~ North Shore Acappella ~
For the last 19 years, five voices known as North Shore Acappella have
entertained and excited thousands of listeners throughout the Boston area,
adding an experienced blend of harmony, rhythm and tempo to songs from the
50's right up through the 90's. The voices belong to Guy Chiapponi,
Bob Crowley, Paul Lopes, Jimmy Martin, and Vinny Straccia.
This special art of delivering music without instrumental accompaniment
is what North Shore Acappella is all about. The award-winning group
offers a continuously fresh repertoire of hundreds of popular hits that
cover the last four decades. Each number and each performance is
arranged in a way that showcases each member in a role of lead singer
-- a trait that very few acappella groups in the country can claim.
North Shore Acappella attributes their success to the harmonious
working relationship the five have, and due to the fact that their
music appeals to people from a wide range of age groups, musical
tastes and backgrounds.
The popular group has appeared as the opening act for The Temptations,
The Platters, Ben E. King, Johnny Maestro, Al Jarreau, Roberta Flack,
Frankie Vallie, and Gene Pitney. In 1991 North Shore Acappella won
The National Harmony Sweepstakes in San Rafael, California, defeating
six other finalists from across the country.
North Shore Acappella's commercial advertising experience ranges from
radio and television voice-overs for T.J. Maxx to a variety of corporate
public relations assignments, including the New York Stock Exchange.
North Shore Acappella has led entertainment efforts for major fund
raising events, including the American Red Cross Mass Bay Chapter
Food Relief Campaign, Massachusetts Special Olympics, and the
Crispus Attucks Children's Center.
~ North Shore Acappella Biographies ~
Guy Chiapponi spent his musical youth in Hartford, Connecticut, where
heavily influenced by the West Coast sound of the Ventures, he began
playing bass and trumpet. In the late 1960's, seeking fortune and fame,
Guy packed his belongings and followed his thumb to Boston. After a few
musical ventures of his own, including two popular bands called
The Prophets and Breakaway, Guy along with Bobby and Vinny, joined
North Shore Acappella at the groups inception. Guy, first tenor of
the group, contributes his dynamic range and signature falsetto to such
classics as "Ooh Baby, Baby" and "Why Do Fools Fall in
Love?"
Paul Lopes - Hailing originally from Rhode Island.
Paul began
his musical career as a drummer for both pop and show bands. A
quick-witted second tenor who prefers playing to large crowds, Paul is
the groups self proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, a title that includes
the rolls of emcee and sound engineer. In fact, even Paul's drumming
experience comes into play in the O'Jay's "Casanova", in which he
"sings"
a complex percussion track throughout the song.
Jimmy Martin - The group's youngest and newest member, Jimmy was
born in Lynn. His vocal career was inspired by listening to his father's
old records. "I fell in love with voices singing harmony the first time
I heard them!" Imitating such singers as Jackie Wilson, Tony Williams of
The Platters, The Drifters and The Temptations has given Jimmy a solid
foundation of his own style. Jimmy sang with the rhythm and blues band
"World Premier" along with other groups. Jimmy feels that joining
North
Shore Acappella will give him the chance to elevate his creativity and
talent to new heights.
Vinny Straccia grew up in Boston's colorful North End where his
love for singing came from listening to records his father would bring home.
Vinny sang with his school choir and was also influenced by listening to
an older neighborhood group called "The Delphonics" singing harmony.
Vinny
"borrowed" the Delphonics name and started his own "street
corner" group.
He first sang professionally with Bobby Crowley in the four man soul group
The Betterway. In the 1970's Vinny and Bobby formed Breakaway, which quickly
became one of New Englands premier disco show bands. In 1980 Vinny's
baritone became one of the original voices of North Shore Acappella.
Bobby Crowley's singing career began in his early
teens on the street
corners of Malden, and later with The Durrays, a neighborhood group he formed.
The Durrays performed for local school dances. Bobby's professional career
began in 1969 with the group The Betterway. Shortly after The Betterway's
inception, Vinny joined the group. In the mid-70's Bobby and Vinny created a
four man singing group called "Breakaway." In 1980 Bobby, Vinny and
Guy met
again to become part of North Shore Acappella, and Bobby's bass singing career
began. Bobby's biggest influence was Melvin Franklin and The Temptations.
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