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Kiss From A Rose Requested

My name is Trevor Hodson and I'm a member of a student-led all-male high school a capella group called Y-Chromatones in Portland, Oregon. We're holding an all-profits go to charity a capella competition this spring. We recognize that your group is probably too busy to come and be judges but we listened to your edition of Kissed from a Rose by Seal and it was absolutely amazing, we are wondering if there's any way we could get a copy of your arrangement to perform at our Charity competition. Thanks.

Trevor Hodson
Y-Chromatones

Hey, Trevor –
We're happy to send you a copy of our arrangement and a request: When you sing it, could you make a recording or a video for us? We'd love to hear the Y-Chromatones singing our chart.

Who's The Favorite Ac•Rock Guy?

Hi Paul,
Thanks for another fantastic show yesterday at Hoover-Wood School in Batavia! I see the pictures are already up on your website.

After the show, my afternoon kindergartners, who are all English Language Learners, voted on their favorite ACRock guy. So I'm attaching a picture to show you the results. The kids are holding a colored cube to represent their choices. (One boy's cube is sort of hidden, but I'm sure he voted for the red guy!)

On Tuesday I'm going to use your CD's to encourage some fine end-of-year writing. The more they write, the longer they will get to listen to rock-and-roll.

Thanks again for the performance,

Ginny Justiniano
Hoover-Wood Kindergarten

A Request from the West

I am the choir teacher at Wilson HS in Tacoma, WA and one of my students in Jazz Choir just played one of your group's cds for me and I was totally blown away, you are all beyond fabulous! Thank you for making some great music! Here is my question for you.... I have the most incredible men's section in my jazz choir who listened to your arrangement of "Carry On My Wayward Son" and they want to perform this song. Is there any chance I could get a copy of your arrangement?

Wendy Shepherd, Choral Director
Wilson High School, Tacoma, WA

Hey, Wendy!
We've sent you a copy of our chart and hope you'll send us a recording of your guys' performance!

Thanks for writing. It's always great to hear from people who like our CDs! It's hard to believe that we recorded URWhatUR some 15 years ago!

A Letter from College

Hey Guys!

I first heard of your group when I was a 6th or 7th grader at Kankakee Valley High School and my choir director, Mr. Darnell, had you guys come do a concert for the school at night. It was so cool. Then you guys came back my senior year and sang with our choir (which was even cooler!) and did another performance during the school day. I am now a junior in college and occasionally bop over to the website to see what's new. I was so excited when I saw you guys had made another CD and had to buy it immediately. My friends (most of whom are either music majors or theatre majors and had never heard of you before) think you guys are awesome -- and that's only having heard your CDs and never seeing you perform live. I just wanted to give you guys a big thumbs up from all of us and a big THANK YOU for your contributions to the music world and also for your spirit and enthusiasm for what you do. Just from talking with you guys my senior year of high school I came away with a deeper appreciation for music than my choir director had already given me and also I saw that even though it takes hard work and effort to do what you do, singing or making music of any sort is so worth the hard work. And any struggles and frustrations that may come from that are worth overcoming to continue on with the music... And you've got to have fun, you have to bring that spirit and passion and enthusiasm to your audience. I have carried that with me throughout college with my voice lessons and auditions for musicals and feeling like pounding my head into a music stand because I just wasn't getting it yet but then when I DID get it, it was so worth it. Thank you for helping Mr. Darnell drive that point home for me my senior year. You guys ROCK! Sing your hearts out!

Theresa

Ac•Rock Puts Her To Sleep!

I've been meaning to write you for months now to thank you for Ac-Rock's undeniable ability to calm our baby Samantha in the car! I guess it all started when the kids made regular requests for Out of the Box. It quickly became a staple, and since I'm always in the car with Mathew (now 8) and Bethany (5) that's all we listened to. When Samantha was born and she was in the car for one of the first times, she started to fuss. I thought about music, and tried the radio. No good. She still fussed. I tried Ac-Rock, and the SECOND the vocals started she was silent. I thought that was really cool, I was relieved that she calmed down and didn't think much about it after that. The next time she fussed in the car, the same thing happened. In fact, a friend of mine was with me and I said, "Listen to this".....I put on the CD and again, she was instantly soothed!! Then it hit me : What had I listened to in the car throughout my pregnancy with her? Obviously, Ac-Rock. :o) She is very responsive to music, but of course is most affected by Ac-Rock. Now, (she's 9 months) she sings along with the vocals she can match (do-do, di-di, ba-ba, da-da, you get the idea). And still when she's tired, she's quickly mesmerized by the music and nods off to sleep. Now, I know what you're thinking. Hmm, she falls asleep to our music? No, she's far from bored, and I think this is clearly the highest compliment a tiny fan could give you. Oh, and she won't go for ANY other kind of music at all, at any time. Of course her favorites are on the Out of the Box CD, but she also likes the others also.

Sally Tantilla

My 9 yr. old daughter just recently got to see you - loved the concert - and came back with the Guaranteed To Satisfy CD. When I went to pick her up, she put the CD in my car's player and we had a great ride back to the house. She's trying to sing along with most every song, and asked if I could try to find the lyrics to the What's Your Name Rap. It took me awhile to realize that was a little diddy you guys came up with. Any chance of getting the words?

Thanks a lot and keep on pleasin!!

Ron Standridge

We love the Internet! Where else could someone ask such a direct question and get a quick, direct answer?

You are correct, of course: the What's Your Name Rap was written as an intro for the Don & Juan classic "What's Your Name". We tried to imagine how the song might be written differently if it were being written today and went from there. Here are our lyrics:

Hey, girl, what's your name? (What's your name?)
Don't you know I'm tired of playin' games? (What's your name?)
I seen you in your car, seen you on the train,
Seen you on the bus, always in my brain.
Ignorin' what I said, never turn your head,
Look away instead. (What's your name?)
Seems to me, instead of seein' me,
You always try to flee. Oh, girl, I'm on my knees.
(What's your name?)
Cold shoulder? Tryin' to be bolder,
I ain't stalkin', I'm only talkin'.
Doin' what I can, wanna' hold your hand,
Let me be your man, my name isn't Stan.
My nerves are shattered, my brain is battered,
My heart's in tatters, as if it matters,
Girl, What's Your Name?

A couple points of interest: the group answers (What's your name?) imitate the "wasn't me" refrain in Shaggy's hit "It Wasn't Me", while the sound of the pencil on the paper and the reference to Stan are a nod to Eminem for his song, "Stan".

The rap itself is performed over the bridge from the doo-wop version that follows.

Thanks for noticing our handiwork!

Pictures and Haiku from Ms. Gentry's Class

It was only a couple days after the release of Out Of The Box that we received a large manila envelope that read: "Room 105 says Congratulations. We love all of Out of the Box". The students are first graders at Kimball Hill Elementary in Rolling Meadows and sent drawings of our new CD and even haiku (Ms. Gentry is a big fan of poetry of all sorts) about our newest release! Here are a few samples of their work. Thanks, Room 105!

Letters From Librarians

What a way to kick off Reading Rocks: Summer Reading Program! The humor and enthusiasm your group displayed spilled over into the audience, creating a wave of snapping fingers, clapping hands, and even a little dancing in the corner. The music lingers on at the Circulation Desk where your CD's are now being played.

Your performance was so great that we are already receiving calls about when you will be performing again. No doubt, you will see Fountaindale Library patrons at some of your upcoming concerts, as we have already needed to check your website for dates.

Thank you for a super afternoon and for the gift of your CD's to our library collection. Your performance was an excellent and memorable way to begin Reading Rocks!

Rockin'ly yours,
Therese Rachal, Joyce Wegener, and Mary Buchanan
of the Fountaindale Public Libraries

Letters From Parents

My daughter and I really enjoyed your show at Kimball Hill School... It is such a delight to see the smiles you put on the children's faces with your entertainment. The pictures you took turned out great and I am sure everyone enjoyed seeing their teachers and friends on your web site. We are really looking forward to your upcoming summer performances.

Jill and Lisa

Letters From Students

Dear AcRock,

I really enjoyed your show. It was really good. Especially how you made different sound effects. Plus, my favorite song is "Good Night Sweetheart" because when I was little, that used to be my lullaby when I went to sleep. Anyway, my mom really liked it so we plan to go to the library.

Cara

My name is Molly. First and foremost, I'd like to thank you for putting my picture on your website. Then, I'd like to thank you for performing at my school. I had a field trip that day, and honestly, your performance was better than the field trip. It was really great. Thank you again!

Hi, my name is Amy and I go to Stevenson High School. I saw you guys perform today. It was excellent!!! You guys are very talented and did a wonderful job. It was my favorite Odyssey experience. I just thought that I would come visit your site and find out more. Keep up the excellent work.

You rock. You were funny and very good at singing. After you told me that you had a web site I got home right away and clicked on my school and saw my pictures. I was the girl who Chris sang "Goodnight Sweetheart" to. I talked to everyone after the show and they said they liked you a lot. I love to sing. I guess you do, too.

Johnna

Thanks so much for coming to our school, Cary Junior High! Usually at our school assemblies, the students are bored! But as soon as you guys started singing, we knew we liked it! It was hilarious when you got all the teachers and students involved in the singing. Also, we enjoyed the part where you hugged one of our teachers!!! Thanks so much for spending your time with us, we really enjoyed it!!

Lauren

Hey guys! I'm Nicole, a student at Kankakee Valley High. The short one who shook your hand after you helped us work on our songs in Concert choir, remember me? Well, I just wanted to say you guys rule. Great attitudes, loads of confidence (which really adds a lot to your music) and just overall excellent performers. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

Letters From Musicians

...on New Year's Eve, you guys shared a gig with my swing band, The Rhythm Rockets, at First Night Aurora. I really dug your show, picked up a copy of UR What UR and thoroughly enjoyed it. I just picked up a copy of Acappellago and I wanted to take a moment and tell you and the guys that it is OUTSTANDING! I enjoyed the first album just fine, but this one absolutely kills me. The arrangements, the blend, the energy - everything is really tight. Being somewhat of an a cappella buff, I admire the fact that you guys pack so much excitement into every track without excessive amounts of overdubbing. I like the stylistic variety that the album offers and the versatility with which you execute the styles.

Andy Blanco

Letter From A Long Time Fan

I think you guys are really great. You came and sang at my high school a couple of years ago, and I found out just this evening that you sang at the grade school where my mother works, Woodview Elementary, just today. It was really amazing to have seen you guys so long ago, and to have you suddenly pop up again.

The kids at the school, both the high school years ago and the grade school today, really enjoyed your music. Some of the teachers may have felt a little dated because they knew all of the words to all of the songs, but you know what?? All the kids knew the words too!!! Amazing how timeless music can be, isn't it?

I'm in college now so I'm not around home much, but since I've heard from my mom that you're going to be at Avon School tomorrow, I may just stop in. So if you see a college girl standing in the back, that's probably me. I bought the first CD you guys put out at the concert years ago, and later I ordered your second CD off the Internet. I also still have the autographed picture of the four of you I got at that first concert. Up at school, I'll play it and have random people I don't know stopping by to let me know what great taste in music I have.

Good luck with the show tomorrow, and good luck in all your future endeavors.

Beth Teschner

Letter From A Teacher

We just heard one of your performances at Meadowview Elementary (the really nice, new school). We loved your concert!! The kids have been singing the songs all day. We immediately checked out your website and downloaded some tunes. You guys are GREAT!! Thanks from Mrs. Wylie's class (Mrs. Wylie too! She loved being sung to!)

My students at Meadowview just enjoyed your concert so much. It was the best entertainment ever. They kept singing certain phrases of your songs almost all day and had lots of comments after your show. I come from a musically talented family, and I really appreciated your harmonies very much. I also enjoy singing a cappella myself. My love for music is strong and I believe in sharing it with my students. We try to sing songs every day in class.

Well, we will tell our PTO that you were the best group of the year. Thanks so much for sharing your music with us. Enjoy singing and keep songs in your heart.

Ann

...And Parents

I am a Mom who came to see the AC Rock (loud Kaboom!) concert today. You all did a fantastic job. It was great to see a program where the kids and teachers had such a great time. We also enjoyed the website. Too cool! Thanks for sharing your time, talent, and love of some great old music with today's kids. P.S. Are you guys one of the original "boy Bands"?

Jonathan and Lindsey want to tell you they loved your show at Woods Creek school. It was so much fun!!!!! We even bought your CD's and have listened to them every chance we get. I think my mom can sing the songs in her sleep by now! We hope to be able to see you again sometime soon!

Jonathan & Lindsey

My daughter Elizabeth and I had a great time during your concert at Woods Creek School on Friday night. She was amazed at how many songs I knew. Our children have a knack for making us feel old. Maybe I should just speak for myself. You guys were really great. Thanks for a great concert.

Judy Zelz

This was my first exposure to AcRock, but unless you do something foolish, like disband, I expect it not to be my last! In my past perusals of Primarily and/or Mainly A Cappella catalogues, I have been tempted to pick up one of your CDs, liking to support local groups. On Saturday, I bought Acappellago. I am listening to it for the second time this morning and it's fantastic. Your arrangements are great and Kiss From A Rose is truly brilliant. You've made a fan for life. I hope to see you all many more times and good luck in all your endeavors.

Elaine Cullet

Grandparents Write, Too

We just came home from watching your performance at our grandson's school out here in McHenry. I had to write and tell you once again how much we enjoyed your show. We got both your CD's (thanks for autographing one) and will probably be ordering more to send to our granddaughters in New York. We hope to get to see you again!

Tony Lytner
(Tony is the grandpa with the broken ankle!)