Rhythm & News | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Gospel Music, A cappella |
| Years active | 1988–1998 |
| Labels | Image 7, Word |
| Past members | Doug Zimmerman Mark Batten Brad Strelau Kevin Pollard Spencer Welch Todd Wickens |
Rhythm and News was a Christian a cappella vocal group formed in the late 1980’s in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. During the 1990’s, the group gained success in Canada and parts of the United States in the gospel music industry. Their a cappella style with beatbox beats, hip hop and rap became known as "funkappella" throughout their fan base.
History
editRhythm and News was started in 1988 by four high school friends in Vancouver, British Columbia named Doug Zimmerman, Mark Batten, Brad Strelau, and Kevin Pollard. Their aspirations to be a Christian a cappella band started in Brad’s basement singing along to a boom box. Soon, the guys were sporadically touring across Canada. With the release of their first album, “Get With The Rhythm,” Rhythm and News was introduced to the rest of Canada with their original “funkappella” style. The height of their success came in 1992, when they released their second studio album, “Word 2 Y’all,” which became one of the top selling albums in Canada by a Canadian gospel artist. In 1994, the group temporarily moved to Detroit, MI for a few months to record their 3rd and last album, "Dream Love + Pray" with gospel great Fred Hammond. [1]
Later in 1994, original members Doug and Kevin left the group and were replaced with Todd Wickens and Spencer Welch. The transition produced a departure from their a cappella beats to live instruments. The band continued to tour across North America and parts of South America until disbanding in 1998. [2][3]
Through the group's Facebook page, the guys have expressed that they have had discussions of possibly reuniting to record in the studio.[4]
Members
edit- Doug Zimmermann (1988-1994)
- Kevin Pollard (1988-1994)
- Mark Batten (1988-1998)
- Brad Strelau (1988-1998)
- Spencer Welch (1994-1998)
- Todd Wickens (1994-1998)
Discography
edit- Get With The Rhythm (1990)
- Word 2 Y'all (1992)
- Dream Love + Pray (1994)
Get With the Rhythm (1990)
editGet With the Rhythm is the first studio album release by Rhythm and News, in 1990. [5][6]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Get With The Rhythm" | ? | 2:48 |
| 2. | "Looking For Love" | ? | 2:44 |
| 3. | "Sittin' On The Streets" | ? | 2:48 |
| 4. | "Lighthouse" | ? | 5:06 |
| 5. | "Rhythmic Thang" | ? | 4:14 |
| 6. | "Real Salvation" | ? | 4:04 |
| 7. | "This Little Light Of Mine" | ? | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Pharaoh, Pharaoh" | ? | 2:51 |
| 9. | "Shut De Do" | ? | 2:28 |
| 10. | "It's Gonna Rain" | ? | 2:23 |
| 11. | "Lord Of All" | ? | 4:18 |
| Total length: | 36:24 | ||
Music Videos
edit- Looking For Love
Word 2 Y'all (1992)
editWord 2 Y'all is the second studio album release by Rhythm and News, in 1992.[7]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Change" | ? | 3:36 |
| 2. | "Live As One" | ? | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Bernie Da Billy Goat" | ? | 0:15 |
| 4. | "No Not One" | ? | 3:22 |
| 5. | "Charlie Meets Beat Box" | ? | 0:46 |
| 6. | "Celebrate Life" | ? | 3:45 |
| 7. | "All 2 Me" | ? | 3:04 |
| 8. | "Good News" | ? | 0:47 |
| 9. | "Da Nanana Na" | ? | 4:37 |
| 10. | "Stereo Test" | ? | 1:03 |
| 11. | "Message From B's Mind" | ? | 4:03 |
| 12. | "We're Back" | ? | 0:17 |
| 13. | "Love We Share" | ? | 4:51 |
| 14. | "That's Silly" | ? | 0:11 |
| 15. | "Soon and Very Soon" | ? | 2:03 |
| 16. | "Intro Rap" | ? | 1:14 |
| 17. | "Rhythmic Thang (Again)" | ? | 4:15 |
| Total length: | 41:58 | ||
Dream Love + Pray (1994)
editDream Love + Pray is the third studio album release by Rhythm and News, in 1994.[8][9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Promise You" | Brad Strelau | 4:03 |
| 2. | "They Will Know" | Strelau | 4:38 |
| 3. | "Give You All" | Doug Zimmermann | 5:10 |
| 4. | "Honeymoon Hunny" | Kevin Polard, Strelau | 4:17 |
| 5. | "Dream" | Brad Strelau | 5:22 |
| 6. | "Ain't Gonna Play" | Mark Batten | 4:04 |
| 7. | "Tell Me Why" | Zimmermann | 4:46 |
| 8. | "To The Rhythm" | Strelau | 4:38 |
| 9. | "He Is" | Batten | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Give You All (remix)" | Zimmermann | 5:12 |
| Total length: | 46:00 | ||
Awards
editGospel Music Association of Canada 30th Annual Covenant Awards
edit2008 Lifetime Achievement Award[10]
References
edit- ^ "Christian Acappella Album Directory". acadisc.com. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News Facebook About Page". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News Tribute". vimeo.com. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News Facebook Page". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News "Get With the Rhythm"". sweet-music.com. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News "Get With the Rhythm"". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News, Word 2 Y'all download". emusic.com. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News "Dream Love & Pray"". crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rhythm & News "Dream Love + Pray"". musicbrainz.org. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Covenant Award Archives". gmacanada.ca. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
Category:Musical groups from Vancouver Category:Christian musical groups Category:A cappella musical groups Category:Canadian musical groups Category:Canadian Christian musical groups