This expansive vocal group formation was pieced together under the aegis of Sean Altman (tenor), Elliott Kerman (baritone), Steve Keyes (high tenor) and David Stix (bass) while students at Brown University in New York, USA, in 1986. Line-up changes in the next four years saw Stix replaced by Charlie Evett and then Barry Carl, a graduate of Juilliard from the New York City Opera, and Charles Scott Leonard IV taking Keyes' place. The group's sound includes strains of classic doo-wop, contemporary pop and traditional barbershop quartet standards, plus more humorous originals. They quickly became popular in upper market night-clubs through their highly effective parodies and impersonations of artists of the day (everyone from Elvis Presley onwards), eventually leading to engagements at the Comic Strip comedy club run by Lucien Hold. With full-blown dance choreography and a repertoire that spanned several decades' worth of popular music, they were invited to perform on film director Spike Lee's Do It A Cappella television show alongside the Persuasions, True Image and Take 6. They were also chosen to be the house band on the PBS series Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, providing them with extensive media coverage during the shows run from 1991 to 1996. During this period, in 1993, vocal percussionist Jeffrey Thomas Thacher was incorporated into the line-up. The group's debut album was released on the Japanese For Life label, promoted by a self-composed single, "Zombee Jamboree". Their huge popularity in Japan is somewhat at odds with their standing in their native country, and it was not until 1995 that the group released an album (Primer) in America. However, they attained a higher profile with a series of releases for the J-Bird label. Kevin Randall Wright came in for founder member Altman in 1997, and George Baldi replaced Carl in July 2002.

Listen to Rockapella at Finetune.

• (1999)  Don't Tell Me You Do

• Zombie Jamboree
• Hold Out for Christmas
• So Much Better
• I Am Your Man
• Moments of You

• The Manhattan Transfer
• Take 6
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• Gaither Vocal Band
• The Nylons
• Sweet Honey In The Rock
• Glad
• The Persuasions
• Billy Joel
• The Cathedrals
• Mint Juleps
• True Image
• Gene Miller
• Simon & Garfunkel
• Various A Cappella Artists
• Paul Simon
• New York Voices
• The Ramones
• Rod Stewart
• Beastie Boys

• PJX
• Swatch
• pahenman
• rockmagic
• ckcheng
• maganas07
• GRIESCH73
• Mc7
• figjunk
• WildWindwolf
• stretch_
• gashog
• stygianangel
• burui_tk
• icepigs
• bluemans
• Marco120
• erandidj
• yanfire
• jeepjunkie
• jsyd2003
• harrington5