Tuesday night, Miami University Performing Arts Series will be presenting the a cappella group Naturally 7.
Straight off their tour with Michael Buble, the group is a self-described eclectic R&B ensemble that performs soul, rap, rock and folk music, and performs a wide range of covers and original compositions.
The group began in New York City in 1999 with Roger Thomas, his brother, Warren, and five other singers. The group uses a distinct a cappella style they call "Vocal Play," according to the group's MySpace.com page.
Since fall 2007, Naturally 7 has toured with Michael Buble, in Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia and the U.S. In May, the group made its national television debut on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Today Show.
Senior Catherine Deliberti saw Naturally 7 perform at a Michael Buble concert in Dayton.
"I was pleasantly surprised when the opening act turned out to be such an unbelievable talent," Deliberti said. "I'm so excited for them to come to Miami."
The band has recorded four albums, Non-Fiction, What is it?, Christmas…It's A Love Story and Ready II Fly. The single "Music is the Key," a duet with German artist Sarah Connor, reached No. 1 on German Billboard charts.
Ready II Fly also contains a cover of Phil Collins' "Feel it (In the air tonight)," an international top 20 song in France and Italy. The impromptu performance of the song on a Paris subway has received nearly two and a half million hits on YouTube.com
While at Miami, Naturally 7 will be working with the Cheezies, Mergers, Misfitz and the Remnants, Miami's student a cappella groups.
"All four groups will have the opportunity to have a tutorial session with Naturally 7, where they will be able to see how they run rehearsals and prepare for their performances," Misfitz President Lauren Pulte said.
Pulte said the Misfitz hope to gain experience from the workshop with Naturally 7.
According to senior Carley Robertson, music director for the Misfitz, all four a cappella groups will be taking part in the two-hour workshop before Tuesday night's performance. The groups will have the opportunity to learn techniques to improve their performance style. Naturally 7 and Miami's a cappella groups will learn a song together to perform at the concert.
Tickets are currently on sale at Miami's Box Office in the Shriver Center. Ticket prices are $12 for students and youth, $23 for seniors and $24 for adults. The performance is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 18 in Hall Auditorium.
Pulte said she is excited for the opportunity for Miami's a cappella groups to hone their craft.
"Naturally 7 are great role models for Miami's a cappella groups and we are very grateful for this opportunity," she said.
