the song that started it all, "You're Still You" yourestillyou.ram
Josh Groban
the song that started it all, "You're Still You" yourestillyou.ram
Biography
19-year old Josh Groban has a
story as compelling and as real as you are likely to hear ...in
the world of pop or classical music. Discovered by world-renowned
producer/writer/arranger David Foster, Josh’s journey to his
label home, the Foster/Warner Bros. joint venture - 143 Records -
reads like the stuff of show business legend.
”I’ve had an interesting route getting to this
place,” says Josh. That ‘place’ he speaks of finds
him releasing a Foster-helmed debut album featuring the likes of
Charlotte Church, The Corrs, Rhys Fulber and Lili Haydn. Not bad
for a kid who had only joined the school vocal group because
– in Josh’s words: “everyone else was doing
it.”
Born in Los Angeles, Josh put singing on hold two or three years
after his seventh grade debut because he had to change schools.
It was only when he attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts
Program did Josh begin to take his talent seriously. “I
started taking music lessons on the side,” he recalls.
“I was very much into musical theater. I had a pretty good
baritone voice, so I began acting and singing in school
productions.”
Citing Mandy Patinkin as one of his early musical theater heroes,
Josh realized late in 1998 that his intense vocal discipline was
about to pay off. “I was studying with a vocal coach who
knew David Foster. One day David called him and said he needed a
singer right away for an event he was putting on for the Governor
of California’s Inauguration.”
Josh sent in a tape to Foster, and the next thing he knew he was
called to rehearse for the event. The song was “All I Ask Of
You”, and Josh nailed it. The Inauguration event was a huge
success, and much to Josh’s surprise the Foster-Groban
juggernaut was on a roll. “A month later David calls me and
asks me if I know the Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli song “The
Prayer.” I say “of course.” The song, which
appeared on both Bocelli’s and Dion’s own albums, was
in fact, written by Foster.
Incredibly, David was enlisting Groban to fill-in at the 1999
Grammy rehearsals for Bocelli, who wasn’t able to make the
practice session. Josh was in shock. “You have to remember,
he was asking me to come down to the Shrine and sing with Celine
Dion,” he laughs. “At first I said no. I was afraid the
song was too high for me, and God knows, I didn’t want to
embarrass myself.” But a persistent Foster prevailed, and
the then 17-year-old Josh sped down to the auditorium, where he
sang the Oscar nominated song in front of several other Grammy
nominated artists, and – much to his disbelief – with
Celine herself.
”The whole experience was unreal,” remembers Josh.
“David invited me back to the dress rehearsal, and there I
was sitting in the front row watching Aerosmith and Madonna do
their thing.” But the story gets even more incredible. The
Grammy host for that year, Rosie O’ Donnell noticed Josh in
the audience of the dress rehearsal and invited him backstage.
“You’re the opera boy, huh? You were great,” she
told the young singer, and booked Josh for her TV show on the
spot. A few weeks later Groban appeared on The Rosie
O’Donnell show and was even interviewed by the comedian.
Josh continued to perform at events for Foster, but he also began
to concentrate on attaining a college education. Soon, Josh
received news that Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious musical
theater department accepted him. When Foster booked Groban for
yet another music industry party, “that was the beginning of
the conflict,” says Josh. “I was thrilled to be singing
for David, but also excited about attending classes at Carnegie
Mellon.” He kept the commitment, however, and it was at the
music industry event where a group of Warner Bros. executives
told Foster they were interested in signing Groban to a record
deal. David responded quickly, and soon after Josh decided to put
school on hold to pursue his singing career.
The two already had a selection of songs recorded for the debut
album, including “Alla Luce Del Sole”, and “Gira
Con Me”. Foster especially admires Josh’s versatility.
“I love his natural ability in the pop and rock arena, but I
love his sense of classics even more. He’s a true musical
force to be reckoned with.”
When asked what style suits the vocalist best, Groban takes his
time to answer. “People might want to classify me as
operatic I suppose, but I won’t even be touching Arias for a
long time. I want my voice to mature. I hope to look back on my
career five or ten years from now and see that I continued to
grow as a singer. I would never want to be pigeonholed.”
Josh has been lending his vocal talent at several benefits in the
last few months. They include The Andre Agassi Grand Slam Event
For Children which featured Josh alongside the likes of Elton
John, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley & Robin Williams; Muhammad
Ali’s Fight Night Foundation honoring Michael J. Fox and
others; The Family Celebration 2001 co-hosted by President and
Mrs. Clinton along with David Kelley and wife, Michelle Pfeiffer;
and Michael Milken’s CapCure event, which raises funds for
cancer research.
Josh also appeared on the stellar 2001 season finale of the hit
television program, Ally McBeal, performing the heartfelt song,
“You’re Still You”, (from his forthcoming debut)
at his character’s high school prom - an event that was
central to the finale plot line. Response to the episode was so
amazing (8,000 fan e-mails received) that Josh was asked to
return to the show and will be featured on the holiday episode of
Ally McBeal airing December 10th in which he will perform
“To Where You Are”, another track from his new record.
An additional song, “For Always (Duet)”, performed by
Josh Groban and Lara Fabian, made an early appearance on the A.I.
soundtrack.
Josh will also be featured on the Charlotte Church PBS November
Pledge Special and will share the bill with k.d. lang on Music
Choice, which begins airing November 19th. “It’s been
like a dream so far,” says Josh, “All I can say is stay
tuned.”
Album
tracklisting from Josh's album - in stores now:
01. "Alla Luce Del Sole"
02. "Gira Con Me"
03. "You're Still You" hear it
04. "Cinema Paradiso (Se)"
05. "To Where You Are"
06. "Alejate"
07. "Canto Alla Vita (Featuring The Corrs)"
08. "Let Me Fall (From Cirque du Soleil)"
09. "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)"
11. "Home To Stay"
12. "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" "hear it
13. "The Prayer (With Charlotte Church)"
Appearances &
News
dates, be sure to see him on Thanksgiving, and if this
isn't enough, there is more coming, be sure to stay tuned!
DATE EVENT
11/12-25 MUSIC CHOICE special with kd lang (one hour
special features Josh Groban interview & performance footage)
11/22 Thanksgiving! FOX/NFL: Josh to sing National Anthem
on Nationally Televised Thanksgiving Day NFL Game (Detroit vs.
Green Bay) on FOX
11/22-12/25 PBS: Charlotte Church PBS Pledge Special - Josh
is guesting on 2 songs ("The Prayer" and
"Somewhere") (it will rebroadcast
again in March 2002) Airdate is different in each market.
Carriage dates:
12/1 WLIW, New York 8pm
12/1 WGBH, Boston 12 noon
12/2 KQED, San Francisco 7:30pm
12/2 WETA, Washington D.C. 8pm
12/2 KETC, St. Louis 3:30pm
12/3 WMFE, Orlando 8pm
12/3 KPBS, San Diego 8pm
12/8 KCET, Los Angeles 9pm
12/12 KERA, Dallas 7pm
12/26 WHYY, Philadelphia 8pm
11/28 Canada AM (Canadian morning TV) Josh to perform
2 songs
11/30 CBS: "Ole Teen Challenge" Network
primetime. Brian Boitano to skate to "You're Still You"
(music only, Josh will not appear)
12/9 FOX: Nationally televised Ice Skating
"Tribute To Gold" to use "To Where You Are"
as intro music & bumpers throughout the
special (music only, Josh will not appear)
12/10 FOX: Ally McBeal Christmas Episode. Josh to
appear for his second time on the show and will sing "To
Where You Are." Josh's character is key to the storyline
& the episode was written around this song.
12/21 CBS: "At Home For The Holiday"
Nationally televised Christmas special includes a guest
appearance with Charlotte Church on "The
Prayer." Other artists performing on the special include
Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, Destiny's Child and Mandy Moore.
1/1 New Years Day! NBC: "Brian Boitano's Skating
Spectacular." New Year's Day nationally televised - Josh
will be interviewed & will sing
"You're Still You"
1/10 NBC: "Hallmark's Salute to Gold"
Nationally televised on NBC. Brian Boitano to skate to
"You're Still You" (music only, Josh
will not appear.)
Links: More about Josh
The best and official source
about Josh Groban, check out: joshgroban.com