THE FABULOUS FLOPS

When you think of locations where group harmony is wildly popular these days, what comes to mind?  The New York City area?  Philly?  Pittsburgh? Chicago?  Los Angeles?  Well it just so happens that one of the hottest locales for group harmony these days is.......Germany!  That's right!  And possibly the hottest group coming out of Deutchland these days is the Fabulous Flops - five younger guys who shunned the popular music of their era to pursue the art of group harmony singing.  And Germany, Europe and the United States are richer because of their efforts.

As for the group's history, back in 1991, two cats named Patrick Albrecht and Matthias Anker turned their considerable musical talents towards the world of group harmony.  Pat and Matt looked around among their musical friends and found additional members for an acappella group - Markus Gebert and Hanno Kohfeldt.  They became the Four Flops.  The Four Flops performed for several years and were eventually discovered in 1997 by Eddie Engel of Crystal Ball Records who record them on several occasions.    Around the same time, Markus Gebert, the group's bass, left the group and was replaced by the young Frankie Buttgereit.  Frankie had been attending a Four Flops concert and asked if the group would sing back up vocals on a record he was producing.  Frankie had his own popular group the Belangels which had disbanded.  When Gebert left the group, Frankie took his place as bass.

A couple of years ago the group decided to add a fifth voice to the mix and Oliver Preilipper joined the group.  Obviously, this created a problem as people would ask them:  "Why is it the Four Flops, you are five?"  After a time of searching, the group came up with a new name.  It wasn't easy - the group had grown up on the name Four Flops.  Finally, the new name was born - the Fabulous Flops!

When you listen to these guys sing, you can tell that they spend a lot of time listening to and studying group harmony.  They really care about making sure their music sounds rich and authentic.  Every song is well prepared, well executed and well produced.  Their 2001 CD - For Your Ears Only - is a real treat for group harmony fans.   There is the traditional classics of group harmony like Girlfriend and Gloria.  But then there are the surprises - play the cut entitled Only You and you expect to hear the classic Platters tune.  Not so.  What you get is an awesome acappella rendition of an 80's New Wave/electro-pop tune by the group Yaz.  Doesn't sound like a good combination but they really pull it off.   The selection Motorbiene/Barbara Ann is a doo-wop language lesson.  You don't have to be German expert to understand it.  Frankie explains that Motorbiene is a nickname for a girl that likes to go out riding in cars.  The song is about going out cruising with your girl - as universal a rock and roll theme as there is one.

These guys know how to have fun.  Just listen to their rendition of songs like Girlfriend or Barbara Ann or look at the pictures from their performances and you will know right away that the Fabulous Flops not only want to create the very finest in group harmony sound but they want their audiences to have a good time too.  We look forward to hearing and seeing more of this fabulous group of talented guys!

CURRENT INFO

Click here for the Fabulous Flops web site and to purchase their CDs:  Website

Click here to stream a video of the Fabulous Flops in action:  Video

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