STREETHEART!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The first time you listen to a song performed by the lovely ladies of Streetheart - you know you've stumbled upon something truly special!  Very few contemporary acappella groups have such a crystal-clear, booming-but-sweet, musically-tight sound as Streetheart and nobody but nobody out there performing today looks as good doing it as they do!  Talent, charm, command of the music, and solid stage presence - the gals of Streetheart have it all!

It all started back in 1992 when group leader Betty decided it was time that the world had a solid all-female contemporary acappella group.  Having always wanted to sing and having attended a few UGHA meetings and watched acappella groups doing their things, Betty got bit by the group harmony bug.  She joined a predecessor all-female group that included current Streetheart members Lisa and Patsi.  That group performed for a while until about 1998 when the three decided to go in a different direction.  Realizing that they needed additional members for a new group, Betty took out an add in a local New Jersey newspaper for women interested in joining an acappella group.  After they considered all the interested ladies, they invited San D. and Vicky to join the group.  These five would form the nucleus of a group that would stay together to date.

Almost from the first time they sang together, the group knew they had something special as the two new members' voices blended in immediately with the existing trio.  And they are not just fellow members of an acappella group - the five are good friends.  "Its like a slumber party," says San D about weekly rehearsals, as they come together to practice but more importantly laugh and enjoy time together.  This is one very tight group that has a lot of fun doing what it does.  That friendship and admiration is evident in their music - all five members sing lead and they play off each other's voices nicely.

Talent abounds in this group.  While none of the ladies can claim to have performed during the original days of doo-wop in the 1950's and 1960's (some like Lisa weren't even born yet), they all have experience singing alone and in groups.  Take San D, one of the group's tenors.  She sang with the likes of Ben E. King and Johnny Maestro before joining the group.  Patsi has a Masters in Fine Arts and Lisa was an accomplished performer long before joining the group.  All of the ladies bring their collective talents together into beautiful, uniquely feminine voice.

Their first recording endeavor - a 2000 CD entitled a Streetheart Named Desire - was an ambitious initial entrance into the contemporary acappella market.  The CD captures a wide range of music, from the classics like That's My Desire (with a terrific lead from Betty) and Diamonds and Pearls (with Vicki stepping forward for the lead) to the more challenging arrangements ordinarily not attempted by other groups such as the Chanters' No No No (not an easy song to do acappella) and the Globetrotters' great Rainy Day Bells.  The ladies also cleverly were able to convert doo-wop girl name songs like My Juanita into My Juanito and instead of guys singing that they wanna spend one night with "Cherie" on the classic "That's My Desire" - the ladies pour their hearts out to "Gary" (one lucky guy!).  From start to finish, this is a great 19 track CD - no overmixing or phony effects - its pure, strong, group harmony singing.


When people hear the ladies perform live, they can't believe that they sound as good in person as they do on their CD.  This solid sound has resulted in a number of memorable performances by the group, including one in Atlantic City with Nicky Addeo and other original doo-wopers and a performance at Johnny Maestro's 60th birthday.  Maybe not so memorable was a trip to the retirement home one time where a grinning elderly man was seated in the front row.  As Patsy was explaining that acappella music is sung without musical accompaniment or "equipment," the older gentleman, obviously liking what he was seeing, remarked "oh, you have all the equipment all right."

          

And the ladies continue to climb the ladder of success, making regular appearances on Don K. Reed's WCBS-FM show, at UGHA and Lead East - two of the premiere locations for groups to display their talents before the always-discerning fans of group harmony.  When you ask the ladies of Streetheart about the future - they all agree that they'd like to keep doing what they are doing.  While none of them plan to quit their regular jobs and go to full-time singing, they would all love to continue being a force in the world of contemporary acappella.  With a new CD in the works, and more performances planned, this is one group that we know will be around for a long long time.


 

CURRENT INFORMATION

Click here for the Streetheart Web Page

Click here to purchase their great 2000 CD - a Streetheart Named Desire

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