For college kids who sing in a cappella ensembles, lighthearted harmonies are serious business. Today, we look inside the competitive -- and freewheeling -- world of collegiate a cappella groups. Plus, we'll unmask a few a cappella alumni from the celebrity world. Later: the off-kilter folk rock of Brooklyn-based Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles.
Collegiate a Cappella Exposed!
Membership in a lighthearted vocal group is a fond memory for many college graduates. For others, including more than a few celebrities, a year or two in a cappella is something they'd rather forget. Mickey Rapkin, author of the book “Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory” and ...
The South Comes Up North
Up from the Deep South...all the way to Brooklyn. A two-week festival is underway that celebrates the culture of the Mississippi Delta. WNYC’s Siddhartha Mitter reflects on the birthplace of the blues.
Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles
Somewhere between Langhorne, Penn., and Brooklyn, Sean Scolnick became Langhorne Slim. He and his band, the War Eagles, scored a deal with V2 Records and survived when that label fizzled. Now, Slim and his band, the War Eagles are out with their latest full-length. It’s filled with high-energy folk rock ...
Not If You Were the Last Whiffenpoof on Earth...
I went to a college, Fordham, that didn’t have an a cappella group, at least not as far as I know. This was on the border of the South Bronx in the late 70s, and it wasn’t the sort of place you’d expect to find an a cappella group, unless ...