THE BIRTH OF A NEW SOUND: THE HYANNIS SOUND

In the spring of 1994, T interviewed and auditioned 52 men from New England colleges, eventually selecting (and convincing) ten to join the group. It was a tough sell—there was a high risk involved. T had an idea, secured a house, and done considerable research on the audience and potential venues on Cape Cod—but nothing could be booked without a group and a repertoire. The men who joined would need day jobs while still committing to rehearsals and performances.

The brave souls came from all over: Mikey from UConn, Alex from the St. Lawrence Singing Saints, Sasha and Rouf from the Wesleyan Spirits, Darren and D'il from the Connecticut College CoCoBeau, Aarron from Bridgewater State University, and Rob, Goryl, and Judd from the University of Vermont Topcats. They met for the first time in May, with no repertoire and no booked performances.

A key moment of that summer came when Sasha and Goryl secured weekly performances at the now-closed, infamous Thompson’s Clam Bar in Harwichport. They started with one night and quickly expanded to two or three nights a week, paid with plates of chicken fingers and French fries. This engagement continued through 1995, but it was a blow to the group when they learned the restaurant had been sold and their gig lost to a renovation that would eventually become the Wychmere Harbor Resort.

Another significant milestone was the start of a weekly Friday night show in Hyannis at Richard’s Galleries on Main Street. Rob, who worked as their graphic designer, helped secure the space. The glass storefront and brick backdrop provided great acoustics, while passersby slowly wandered in. T also had what he called the “pied piper”—they would walk up and down Main Street before each show, pulling in more and more people as the summer went on.

By mid-summer, the group had been discovered by thousands through their unique performances in restaurants, private clubs, art galleries, weddings, and on the streets of Hyannis, Chatham, and Provincetown. Highlights included headlining at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and opening for The Mamas & The Papas at the Barnstable County Fair.

THE CONTINUATION OF THE NEW SOUND

In the summer of 1995, all ten original members eagerly returned, with crowds awaiting their performances. Sasha also had a day job in Boston, and when he was unavailable, Brian Sowell from the Brown University Jabberwocks stepped in. Public performances now included the established nights at Thompson’s Clam Bar in Harwichport—still two or three days a week, with, once again, plates of chicken fingers and French fries.

They continued their weekly Friday night shows at Richard’s Galleries on Main Street, and Rob, Goryl, and T were able to negotiate a new weekly performance at the Orleans Inn on the rotary in Orleans. They performed in a downstairs room with a low ceiling and odd sightlines but great acoustics. Much of the crowd, after dinner, came down to see what the fuss was about.

In 1995, the group sold their first recording, an audio cassette titled Live All-Natural A Cappella, and enjoyed frequent performances at welcoming venues and a growing number of private parties. During the off-season, Rob and T began booking tours of their hometowns in Vermont, which eventually grew into what would become the annual Spring Tour.

KEEP IT MOVING

In May of 1996, with most of the original members having graduated and moved on to careers, eight new members joined the two remaining veterans for the summer season. It was arguably the toughest transition year in the group's history, but this new lineup brought fresh energy and exceptional musicality, dispelling any fears about the group’s future. These new members respected and preserved the group's original personality while elevating the entertainment value. Their success continued, and highlights of their summer included singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park and creating original arrangements for several weddings.