The Essentials (band)
Encyclopedia
The Essentials are a Canadian a cappella
group founded in London, Ontario, Canada in 1993, now based out of Toronto
. Band co-founder Joe Oliva (sometimes stylized as Jo3 Oliva) attended London Central Secondary School
where he co-founded a predecessor a cappella
group to The Essentials, called The Humdingers.
songs, weekly during the summer months, in the parking lot of an ice cream parlor called Merla-Mae Ice Cream in London, Ontario.
In 1996, Dan Speck joined the band. Speck had been introduced to Oliva through The Essentials' then-manager Terry McManus via Emm Gryner
. Dan Speck's younger brother Thom, formerly of Streetnix
, then joined the band in 2005. Both Speck brothers and Gryner have known each other since their youth in the small town of Forest, Ontario
. Janet Turner completed the quartet in 2009.
Since their inception, The Essentials have focused mostly on performances in Canada
and the United States
, but have also ventured into Europe. They have performed thousands of shows including the national anthems for the Toronto Blue Jays
and are currently regular anthem performers for the Toronto Raptors
and Toronto Maple Leafs
which has garnered them more national television exposure in Canada.
They have also appeared in nationally televised ads for Bell ExpressVu in Canada.
In 1999, The Essentials played a singing and speaking role in a CBS
movie entitled A Holiday Romance
along with Paula MacNeill (who would later become a part of the house band on the U.S. nationally televised game show The Singing Bee). The movie stars Andy Griffith
, Naomi Judd
and Gerald McRaney
.
Their first two albums, Oh What A Night! and ...And Then Some were produced by highly regarded record producer
Jack Richardson
, and their 2007 Christmas recording was certified gold in December of that year.
The Essentials' latest release, Nothing But Blue, was produced by Darryl Neudorf
, charted nationally in Canada, and tied Eminem
for #1 on the Toronto charts for the week ending Sept 9, 2010. Since its release in June 2010, Nothing But Blue received positive reviews in regional newspapers as well as by Canada's highest-circulation newspaper The Toronto Star
which gave the album 3.5 stars out of 4.
Once in 2008, and again in 2010, The Essentials have made special event "one-time only" return performances to the parking lot of the Merla-Mae Ice Cream parlour where they had not performed since 1996. In 2010, the ice cream parlor added individual sundaes to their menu in honor of the current band line-up as well as former member Joon Nah.
A cappella
A 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 founded in London, Ontario, Canada in 1993, now based out of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Band co-founder Joe Oliva (sometimes stylized as Jo3 Oliva) attended London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
where he co-founded a predecessor a cappella
A cappella
A 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 to The Essentials, called The Humdingers.
Biography
The Essentials' first gig was singing a cappella doo-wopDoo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
songs, weekly during the summer months, in the parking lot of an ice cream parlor called Merla-Mae Ice Cream in London, Ontario.
In 1996, Dan Speck joined the band. Speck had been introduced to Oliva through The Essentials' then-manager Terry McManus via Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
. Dan Speck's younger brother Thom, formerly of Streetnix
Streetnix
Streetnix was a Canadian a cappella group based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They performed a total of over 2,500 shows across Canada and the United States, making over 300 appearances a year at their height....
, then joined the band in 2005. Both Speck brothers and Gryner have known each other since their youth in the small town of Forest, Ontario
Forest, Lambton County, Ontario
Forest is a small town located near Sarnia, Ontario in Canada. It is very close to the shore of Lake Huron and is part of the municipality of Lambton Shores and the county of Lambton.- Population :...
. Janet Turner completed the quartet in 2009.
Since their inception, The Essentials have focused mostly on performances in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but have also ventured into Europe. They have performed thousands of shows including the national anthems for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and are currently regular anthem performers for the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
and Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
which has garnered them more national television exposure in Canada.
They have also appeared in nationally televised ads for Bell ExpressVu in Canada.
In 1999, The Essentials played a singing and speaking role in a CBS
CBS
CBS 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...
movie entitled A Holiday Romance
A Holiday Romance
A Holiday Romance is a 1999 film directed by Bobby Roth and starring Naomi Judd, Andy Griffith, and Gerald McRaney. This film has been released on DVD.-Cast:*Naomi Judd - Lily Waite*Andy Griffith - Jake Peterson*Gerald McRaney - Cal Peterson...
along with Paula MacNeill (who would later become a part of the house band on the U.S. nationally televised game show The Singing Bee). The movie stars Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
, Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.-Personal life:She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a...
and Gerald McRaney
Gerald McRaney
Gerald Lee "Mac" McRaney is an American television and movie actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, and Promised Land. He was a series regular for the first season of Jericho.-Early life:McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son...
.
Their first two albums, Oh What A Night! and ...And Then Some were produced by highly regarded record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Jack Richardson
Jack Richardson (record producer)
Jack Richardson, CM was a Juno Award-nominated Canadian record producer and Order of Canada recipient. He is perhaps best known for producing the biggest hit records from The Guess Who from 1969 to 1975...
, and their 2007 Christmas recording was certified gold in December of that year.
The Essentials' latest release, Nothing But Blue, was produced by Darryl Neudorf
Darryl Neudorf
Darryl Neudorf is a Canadian musician, record producer and audio engineer.He was the drummer for 54-40 from 1982–1986. He is best known during this time for co-writing the hit song "I Go Blind", a Canadian hit which was later covered by U.S...
, charted nationally in Canada, and tied Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
for #1 on the Toronto charts for the week ending Sept 9, 2010. Since its release in June 2010, Nothing But Blue received positive reviews in regional newspapers as well as by Canada's highest-circulation newspaper The Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
which gave the album 3.5 stars out of 4.
Once in 2008, and again in 2010, The Essentials have made special event "one-time only" return performances to the parking lot of the Merla-Mae Ice Cream parlour where they had not performed since 1996. In 2010, the ice cream parlor added individual sundaes to their menu in honor of the current band line-up as well as former member Joon Nah.
Discography
- Oh What A Night! (1994)
- ...And Then Some (1996)
- Bare (2000, liveLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
) - Stocking Stuffer (2007, certified gold)
- Remember December (2008, a Christmas album)
- Nothing But Blue (2010)
Compilations
- When The Lights Come On At Christmas (1997), charity compilation for Jesse's Journey in support of Duchenne muscular dystrophyDuchenne muscular dystrophyDuchenne muscular dystrophy is a recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy, which results in muscle degeneration, difficulty walking, breathing, and death. The incidence is 1 in 3,000 boys. Females and males are affected, though females are rarely affected and are more often carriers...
, includes a contribution from Beverley MahoodBeverley MahoodBeverley Mahood is a country music singer-songwriter in Canada. Beverley emigrated from Belfast to Canada as a child. She is also formerly part of the all-female trio Lace, produced by the renowned Los Angeles producer, David Foster. She was also a Canadian television host... - Scenes From A Dream (2000), the Timmins Concert Singers produced this recording, includes a contribution from Patricia O'CallaghanPatricia O'CallaghanPatricia Mary O'Callaghan is a Canadian soprano singer.She spent her childhood in various Northern Ontario towns and in Pine Falls, Manitoba, considering whether her career should be in rock music or in a convent. Her first teacher was Rosanne Simunovic from Timmins...
- Come Together: An A Cappella Tribute to the Beatles (2001), includes a contribution from another Canadian a cappella group, The NylonsThe NylonsThe Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Best known for their covers of The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' version of the traditional "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"....
- Sing 7 - Lucky (2010), seventh annual compilation by the Contemporary A Cappella SocietyContemporary A Cappella SocietyThe 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...