout the country.
National appearances have included: Newsweek, NBC's Today Show, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor, Steve & DC (nationally syndicated radio show) and many others.
Corporate collaborations have included: Bose, Schwan's, General Mills, Tastefully Simple, Herberger's and Wenger Corporation.
Tonic Sol-fa's own public television holiday special will air from 2006 to 2010 across the U.S.
Philanthropic efforts include contributions to breast cancer research for every pre-ordered copy of "Boston to Beijing," radio drive appearances for Gillette Children's Hospital, Music in Our Schools Fundraisers and Classes, American Red Cross Disaster Relief, and numerous other charities as noted on PlasticSanta.org, the non-profit arm of Tonic Sol-fa.
Tonic Sol-fa has shared the stage with Shawn Colvin, Jeff Foxworthy, Lonestar, Montgomery Gentry, Weird Al Yankovic, Garrison Keillor, Bryan White, Neal McCoy, Nestor Torres, Bobcat Goldthwait and Jerry Springer among others.
Tonic Sol-fa's original songs, arrangements, and albums have won numerous contemporary a cappella awards, have been featured on television and in movies, and have garnered positive national reviews.
TSF's original holiday song "Sno" was included on the "12 Dogs of Christmas" (the most popular Christmas video sold at Wal-Mart in 2005).
National corporate event appearances have included: Jostens, Tastefully Simple, Thrivent Financial, LifeTouch, 3M, Wal-Mart, and hundreds of others.
The guys have performed the Star Spangled Banner for national Republican and Democratic events, former presidents, the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Bears, NY Mets, the National 4th of July Celebration at Mount Rushmore, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx and Saint Paul Saints games, to name a few.
They were voted NACA's (National Association for Campus Activities) Contemporary Artist of the Year and nominated multiple times for NACA's Entertainer of the Year (most popular group in America on the college circuit).
TSF was inducted into the Midwest Music Hall of Fame in 1997.
Tonic Sol-fa was voted by Campus Activities Magazine as "One of the top five 'MUST SEE' groups in America."
The New York Times described Tonic Sol-fa's sound as "A vocal kaleidoscope…unique to the human voice."
Interview with Tonic Sol-fa members
Q: How would you describe your stage presence/persona?
Shaun: Hmmmm....a confident player in the cast?
Q: Why do you do what you do for a living?
Shaun: I read that most people have a job, a few find a career, and an even
smaller segment are lucky enough to pursue a passion. This passion, not
necessarily for a cappella but for music's adaptations in general, is why I
think we all put up with distance and long hours.
Q: What strengths do you bring to the group?
Shaun: I think one would have to ask the other guys, but perhaps not taking "no"
for an answer and the ability to never stop.
Q: What is your defining quote, or statement that would define who you are, or
that helps people know you better?
Shaun: Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance (Confucius)
Q: What is your favorite movie quote?
Shaun: I couldn't quote a movie if I tried...and if I would try, Greg or Jared's
encyclopedic knowledge of movie making history lets me know what the actual
quote should be.
Q: What do you do on your day off?
Shaun: I wouldn't even know where to begin on this question....
Q: How would you describe your stage presence/persona?
Greg: I would say most people perceive me to be the suave, well put together
member of the group. Yeah. That's it. I believe that I am the one who can be
counted on to do or say something off the wall that will hopefully make the
audience (as well as the other guys) chuckle. It's basically just who I am (on a
good day) after 10 cans of Red Bull.
Q What is the history of Plastic Santa, and why is he important to Tonic Sol-fa?
Greg: Plastic Santa started out at one of our very first holiday shows. I just
happened to see a plastic Santa Claus lawn ornament backstage during one of our
songs and thought "Hey, I could do something funny with that!" As it turns out,
we found our own Plastic Santa and in the following shows, (as well as the
following years of shows), continued to find ways to incorporate him. Whether an
audience member likes him or not, he seems to have become a mainstay of our
Christmas tours, and is also the public face of our own charitable
foundation-Plastic Santa.org.
Q: What are some interesting things about your background that people might be
surprised to hear?
Greg: Well let's see, the not so interesting and more predictable things about
my background were the many plays, musicals, musical groups etc. I was part of
growing up in Sioux Falls, SD. I also played soccer, football, basketball and
powerlifting and such, and was very busy hanging out with friends and of course
being very, very studious.
Q: Why do you do what you do for a living?
Greg: I'm doing it! I love singing, arranging, songwriting and being a goofball
on stage, and guess what, here I am!
Q: What strengths do you bring to the group?
Greg: I believe my strengths are similar to what I wrote above as well as I'm a
facilitator, so I'm told.
Q: What is your defining quote, or statement that would define who you are, or
that helps people know you better?
Greg: "I love cookies!"
Q: What is your favorite movie quote?
Greg: "You know it!"
Q: What do you do on your day off?
Greg: Hang out with my family!
Q: How would you describe your stage presence/persona?
Mark: Ever evolving. In the beginning I was kind of hyper and probably a little
annoying. Over the years, I have toned it down but still have moments of
ridiculous insanity. Who knows what's to come.
Q: What are some interesting things about your background that people might be
surprised to hear?
Mark: I studied voice in college and was planning to pursue a career as an Opera
singer before we formed Tonic Sol-fa. Upon graduating from college, I was
employed simultaneously as a stock boy/sales associate for a music store, a
grunt for a convention services company and a baritone for a struggling a
cappella group.
Q: Why do you do what you do for a living?
Mark: I love good a cappella music! After hearing the Nylons and Take 6 in high
school, I was hooked. I dreamed of being a part of a successful vocal group but
never imagined at the time that it would come true.
Q: What strengths do you bring to the group?
Mark: I'm an above average techie and a relentless roadie. I love to delve into
new software (audio, video, accounting and otherwise) and find creative ways to
use the technology to our benefit. I also enjoy solving technical problems that
arise on and off the road. And, I don't mind schlepping gear when necessary.
Q: What is your defining quote, or statement that would define who you are, or
that helps people know you better?
Mark: I bring a fair share to the table, but often think of a quote I heard
somewhere along the way, “In order to improve and succeed, you must surround
yourself with individuals who are smarter, better, faster, stronger and wiser
than yourself.” I'm the guy in the middle.
Q: What is your favorite movie quote?
Mark: Any one-liner delivered by Nicolas Cage.
Q: What do you do on your day off?
Mark: Take my family to the park, the zoo, an ice rink, the pool, a museum, the
movies or just simply relax at home.
Q: How would you describe your stage presence/persona?
Jared: My stage presence is generally a little more calm and collected. While
things tend to get a bit silly at times on stage, I manage to provide sarcasm
and overall aloofness to achieve the necessary balance.
Q :What are some interesting things about your background that people might be
surprised to hear?
Jared: People may (or may not) be surprised to know that during my freshman year
of college, I was advised to change my major (by my voice teacher), from music
performance to music education, which I did. Needless to say, I was a late
bloomer. In his defense, the vocal department was highly focused on classical
music and opera...yeah, that didn't quite work out for me.
Q: Why do you do what you do for a living?
Jared: I grew up around manual labor, and didn't appreciate it as much as I
should have. Consequently, I used my musical interest to put me in a less
physical line of work. Now I push heavy equipment and jump around on stage. Go
figure.
Q: What strengths do you bring to the group?
Jared: The ability to finish most of the foods in the green room. Oh, and I can
sing lower than the other guys.
Q: What is your defining quote, or statement that would define who you are, or
that helps people know you better?
Jared: "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
Q: What is your favorite movie quote?
Jared: "Well, Columbus wasn't looking for America, my man, but that turned out
to be pretty okay for everyone."
Q: What do you do on your day off?
Jared: Playing human jungle-gym to my kids, chores, watch t.v., sleep, read,
etc. Not necessarily in that order.
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