PARTY TIDBITS: GROBAN NEEDS A SQUEEZE, AND THOSE "DELILAH GUYS" DOUBLE-DOUBLE DOWN
Listen up, ladies! Josh Groban needs a valentine.
The megastar vocalist says he has "nothing" to do come Thursday. "It's just going to be a lot of watching movies," he said when asked about his Valentine's Day plans at the Warner Music Group bash at Vibiana.
VIDEO EXCLUVISE: JOSH GROBAN ON SUNDANCE AND HIS NEXT ALBUM
Singer Josh Groban, the best selling musical artist of 2007, took to the Sundance Film Festival, where he told The Hollywood Reporter about plans for an "acoustic feel" to his next album, in an exclusive video interview.
Every controversy needs a good name. For this one, I went back and forth between GrobanGate and Unbuttoned-ShirtGate, before settling on the easier-off-the-tongue ChestGate.
I got an unexpected amount of reader e-mail for my recent blog entry about the state of the music industry. Not from people who agreed or disagreed with the rather cloudy outlook for the future of album sales, but rather from Josh Groban fans who objected to my use of a cheesy photo I found online.
In it, a younger Groban (whose "Noel" was the year's top-selling album) posed with his shirt unbuttoned and gazed dreamily at the camera. Underneath, my caption read something like, "Josh Groban: Bare-chested poster boy for a dismal music year."
A few Grobanites took issue with the photo selection. One reader said, "You must have some very poor research people working for you if the only hot photo they could find was 8 years old when Josh Groban was barely out of childhood."
Singer JOSH GROBAN is to star in a rock concert revival of 1980s musical CHESS. The stage show, which was written by Abba stars Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson along with Tim Rice, was first seen in London's West End in 1986 before moving to Broadway two years later. And now the musical is set to be revived for two performances at the U.K. capital's Royal Albert Hall in May (08), according to British publication The Stage. Groban will star alongside theatre actress Idina Menzel in the show which will be re-worked with a rock 'n' roll theme. It will also feature a 50-piece orchestra and a 100-strong choir.
Man, this Josh Groban is having a hell of a year. After Oprah expressed how amazing his new album was on her show, his numbers went through the roof, and pretty much stayed there all year. Now he's got Brad Pitt on his side.
Josh is up at Sundance with the rest of Hollywood right now, and was scheduled to play an acoustic show for 100 people at the Zone Lounge in Park City, Utah, and then leave town. But then he was asked to stay longer to perform at a $2,500 per plate charity benefit at the house Brad Pitt is renting during the Sundance Film Festival.
Holy last minute changes, Batman! Josh's handlers at Warner Music are now in panic mode as they scramble to find 25 rooms for Groban and his entourage in the already overbooked town. But way to go, Josh! You're lifting everybody up these days!
JOSH GROBAN TO APPEAR AT 'CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE' FUNDRAISER
PARK CITY, UT--(Marketwire - January 17, 2008) - LIVEstyle Entertainment and M - The Marketplace for Superlative Residences have announced a very special evening with Josh Groban and Friends which will take place on the evening of January 23rd during the Sundance Film Festival. The event is part of the 'Concerts For A Cause' series with proceeds from the evening being donated to The Josh Groban Foundation, The Park City Jazz Festival and One Heart Foundation.
Under the banner of "Jazz For A Cause," the M Member private event sponsored evening will include not only the multi-platinum Grammy nominated recording star Josh Groban but noted jazz singer Anna Wilson. Groban, whose recent Christmas album NOEL was No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Pop Charts, was also the biggest selling artist in 2007.
Music specials haven't fared well in primetime lately, but that's not stopping CBS from tuning up a pair of hours toplined by Celine Dion and Garth Brooks.
Dion will star in "Celine Dion: That's Just the Woman in Me," a mix of greatest hits and new duets from her current album. Josh Groban and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am will guest on the special, which lensed Saturday at L.A.'s Wiltern Theater.
LOS ANGELES—Charice Pempengco may guest again on Ellen DeGeneres’ TV show. And Josh Groban is returning to the Philippines to perform in concerts this year.
We heard these exciting pieces of news from Ellen and Josh themselves when we bumped into them at last Wednesday’s party at the home of Fox co-chair Tom Rothman and his wife, actress Jessica Harper.
WARNER BROS. RECORDS' ARTISTS TO PERFORM TO UNIQUE UNION OF MUSIC AND FILM IN PARK CITY, UTAH
Josh Groban, Michelle Branch, Tyler Hilton, Jack's Mannequin, Eisley and Others to Perform Intimate, Acoustic Sets at Three-Night Live-Music Event -- "Where Music Meets FilmTM: Live from The ZonePerfect Bar" -- Jan. 24-26, 2008
One-Hour Music Special, "Where Music Meets FilmTM: Live from The ZonePerfect Bar," Premieres on Fuse TV Feb. 4, 2008; MySpace to Offer Custom Online Community Featuring Live Performances, Interviews, Artist Videos, and Photos Direct From the Event
Idina Menzel (Wicked, Rent and Disney's Enchanted) is rumored to star opposite recording-artist Josh Groban in the 21st Anniversary concert of Chess The Musical at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday May 12 and Tuesday May 13, 2008
Mary J. Blige has put an end to Josh Groban's reign on The Billboard 200 as the R&B singer's "Growing Pains" moves up 2-1. The Geffen release sold 204,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen Soundscan, a 68% drop-off in sales. Groban's "Noel," which had been No. 1 for five weeks, slips 1-3 with 178,000 units, a 77% sales hit.
JOSH GROBAN REMAINS NO. 1 ON BILLBOARDS TOP 200: NAMED THE BEST SELLER OF 2007
Josh Groban's record Noel has been non-stop this entire holiday season. After breaking an Elvis Presley record for the most consecutive weeks for a holiday album on top of the charts, he also nabbed the most records sold this entire year, surpassing High School Musical 2.
JOSH GROBAN'S NOEL TOPS CHART AGAIN WITH HUGE WEEK
Josh Groban stays in the top slot on The Billboard 200 album chart, moving 757,000 copies of "Noel" in the US to remain No. 1 for the fifth straight week, the first Christmas album ever to do so, according to Billboard.
SORRY MARY J, JOSH GROBAN MAINTAINS CHART DOMINANCE
Josh Groban is the undisputed king of the 2007 charts. Noël, his Christmas album, which hit shelves in early October, was the best-selling album of the year even before the Christmas week tally was counted. On Wednesday, the big results came in, and to no surprise, Noël maintained its dominance of the charts, taking the top spot for the Christmas album-record fifth straight week (he took the record from Elvis).
Sorry for the lack of updates. Moving house and Christmas holidays have made it very busy for me. I'm currently at home with my family for the holidays, but I'll be back in January and promise to update more often then. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Newyear!
Josh Groban’s Noel holds at #1 for the fifth straight week, the longest a Christmas album has held the top spot since Bing Crosby’s Merry Christmas, which was first released in the first holiday season following the end of World War II. Crosby’s album held the top spot for a total of 39 weeks between 1945 and 1957. Groban’s album sold a whopping 757,000 copies this week, pushing its year-to-date sales to 3,525,000. With one week still to go before SoundScan closes out 2007, Groban has already toppled Kenny G’s 1994 record for the greatest sales by a holiday album in a single year. The saxophonist’s Miracles—The Holiday Album sold 2,987,000 copies that year.
While Josh Groban’s Noel album goes down in the history books as the biggest selling album of 2007, with sales likely to surpass the 4 million mark, the artist has given his fans one more very special present: On Groban’s official Web site, www.joshgroban.com, the artist is offering a free download of his stunning live version of the Paul Simon classic “America,” recorded earlier this month in New York City. Upon completing a few fields of information, Groban’s “America” can be immediately downloaded. The track is available through the end of the year.
Now that Christmas 2007 has come and gone, perhaps there will be room for a new #1 hit album. However, Josh Groban is enjoying a 5th week at the top of the album chart which is longer than any album since 50 Cent's smash The Massacre back in 2005. The #2 album this week is no slouch in sales either. Check out the details in this week's US Pop Music Charts.
Singer JOSH GROBAN once received an etiquette lesson from an unlikely mentor Austrian actor ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. The You Raise Me Up hitmaker was only 10 years old when his unruly behaviour at a restaurant earned him a scolding from the Terminator star. He says, "I remember literally bumping into Arnold Schwarzenegger. I ran into a restaurant without looking where I was going when I was 10 and this giant arm pulled me back. "It was Arnold and he goes, 'Young man, I'm opening this door for these old ladies. Where are your manners?' I was mortified."
BRYAN ADAMS, JOSH GROBAN TO PLAY TORONTO CONCERT IN AID OF HOSPITAL
TORONTO - A Toronto concert featuring Bryan Adams, Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan and Jann Arden will raise money for a hospital facility to help sick newborns and mothers who have high-risk pregnancies.
The show will take place on Feb. 28. It's being billed as a fundraising project for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and will benefit two new floors at the hospital that are to be ready in 2010.
Before Beyoncé and Akon, Manilans went gaga over the arrival of pop era star Josh Groban. The David Foster discovery from Los Angeles flew in for a two-night concert at the Philippine International Convention Center last Oct. 17 and 18.
Many of Groban’s Filipino fans had been waiting for him for the last two years after word got around that the young singer would be in Manila anytime to promote his new album Awake.
There are no surprises on this 13-track effort that ranges from a "Little Drummer Boy" (with a great turn on acoustic guitar by Andy McKee) to "O Come, All Ye Faithful" backed up by the titanic Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It all works, avoiding sloppy sentimentality. The orchestral arrangements are tasteful, building to predictably lush finishes. Groban is in excellent form, too. The producers introduce us to the French staple "Petit papa Noël" as well as the freshly contemporary "Thankful." "I'll be Home for Christmas" includes spoken wishes from U.S. service personnel overseas – something many Canadian families can relate to as well. Top track: The mock-medieval "What Child is This?" has infectious forward momentum.
If Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno sounded like an evangelist during a fellowship dinner at Cebu International Convention Center last week, it is because he is. The Chief Justice is a ranked member and pastor of the Methodist Church in the Philippines. This I gathered from Executive Judge Simeon “Jun” Dumdum, my colleague in this paper.
Judge Dumdum, who came with his comely wife, Gingging to the weekend event, shared this information as we waited for the “Advocacy for Righteousness” program to begin last Saturday night. The rainy weather didn’t deter various Christian church members, including Catholics, as well as businessmen, lawyers, judges and justices, from attending the Full Gospel Businessmen International gathering.
Josh Groban's new holiday album continued to rule the Canadian charts this week.
"Noel" was locked in at No. 1 for a second straight week, selling 12,000 copies, according to figures compiled by Nielsen SoundScan.
Right behind Groban was pop-opera singer Paul Potts' "One Chance," which shot up from No. 15 to No. 2 on sales of just under 11,000.
James Blunt's "All the Lost Souls" and Sylvain Cossette's "70s" both held firm at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, and Nathalie Simard's "Il Y Avait un Jardin" premiered at No. 5.
Josh Goban's Noel, a collection of traditional Christmas music with a time-honored feel and rich orchestration, was released on the Reprise record label October 9.
This is an eclectic mix of traditional hymns and carols, with only two songs straying from that overall theme. The holiday favorite "I'll be Home For Christmas" is given a contemporary, yet desperate sound as messages to and from those serving in the armed services are weaved between the verses and choruses. Grobin's deep passionate voice only adds to the gloomy feel of someone who is far away from the ones he loves during the holidays.
MANILA, Philippines - It was apparent that everyone—from Imelda Marcos and Cory Aquino to Rufa Mae Quinto and Erik Santos to non-celeb fans—had a good time.
Josh Groban’s gala concert on Wednesday in the packed PICC Plenary Hall had elements of musical theater. There was drama as soon as a mesh-like curtain lifted, plus lots of animated movement.
Groban himself was all over the stage, darting from one end to the other. On the eighth song, he went straight for the crowd, pressing flesh and acting goofy as women screamed and posed with him for snapshots.
It could’ve been thoroughly pop, except that the star performer had solid training in classical music and was perceived to be veering in that direction when his debut album was released in 2001.
Music unites people and melts differences, even for just two hours.
It took world-renowned singer Josh Groban to make former President Corazon Aquino attend a concert – her first. It brought her under the same roof as avid concert-goer former First Lady Imelda Marcos, whose husband Ferdinand’s regime was toppled by a bloodless revolution led by Mrs. Aquino 21 years ago.
“For a first timer like me, I was very impressed. I really had such a nice time,” said Mrs. Aquino when approached by The STAR after the concert at the Philippine International Convention Center, which had the well-heeled audience swaying, swinging and swooning.
The concert also drew raves from Mrs. Marcos, an aspiring singer before she became a political wife. She told The STAR she found Groban’s concert “fantastic,” adding she found the 26-year-old former California choirboy to be “all-around, even if he is so young.” She was seen merrily twirling the blue light stick distributed by Smart Infinity, the show’s major sponsor, during the concert.
Christmas has definitely come early for Josh Groban fans.
The singer's holiday album "Noel" checked in at No. 1 on the Canadian album charts this week, selling 13,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data.
It marks his second consecutive No. 1 disc here ("Awake" did it last November with 33,000 in sales), and the fourth Christmas album overall to hit the top spot.
Not far behind was Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" (11,000), which fell down to No. 2 after one week at No. 1, James Blunt's "All the Lost Souls" (10,000) was held in check at No. 3, and Sylvain Cossette's "70s" slipped two positions to No. 4.
With summer coming to a close and the weather getting colder, no one wants to think about snow coming our way or even dare to imagine the frigid walks to class we will have to take. However, along with the unbearable conditions that winter brings, it also brings the holidays and it looks like Christmas has come early for all the Josh Groban fans in the world. His new holiday album, "Noel," takes classic Christmas songs to a whole new level.
The critically acclaimed, Grammy nominated voice of Josh Groban lives up to it's reputation with songs such as "Silent Night" and "Little Drummer Boy" being sung with such an intensity it would send chills down anyone's back.
"Noel" is performed with flare, balancing the pop standards while showcasing some of Groban's more operatic material really shows his roots. His rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" surprises listeners with service men and women, stationed in Iraq, sending their holiday messages to their families over the music. It is a heart wrenching twist that is sure to bring out tears in many of his listeners.
The album is full of popular holiday songs such as "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "What Child Is This." It also covers the classic songs that are not as well known, such as "Petit Papa Noel," and "Panis Angelicus." Groban puts his all into each and every one of them.
JOSH GROBAN FANS LEFT ENTRANCED BY A MAGICAL VOICE
IF you were anywhere other than the Entertainment Centre on Friday night, you missed arguably the music experience of the year - Josh Groban in concert.
Just speak to the legion of fans of the U.S. singing sensation with the rich baritone voice who worked his magic on the adoring audience from the moment the stage sheet-curtain dropped from the rafters to reveal Groban belting out You Are Loved, the signature tune of his current Australian tour.
Following four sold-out performances at the Sydney Opera House, Groban delivered two hours of music with his uniquely charismatic, powerful and interactive style of stagemanship, which allowed fans to appreciate both his towering vocal talent and the growing feeling that each member of the audience was important to him.
The evocative rendition of songs such as Un Dia Llegara was followed by cheerful banter with concert-goers, many of whom tossed restraint aside to shriek with delight at the 26-year-old, dark-eyed, dark-haired singer-songwriter who enjoys huge fame in the U.S. and growing renown in Australia, Britain and elsewhere.
MANILA, Philippines -- All the chatting and nibbling stopped as women rushed forward with their cameras and men craned their necks for a better view of the good-looking Josh Groban, guest of honor at the inauguration of MTV Philippines’ new office at the Silver City Mall in Pasig City.
Groban, the 26-year-old American singing sensation whose expressive tenor and lyrical baritone has sold some 15 million records worldwide, is due to perform Wednesday night and Thursday night at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Wednesday night’s show is strictly invitational. Those watching Thursday’s performance should be shelling out as much as P5,000 to P20,000 apiece.
MTV Philippines helped negotiate the Manila concerts. The Philippines is the only Asian country that Groban has visited thus far.
LANI MISALUCHA TO SING IN JOSH GROBAN MANILA CONCERT
Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha is back in the Philippines after being tapped to sing as the front act in Grammy-nominated singer Josh Groban's concert on October 17 and 18.
Misalucha arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City on board Philippine Airlines PR 107 at 4:47 a.m. Tuesday.
A former host of ABS-CBN variety show "ASAP", Misalucha regularly performs in the Flamingo Las Vegas in Nevada as part of Filipino-Hawaiian group Society of Seven.
Groban is slated to hold a concert at the Philippine International Convention Center as part of his “Awake” tour. Among his popular songs are “You Raise Me Up,” “You’re Still You,” and “To Where You Are.”
South African audiences first noticed him when he outshone the dancing baby in Ally McBeal and then appeared at the Oscars and the closing ceremony for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
When he made it to our local shores, in 2004, he was very well received - no wonder then that Josh Groban is back for more. The 26-year-old singer will tour South Africa in March next year.
Though he may be grounded in the operatic tradition, Groban has gained fame for his interpretation of sweeping ballads and his songs regularly climb the international charts.
His most recent album - Awake (2005) - was completed after his first South African tour and incorporated several African influences, including harmonies from Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Josh Groban – “a voice with the power to knock the arena senseless”, as described by the New York Times – returns to South Africa for a countrywide tour.
“I’m especially excited about finally returning to South Africa. I feel like my fans are ready to come on a journey with me. South Africa is very dear to me and I have never forgotten the spirit and passion shown to me on my last visit. This remains one of my greatest memories of my tour around the world.”
Josh Groban, who according to the New York Times has "a voice with the power to knock the arena senseless", returns to South Africa for a countrywide tour in March 2008.
After the success of his first SA tour in December 2004 and the subsequent release of his multi platinum album he returns to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Durban.
STOCKTON, California - Up close, Josh Groban is funny.
During the sound check for his interview with KC Montero for MTV Philippines, which is one of the presentors of Groban’s concerts in Manila on Oct. 17 and 18 at the PICC Plenary Hall, the cameraman asked KC to say something. “Testicle, testicle!” KC said in jest. When his turn came, Groban spoke into his lapel also in jest, “Testes, testes!”
Little did they know at the time, but the thousands of Utahns who filled the EnergySolutions Arena to the rafters Tuesday night are going to become stars.
Shortly before the start of Josh Groban's sold-out Salt Lake show, it was announced that the concert would be filmed for the DVD of Groban's 71-city Awake tour.
"You guys are the ones people are going to watch for forever," Groban told his adoring fans midway through the two-hours-plus show.
During the summer between seventh and eighth grades, everything changed—or at least it seemed like everything at the time. We'd become teenagers. Kids were rapping along with Vanilla Ice and mastering yo-yo tricks. I was the boy who liked to sing his own songs at talent shows, and I was suddenly officially uncool.
Every day I lugged my backpack through the halls, waiting for the final bell. Then I'd race home and hole up in my room, playing the drums and the piano, composing music. I felt claustrophobic and terribly lonely. I had so much to express but no way to express it.
CONCERT REVIEW: GROBAN DELIVERS A GOLD-METAL PERFORMANCE
Josh Groban returned Tuesday to Utah, where he performed his first arena show, to deliver a dazzling display of sound, lights and emotion to a sold-out crowd at EnergySolutions Arena. His performance was polished and steady: The multiÂplatinum Grammy-nominated artist has the moves and crowd-carrying charisma down pat. But beyond the tiered stage, orchestra and frilly lights is the core of Groban's talent - that rich baritone voice that has captured the hearts and envy of millions of fans. Groban rose through the floor to open the evening with "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)," much to the delight of his audience of 12,000-plus. Flanked on opposite ends of the stage by violinist Lucia Micarelli and cellist Vanessa Freeman Smith, Groban's voice soared. His presence showed he has grown from a nervous amateur to an affable star.
Choir-boy looks and opera-singer chops have made Josh Groban, 26, a star.
His most recent album, Awake -- currently No. 1 on Billboard's Classical Crossover -- has nudged Groban's "popera" style in new directions, thanks to collaborations with jazzman Herbie Hancock and African ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
E CENTER SHOW WAS THE START OF SOMETHING BIG FOR JOSH GROBAN
They say you never forget your first. When Josh Groban performs Tuesday night in Salt Lake City, he'll be returning to the place where he played his first large arena show just two years ago. "I was really nervous," the 26-year-old Los Angeles native admitted during a telephone interview. "But the fans didn't care. It was such an amazing night and it showed us the possibilities for the future." Having only played theaters and smaller venues similar to Salt Lake City's intimate Kingsbury Hall, the E Center felt cold, with a definite "sense of separation" between him and the audience, said Groban, whose opera-influenced pop, sung in a rich baritone, was nominated for a Grammy in 2004.
"Hello, is that a completely ridiculous gift for me?" asks Josh Groban as he accepts a floppy white cowboy hat from a fan in the front row. A couple minutes later, a different fan presents another offering, "Another perfectly appropriate gift, a giant fortune cookie," jokes Groban. "You are loved by your Anaheim Grobanites," says the fortune.
With a soaring, operatic voice that stirs strong emotions, especially among females who gush over his romantic, classically influenced ballads, Josh Groban rose to fame with his self-named 2001 debut album. Two years later, his follow-up CD, "Closer," produced the hit single "You Raise Me Up."
The rock-loving 26-year-old's current album, the eclectic "Awake," includes musical guests Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dave Matthews, Imogen Heap and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock. Though he has never performed on "American Idol," Groban quips that his producer and mentor, David Foster, is like "my very own Simon Cowell."
His concert Saturday at 8 p.m. at KeyArena includes an eight-piece touring band, as well as a Seattle-based choir and orchestra. "Whenever you hit a city like Seattle you get the best studio musicians in the world," he says. We caught up with Groban by phone during a tour stop in St. Paul, Minn.
Classical pop phenom & heartthrob Josh Groban keeps his feet on the ground
You're not likely to find Josh Groban jumping on the anti-Celine Dion bandwagon, even after the much-maligned diva was voted one of Top 10 Worst Canadians in a recent poll.
No, Groban -- the fresh-faced 26-year-old whose evocative baritone has made him an unlikely adult-contemporary star -- has only the kindest of words for our Celine, with whom he performed one of his first high-profile gigs (as a last-minute replacement for Andrea Bocelli, no less).
In his romantic blend of pop and classical stylings, Josh Groban probably most closely resembles Andrea Bocelli.
But as he demonstrated Tuesday night at the Bradley Center, there are lots of differences that serve to set Groban apart. There is a minor current of rock star running through Josh Groban. Bocelli doesn't write songs with Dave Matthews or Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik. He doesn't cop rock star moves like running the length of the stage slapping outstretched hands or seizing the mic stand at a rakish tilt.
SINGER JOSH GROBAN GIVES SPECIAL THANKS TO CHARLOTTE FANS
As a special thank you to his fans and the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, singer Josh Groban has committed to making a generous donation to local music education for the students of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School (CMS), it was confirmed today by Reprise Records. Groban, whose scheduled appearance at Charlotte Bobcats Arena was postponed last month due to illness, is returning to Charlotte on September 2nd as part of his SRO and critically acclaimed "Awake" Tour, according to Live Nation, the tour's national promoter.
Under the auspices of the "Josh Groban Endowment," the 26-year-old multi-platinum star's contribution will go to the Visual and Performing Arts magnet schools program at the Northwest School of the Arts, University Park Elementary School and Dilworth Elementary School for recording and music production curriculum. Students in the program will receive additional specialized studies in the areas of visual arts, drama, music and dance.
The combination of the two has elevated 26-year-old Josh Groban to star status. Discovered by producer David Foster, Groban was singing with Sarah Brightman while still a teenager.
HE REALLY IS A GOOD GUY, JUST LIKE ALL THOSE GROBANITES SAY
It turns out Josh Groban is every bit as nice as you think he would be.
When he called Tuesday for a short-notice interview that had been bumped back a couple of times throughout the day, the first words out of his mouth: "Thanks for the interview. Sorry about the time changes, but I appreciate it.''
Josh Groban, the 26-year-old classically trained superstar, rocked Hershey's packed Giant Center last night. Don't call it opera, a common misconception among uninitiated listeners. Groban proved that what he does with a mike and an orchestra is far from Pavarotti.
Opener Anjelique Kidjo warmed up the crowd with her energetic African beat. In front of a masterful band that includes two drummers, Kidjo held her own -- a tiny bundle of rhythm and soaring voice that captivated the eye and probably won more than a few fans.
Rumbling through on African songs and a cover of The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," Kidjo hardly stood still, as though the music was too alive to stay inside her small frame. She exhorted the fans to leave behind their troubles, if just for one night, and enjoy the concert -- a perfect intro for what would come next.
While he currently seems to be coasting along on his creamy baritone voice, Josh Groban always carries with him a little reminder of his humble pie beginnings. Sweeney, his Wheaten terrier, is named after the demon barber and serial killer of Fleet Street in "Sweeney Todd," something not in keeping with the singer's cherubic image.
While attending Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, Josh Groban [ tickets ] focused on theater and drama. But singing slowly took over his life. "I thought that [drama was] what my path would be," the classical pop singer told LiveDaily. "But this is something that has taken over my life in the best possible way. To be able to tour like this, to reach more people than I ever could have imagined, and just making these albums has been the great joy of my life."
Groban's latest bundle of joy is the album "Awake," which includes collaborations with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dave Matthews, Glen Ballard, Eric Mouquet, John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting), Marius DeVries, David Foster, Imogen Heap and Herbie Hancock.
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Josh Groban’s voice blasted from behind a curtain, a subtle message saying it isn’t about Groban’s looks or charm, but his vocal chords.
When the curtain lifted a few lines into “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up),” the headlining set’s opening song, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause, almost as if Groban was a modern-day Elvis. He’s not the King of Rock, but perhaps the King of Popera.
No matter, he was the king of the Wachovia Arena on Tuesday night.
Josh Groban to sing at Wachovia Arena after two-year absence
The last time “the boy wonder of the voice,” Josh Groban, played Wilkes-Barre was in February of 2005 to a sold-out crowd at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Now, the vocal wunderkind will return on Tuesday, better than ever and focusing on his latest album, “Awake.”
Think he's just a curly headed classical-crossover crooner?
Think you know what's on his iPod?
"Mostly I listen to rock music," Groban says, matter of factly. "I downloaded the new Bjork album, which is really, really interesting stuff. I've been listening to the new Muse album as well.
On the cultural tack-o-meter, the pop-classical singer Josh Groban falls somewhere between a porcelain unicorn and a stretch Hummer. Exactly where is hard to say: Depending on the song, he might reveal all the cloying sentimentality of a cute knick-knack, or the ostentation of a pointless luxury purchase.
That may explain why Groban, 26, has such widespread appeal. His amiable personality, handsome face and powerhouse baritone surely help, but what's truly appealing about Groban is his ability to make listeners feel as though they're trading up when they buy his albums. There's plain old pop, but on a higher shelf there's Groban.
Josh Groban hates hotel treadmills. Sick of those red digital lights and the belts that eat up his footprints, Groban prefers getting his daily dose of exercise on a tennis court. He rarely hops on a tour bus without packing his racket.
"On days off," Groban said during a recent phone interview, "I try to find a court and find a pro."
Tennis is comfortable, a lazier option that still tightens his abs, but Groban doesn't want his music following a similar path. He calls it "tempting" -- tempting for him, tempting for record execs -- to follow the same blueprint that worked for his past few albums.
sh Groban canceled his scheduled concert at Bobcats Arena last night, less than 2-1/2 hours before his opener was supposed to take the stage. He was reportedly ill.
Meanwhile, over at the DMX show at Amos' Southend, fans reportedly waited until long after midnight for the rapper to finally take the stage -- and those who demanded their money back didn't get it.
It was a truly bad night for Charlotte concertgoers.
Did you show up at the arena, only to learn the disappointing news? Did you wait around at Amos' for hours (and did you ever actually see DMX)? We want to hear from you. Send an e-mail to eandt@charlotteobserver.com and tell us your story. Please include your name, city of residence, and a daytime number.
Josh Groban has been called "the boy wonder of the voice," with a classic sound and a repertoire that defies categorization, even in a record store.
"When I go into music stores, I find it, you know, all over the place," he told Sunday Morning correspondent Sandra Hughes. "I like to think of what I do as pop music. I think of my voice as a pop voice. But it's not without its classical training and classical influences and world music influences and that kind of thing."
The highly anticipated concerts for singing sensation Josh Groban went on sale last month and due to demand extra concerts were added around Australia.
I've uploaded a new video of Josh Groban performing with Sarah Brightman on the concert for Diana, held today in London. You can find it in the Videos section
Remembering Diana She would have been 46 today. Her sons mark her birthday with a concert extravaganza. When Prince William and Prince Harry set out to commemorate the 10th anniversary of their mother's death in a car crash, they made an unusual choice.
Instead of a somber reflection of death, the princes arranged a celebration of life.
Diana, Princess of Wales, would have been 46 years old today. In her honor, her sons have arranged an exuberant concert extravaganza featuring a glittering array of performers.
LLOYD WEBBER, BRIGHTMAN, OSMOND, JOHN AND MORE SING AT 'CONCERT FOR DIANA'
Broadway composers Andrew Lloyd Webber and Elton John perform at the "Concert for Diana" July 1 in London's new Wembley Stadium.
Prince William and Prince Harry commemorate what would have been their mother's 46th birthday ten years after her tragic death "with an event to celebrate her life."
Lloyd Webber, according to concert materials, will present "a set of his classic songs" with scheduled performers in his section to include Anastacia, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Jason Donovan, Connie Fisher, Josh Groban, Andrea Ross and Donny Osmond as well as the winner of BBC's "Any Dream Will Do" competition and forthcoming Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat star Lee Mead.
UGANDE: AFRICAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR RAISE UGANDA'S FLAG HIGH (Mentions Josh)
Some Ugandan viewers of the last month's American Idol season finale mistook the group of young African choristers for Kampala Pentecostal Church's globetrotting Watoto. That, even after Ryan Seacrest -the show's host, had introduced the youngsters as the African Children's Choir. It was easy to get one's wires crossed there.
And one brief e-mail to us could snare you a couple of free tickets Singing a mix of operatic tunes and sweeping ballads has been a successful formula for Josh Groban. Since the 25-year-old made his debut six years ago, he has sold millions of albums with his soaring voice and classical-crossover sound.
WITH his bouncing brown ringlets, clean-shaven good looks, and charming smile, Josh Groban is the kind of young man your mum would love you to meet.
He's nice. Too nice, in fact, for his own good. Which is how he comes to be wearing a not-too-attractive England football shirt emblazoned with 'Groban 1' for half of his show - a present from a fan who tells him to put it on.
NEW YORK, NY, Jun 08, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Multi-platinum singer Josh Groban will be heading back to the U.S. in July to continue part two of his hugely successful AWAKE Tour, it was confirmed today by Reprise Records. Groban, who has been performing all over Europe and Australia in conjunction with his worldwide hit album "AWAKE" (currently No. 12 in the UK), will be resuming his performances in the States beginning July 17 in Greenville, SC. The AWAKE Tour's first leg has played in over 25 American cities to over a million and a half rabid fans. "He's a crooner with the power to knock the arena senseless," raved the NY Times about his Madison Square Garden appearance.