Overboard is a male
a cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group based in Boston, MA. The group's repertoire consists of a cappella covers of popular contemporary pop/rock artists, such as
TrainTrain is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
, The Script, and
Rascal FlattsRascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
, and of a cappella standards, such as "
Blue Moon"Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley....
", "
In the Still of the Night"In the Still of the Night" is a song written by Fred Parris and recorded by his Five Satins.- Background :The song was recorded in the Saint Bernadette Catholic School basement in New Haven, CT in February, 1956. Marty Kugell produced the song. The saxophone solo was played by Vinny Mazzetta, of...
" and "
Stand by Me"Stand by Me" is the title of a song originally performed by Ben E. King and written by King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller, based on the spiritual "Lord Stand by Me,", plus two lines rooted in Psalms 46:2-3...
".
History
Founded by current director Nicholas Girard in the spring of 2006, Overboard was first conceived as a street performance group intent on entertaining audiences around coastal
New EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
during the summer months. The group's first album,
Shipwrecked, was released during that summer and was distributed during the group's frequent
buskingStreet performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
stops in
Newburyport, MassachusettsNewburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, 35 miles northeast of Boston. The population was 21,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island...
, Freeport, Maine and
Burlington, VermontBurlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, as well as around their hometown of Boston. On the heels of their successful first summer, the group decided to continue performing together on a more permanent basis.
In February 2007, Overboard began recording its second album,
Stranded, which was released that May. To promote the album, the group performed at a variety of venues throughout New England starting with their appearance at Eggstock, an annual environmental awareness festival held at Flamig Farm in
Simsbury, ConnecticutSimsbury is a suburban town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,234 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670.-Early history:...
where they sang the Beatles' "
Here Comes the Sun"Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. It is regarded as one of the most popular Beatles songs. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles...
" to commemorate the unveiling of the state's first commercial Solar Photovoltaic System. Then, in July, the group performed for audiences at the
Middlesex SchoolMiddlesex School is an independent secondary school for grades 9 - 12 located in Concord, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1901 by a Roxbury Latin School alumnus, Frederick Winsor, who headed the school until 1937. Winsor set up a National Scholarship Program for the school, the first of its kind...
Summer Arts Camp in
Concord, MassachusettsConcord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
and at Idol Camp, organized by the producers of
American IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and held on one of the campuses of the Northfield Mount Hermon School in
Northfield, MassachusettsNorthfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. On December 14, 2007, the group was selected as a top five finalist in the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Early Show A Cappella Quest competition hosted by
Boyz II MenBoyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
.
At the 2008 Boston regional
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella FestivalThe Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is an annual showcase and competition for a cappella groups of all vocal styles. The competition is organized into eight regional events across the United States, with each winning group advancing to the National Finals in San Rafael, California.-Festival...
held at
Tufts UniversityTufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, Overboard placed third. That spring, the group followed up their Harmony Sweepstakes participation with performances for a series of charitable organizations, including concerts for the Avon foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, the
American Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
Relay for LifeRelay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
and the opening ceremonies of
Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
of Massachusetts Summer Games.
Overboard's third album,
Castaways, a compilation of oldies and a cappella standards, was released in September 2008. Their fourth album,
Tidings, a collection of holiday songs, was released in November 2008. Tidings received a Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award (CARA) nomination for Best Holiday Album and won a CARA for Best Holiday Song ("We Three Kings"). In 2009, the track was chosen for
CASC: Christmas A Cappella Volume 1, an international holiday compilation album co-released by
CASAThe Contemporary A Cappella Society , or CASA, is a 501 charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was cofounded in 1991 by Deke Sharon by incorporating the first a cappella directory, The List, founded in 1988 & distributed...
and A Cappella Records.
Begun in the spring of 2009, Overboard’s fifth album,
Help!, was inspired by the release of the newly remastered
BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
repertoire and
Harmonix’sHarmonix Music Systems is an American video game development company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts in the United States...
The Beatles Rock BandThe Beatles: Rock Band is a 2009 music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series, in which players can simulate the playing of rock music by using...
music video game.
Help! was envisioned as a
rock operaA rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
/
concept albumIn music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, in a similar vein to
The Who'sThe Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
Tommy and
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's
The WallThe Wall is the eleventh studio album by English progressive rock group Pink Floyd. Released as a double album on 30 November 1979, it was subsequently performed live with elaborate theatrical effects, and adapted into a feature film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.As with the band's previous three...
. Through original arrangements, Overboard reinterpreted pieces of over forty Beatles songs and sounds in order to provide a soundtrack to the imagined backdrop of a tempestuous love affair between Billy Shears and
Eleanor Rigby"Eleanor Rigby" is a song by The Beatles, simultaneously released on the 1966 album Revolver and on a 45 rpm single. The song was written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney...
.
Overboard released
Help! in November 2009. Inspired by the success of
RadioheadRadiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's digital release of
In RainbowsIn Rainbows is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Radiohead. It was first released on 10 October 2007 as a digital download self-released, that customers could order for whatever price they saw fit, followed by a standard CD release in most countries during the last week of 2007. The...
, Overboard distributed free digital downloads of the entirety of
Help! on their website for a limited time. In February 2010,
Help! was nominated for CARAs for Best Pop/Rock Album and Best Pop/Rock Song ("Hello Goodbye").
CASA'sThe Contemporary A Cappella Society , or CASA, is a 501 charitable organization dedicated to fostering and promoting a cappella music of all styles around the world. CASA was cofounded in 1991 by Deke Sharon by incorporating the first a cappella directory, The List, founded in 1988 & distributed...
A Cappella Community Awards (ACAs) recognized Overboard again in 2010 with 8 nominations, as voted by a cappella experts and fans. For the 2010 ACAs, "Help!" was recognized as runner-up for Best Album and group founder, Nick Girard, tied as runner-up for Best Male Vocalist.
In September 2010, Overboard began a year-long project entitled "Free Track Tuesday." Every Tuesday on the group's website, a new track, arranged, recorded and produced entirely by Overboard members, is released as a free digital download. The project was inspired in part by
Starbucks'Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
Free Music Tuesday program. Three tracks from the first quarter of Free Track Tuesday garnered one 2011 CARA award, for the traditional spiritual "
Amazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
," and two runners-up awards, for
"Toxic""Toxic" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, co-written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on January 12, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After trying to choose between " Boom Boom" and "Outrageous" to...
(originally performed by
Britney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
) and "Used To Love U" (originally performed by
John LegendJohn Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
).
In recognition of their performances, recordings and production work, Overboard received 10 2011 ACA nominations, including Favorite Pop/Rock Group, Favorite Mashup (
25 or 6 to 4"25 or 6 to 4" is a song written by American musician Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of the rock/jazz fusion band Chicago. It was recorded for their second album, Chicago , with Peter Cetera on lead vocals. The song was edited and released as a single in June of the year 2009, climbing to...
/
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is a folk song written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950s. It was recorded by Joan Baez and released on her 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert, Part 1, and also by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, who included it on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin...
) and Favorite A Cappella Song That Doesn't Sound A Cappella (Hedwig's Theme from
Harry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
). Individual achievement nominations were also given to Alfredo Austin (Favorite Rap Performance), Scott Cobban (Favorite Vocal Percussionist) and Nick Girard (Favorite Male Vocalist, Favorite Arranger, Favorite A Cappella Producer).
Recent and upcoming events
Following the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunamiThe 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
in Japan, Overboard launched a project called HOPE to raise money for the
American Red Cross'The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
relief efforts. In exchange for donating, contributors are given access to successive tiers of rewards, including a digital download of the group's special release album
Hope. 100% of the proceeds from HOPE are donated the Red Cross' earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.
On April 17, 2011, Overboard won 1st Place at the Boston Regional Harmony Sweepstakes Festival. In addition to winning the overall competition, the group also won Audience Favorite and Best Arrangement (for
All For Love"All for Love" is a rock song written by Bryan Adams, Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Michael Kamen for the soundtrack The Three Musketeers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, performed by Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting. The song's musical-style and production were heavily inspired by rock and pop...
). Overboard competed at the Harmony Sweepstakes Festival's National Finals on May 14, 2011.
Overboard Productions
Through the Free Track Tuesday program, group members have become more involved in the recording side of a cappella and now do freelance production work for
collegiate a cappellaCollegiate a cappella ensembles are student-run and -directed singing groups that perform entirely without instruments. Such groups can be found at many colleges and universities in the United States, and increasingly worldwide....
and professional a cappella groups. Clients include groups such as
Yale University'sYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
The WhiffenpoofsThe Yale Whiffenpoofs are the oldest collegiate a cappella group in the United States, established in 1909. Best known for "The Whiffenpoof Song", based on a tune written by Tod Galloway and adapted with lyrics by Meade Minnigerode & George S Pomeroy , the group comprises college...
and
Mixed Company of YaleMixed Company of Yale is an a cappella singing group at Yale University. Founded in 1981, Mixed Company was originally formed as a group specializing in both sketch comedy and a cappella. Today, the group focuses primarily on singing, though the group often performs skits and other comedy at its...
, as well as
Brown University'sBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
The Brown DerbiesThe Brown Derbies is an all-male a capella group at Brown University. They were established in 1982 and have released ten albums. They sing a variety of different genres, ranging from Rock, to Barbershop, to R&B and are known in the a cappella community for their unique use of syllables in the...
. A recent Overboard Productions release, a cover of
Katy Perry'sKaty Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
hit song
Firework"Firework" is a song by American recording artist Katy Perry. The song was written by Katy Perry, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, Ester Dean, and produced by Stargate and Sandy Vee for Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream...
performed by
Ithaca College'sIthaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
Ithacappella and Premium Blend a cappella groups reached
iTunes'iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Top 200. Proceeds of the song are donated to
The Trevor ProjectThe Trevor Project is an American non-profit organization founded in 1998 and the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Through a toll-free telephone number, it operates The Trevor Lifeline, a...
, an organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth.
Overboard Productions edited and mixed the backing track to the
University of St AndrewsThe University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
'
The Other GuysThe Other Guys is an all-male a cappella ensemble from the University of St Andrews, Scotland. The group was founded in 2004 and has been one of the groups responsible for the rise of collegiate a cappella in Scotland....
'
viral videoA viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
Royal Romance. Released to commemorate the
wedding of Prince William and Catherine MiddletonThe wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey in London. Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales, first met Catherine Middleton in 2001, when both were studying at the University of St Andrews. Their...
,
Royal Romance is a
mashupA mashup or bootleg is a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, usually by overlaying the vocal track of one song seamlessly over the instrumental track of another...
of
Lady GagaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's
Bad Romance"Bad Romance" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released as the lead single from her third extended play , and second major release The Fame Monster . Written by Lady Gaga and produced by RedOne, the track was inspired by Gaga's fear of negative love relationships and the...
,
Michael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's
Billie Jean"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop/R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written, composed, and co-produced by Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones from the singer's sixth album, Thriller . Originally disliked by Jones, the track was almost removed from the album after he and...
and
Gustav HolstGustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
's
I Vow To Thee, My CountryI Vow to Thee, My Country is a British patriotic song created in 1921 when a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was set to music by Gustav Holst.-History:...
The video was released on April 12, 2011 and received over 100,000 views in the first week. Clips of the video were also featured on
The Today ShowToday is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
.
Awards
| Year |
Presenter |
Award |
Result |
| 2007 |
CBS Early Show & Boyz II Men |
A Cappella Quest Competition |
Top 5 Finalists |
| 2008 |
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival |
Boston Regional Winner |
3rd Place |
| 2009 |
Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards of CASA |
Best Holiday Album |
Nominated, "Tidings" |
| Best Holiday Song |
Won, "We Three Kings" |
| 2010 |
Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards of CASA |
Best Pop/Rock Album |
Nominated, "Help!" |
| Best Pop/Rock Song |
Nominated, "Hello Goodbye" |
| 2010 |
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival |
Boston Regional Winner |
3rd Place |
| 2010 |
A Cappella Community Awards |
| Favorite Professional Album |
Runner-Up, "Help!" |
| Favorite Male Vocalist |
Runner-Up, Nick Girard |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Group |
Nominated |
| Favorite Vocal Percussionist |
Nominated, Scott Cobban |
| Favorite Arranger |
Nominated, Nick Girard |
| Favorite Medley |
Nominated, "Good Night" (from "Help!") |
| Most Cutting Edge Group |
Nominated |
| Favorite Arrangement |
Nominated, "Hello Goodbye" (from "Help!") |
| 2011 |
Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards of CASA |
Best Religious Song |
Won, "Amazing Grace" |
| Best Jazz Song |
Runner-Up, "Toxic" |
| Best R&B/Hip Hop Song |
Runner-Up, "Used to Love U" |
| 2011 |
Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival |
Boston Regional Winner |
1st Place |
| Audience Favorite |
1st Place |
| Best Arrangement |
1st Place, "All for Love" |
| 2011 |
A Cappella Community Awards |
| Favorite Pop/Rock Group |
Nominated |
| Favorite Male Vocalist |
Nominated, Nick Girard |
| Favorite Vocal Percussionist |
Nominated, Scott Cobban |
| Favorite Rap Performance |
Nominated, Alfredo Austin for "Baby" |
| Favorite Arranger |
Nominated, Nick Girard |
| Favorite A Cappella Producer |
Nominated, Nick Girard |
| Favorite Mashup |
Runner-Up, "25 or 6 to 4/Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" |
| Favorite Gender Bender Solo |
Runner-Up, "Toxic" |
| Favorite A Cappella Song That Doesn't Sound A Cappella |
Won, "Hedwig's Theme" |
| Favorite Live Performance Moment |
Nominated, Help! at the Las Vegas A Cappella Summit |
Discography
- Shipwrecked (2006)
- Stranded (2007)
- Castaways (2008)
- Tidings (2008)
- Help! (2009)
- Free Track Tuesday (2010–2011)
- Hope (special release album, 2011)