Metro Vocal Group

Metro Vocal Group

Metro Vocal Group live in Hong Kong, 2014
Background information
Origin Ohio, Nebraska, Kentucky, Iowa, USA
Genres A cappella
Years active 1998–present
Website www.metrovocalgroup.com

Metro Vocal Group is an American a cappella group based in Hong Kong. Metro’s repertoire is a mix of traditional music fused with rock and pop as well as covers of popular songs worldwide. In an a cappella fashion, Metro uses their voices to imitate percussion, trumpets, guitars and miscellaneous sound effects as well full melodies with harmony. Metro is best remembered for their music video covering "Boundless Ocean, Vast Skies" (海闊天空),[1] a song made famous by Hong Kong rock group Beyond, and their cover of Joey Yung's "My Pride" (我的驕傲). The group has since received over 12 million views worldwide on video sharing websites like YouTube and Youku.[2][3] Since that time, Metro has released two albums, Music for a Metropolis and No Borders, an all Chinese album,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and has received acclaim throughout Greater China.[11][12]

History

Celebrity Cruises (1998-2002)

The group was originally formed in 1998 by Eric Monson. Eric was asked to form an a cappella quartet by a Nashville-based talent agency to provide entertainment for a six-month contract aboard Celebrity Cruises cruiseships. Eric contacted Sean Oliver, Michael Lance and Chris Riggins to form the original ensemble. The group’s first name was Four Score and their initial repertoire was mostly Barbershop and Doo-wop music. Their first contract was aboard Celebrity Cruises Mercury. After finishing the Mercury contract, Metro signed an additional contract aboard Celebrity Cruises Century for its inaugural European cruise. In 2000, the group was asked to be a part of the opening crew for the inaugural voyage of Celebrity Cruises Millennium. It was on board the Millennium where the group would find a distinct sound, adopting more of a pop rock genre, and rename themselves Metro Vocal Group. Shortly thereafter, Metro Vocal Group was hired as part of the opening crew for the Celebrity Cruises Summit's inaugural voyage.

Disney (2002-2007)

In 2002, after a successful four-year contract with Celebrity Cruises, Metro Vocal Group was hired to perform at Tokyo Disney Resort in Maihama, Japan. While in Tokyo, they performed as the Dockside Porters at the American Waterfront of Tokyo Disney Sea and performed mostly barbershop arrangements. After three years in Tokyo, Metro was asked to open the new Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005. Continuing with a Barbershop sound, Metro entertained as the Dapper Dans on Main Street, USA.

Hong Kong (2007-present)

Metro performing in Pingtung, Taiwan, 2015.

In 2007, after two years performing at Hong Kong Disneyland, Metro continued their residency in Hong Kong and now performs throughout Asia. They have appeared on China’s Got Talent,[13] Day Day Up,[14] RTHK,[15] CCTV,[16][17] Beijing TV[18] as well as celebrity appearances on several televised programs in greater China.[19][20] Metro has also collaborated with many different artists including Ng Yip Kwan,[21][22][23][24][25] G.E.M.[26] and Hacken Lee and has been featured in several albums such as the gospel collaboration WAO "We Are One"[27] and also with Wendy Zheng on her single "Miracle Love." Metro Vocal Group now holds tours throughout Korea, China and Taiwan.[28][29][30][31]

Members

Current members
  • Kevin Thornton - Tenor/Lead/Vocal Percussion (2008–present)
  • Sean Oliver - Tenor/Lead (1998-2003, 2004–present)
  • Eric Monson - Baritone/Tenor (1998–present)
  • Michael Lance - Bass/Vocal Percussion (1998-2003, 2010–present)
Former members
  • Marcus Kroese- Tenor (2004-2007)
  • Cody Jorgensen - Bass/Vocal Percussion (2004-2010)
  • Christopher Coffee - Lead (2003-2004)
  • Joel Diffendaffer - Bass (2003-2004)
  • Reggie Mobley - Tenor (2002-2004)
  • Del Coy - Tenor/Lead (2001-2002)
  • Chris Riggins - Tenor/Lead (1998-2000)

Discography

Year Album Members
1999 Easy Street Sean Oliver, Chris Riggins, Eric Monson, Michael Lance
2002 Metro Del Coy, Sean Oliver, Eric Monson, Michael Lance
2008 Beginnings Kevin Thornton, Sean Oliver, Eric Monson, Cody Jorgensen
2010 Music for a Metropolis Kevin Thornton, Sean Oliver, Eric Monson, Cody Jorgensen
2012 No Borders Kevin Thornton, Sean Oliver, Eric Monson, Michael Lance

References

  1. ↑ "元氣堂無伴奏唱廣東歌鬼佬正過你". hk.apple.nextmedia.com (29 November 2012). Apple Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Zhang, Lilly. "American Metro Vocal Group makes splash with Canto-pop covers". www.scmp.com (15 August 2012). South China Morning Post. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  3. ↑ Chen, Junqiang. "樂隊翻唱海闊天空爆紅". hk.apple.nextmedia.com (06 June 2013). Apple Daily. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Metro讚香港靚女多". the-sun.on.cc (16 May 2012). The Sun Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Metro讚許穎人靚聲甜". orientaldaily.on.cc (16 May 2012). Oriental Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Liang, Jingyi. "美國樂隊Metro唱廣東歌 嘆難發音". paper.wenweipo.com (16 May 2012). Wenweipo. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Lin, Yun. "老外組合Metro 唱". ent.sina.com.hk (16 May 2012). Sina. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  8. ↑ "美國組合Metro唱". mediachinese.com (16 May 2012). Media Chinese. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Zhangyin, Zhi. "MVG大讚香港靚女多". news.singtao.ca (16 May 2012). Singtao Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "我哋係Metro". issuu.com (15 May 2012). Respect Music Magazine. p. 16. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  11. ↑ "本地臥虎藏龍Metro遊走城市間". paper.wenweipo.com (29 May 2015). Wenweipo. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  12. ↑ "美國阿卡貝拉天團-美聲饗宴慶中秋". youtube.com (05 September 2015). Art TV Taiwan. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  13. ↑ 中国达人秀. www.daren.dragontv.cn (January 19, 2014). Retrieved on December 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ 天天向上. www.hunantv.com (January 14, 2011). Retrieved on December 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Steve Vines – Hong Kong and Asia issues / Metro – Vocal Group". rthk.hk (21 May 2015). Phil Whelan. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  16. ↑ CCTV New Year's Gala. tv.cntv.cn (September 14, 2014). Retrieved on December 1, 2015.
  17. ↑ CCTV Chinese Internet Gala. wichunwan.cntv.cn (February 11, 2015). Retrieved on December 1, 2015.
  18. ↑ Beijing TV Spring Festival Global Gala. tv.brtn.cn (February 17, 2015). Retrieved on December 1, 2015.
  19. ↑ "組合Metro Vocal Group來港 許穎夜蒲偷師唱兩嘴". orientaldaily.on.cc (14 May 2012). Oriental Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  20. ↑ "Phoebe客串拳手搖暈老外". the-sun.on.cc (14 May 2012). The Sun Daily. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  21. ↑ "吳業坤：望十月底有機會在Star Hall舉行個唱". news.takungpao.com.hk (9 March 2016). Takung Pao. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "有意十月開騷　坤坤恨邀盧廣仲做嘉賓". hk.on.cc (9 March 2016). on.cc. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  23. ↑ "坤哥誓用「純人聲」聽出觀眾耳油". a1c1.com.hk. a1c1. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  24. ↑ 袁, 曉君. "坤哥計劃年底開個唱　欲邀請盧廣仲任嘉賓". hk01.com (9 March 2016). hk01. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  25. ↑ "坤哥10月處男騷想邀偶像盧廣仲". hd.stheadline.com (9 March 2016). stHeadline. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  26. ↑ Zhang, Lilly. "American Metro Vocal Group makes splash with Canto-pop covers". www.scmp.com (15 August 2012). South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  27. ↑ Liu, Zhigang (December 2013), "訪問 WeAre One 台前幕後", HiFi Review, pp. 58–59, retrieved 14 March 2016
  28. ↑ Huang, Yuding. "美國阿卡貝拉天團美聲饗宴　將到葫蘆墩慶中秋". taiwanhot.net (4 September 2014). Taiwan Hot. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  29. ↑ Liangzhen, Kun. "美國Metro無伴奏人聲樂團 環球科大開唱". lihpao.com (23 April 2015). Lih Pao. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  30. ↑ "Beyond歌曲暴紅Metro10日來台開唱". ent.ltn.com.tw (06 May 2013). Liberty Times Net. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  31. ↑ Lin, Yuwen. "美國不插電樂團 達德商工宣導愛地球". chinatimes.com (22 April 2015). China Times. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

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