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History of Unsung Heroes, 1996-2008
Photos of Heroes through the years:
Who are we? You sure you want to know? The story of this group is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a boring little tale – if somebody told you we were just your average, ordinary group, not a care in the world – somebody lied.
In 1995, Steve Lee graduated from Boston College, where he had been a member of the Acoustics co-ed a cappella group. In search of a new creative outlet a year later, he invited four friends to join an informal, all-male a cappella group he dubbed "Unsung Heroes." That summer, the five rehearsed one song -- Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecelia" -- before Lee's move to Washington, D.C. prompted them to disband in September 1996.
Six years would pass before Lee returned to Connecticut and breathed new life into Unsung Heroes in the spring of 2002. He called upon some of the guys from the old group -- Calvin Lai, Chris Besgen and George Konidaris -- and Chris Serico, who recruited his friend Mike "Obie" O'Brien. Lee, Serico and O'Brien held an organizational meeting at a Stamford sports bar, where they mapped out the Heroic rehearsal schedule, location and vision before resorting to several rounds of bad billiards.
Searching for an excuse to meet at the ESPN Zone in Times Square, all six group members met for the first time and agreed, perhaps in a drunken stupor, to purchase customized bowling jerseys. With a clinking of beer steins, Unsung Heroes was reborn. The group spent the next year building a vocal band from scratch as well as a set list of rock, pop and R&B "songs that don't suck."
On March 22, 2003, Unsung Heroes made their stage debut, hosting the Bostonians of Boston College at the New Dance Group Studio near Times Square. A crowd of 90 cheered as the eight men belted Boyz II Men's "Thank You," Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," a parody of Bud Light's "Real American Heroes" (renamed "Real Unsung Heroes") and Stone Temple Pilots' "Interstate Love Song." Since then, the group has performed dozens of songs in its ever-expanding repertoire.
In the fall of 2003, Unsung Heroes became a co-ed vocal band with the addition of two women, including Samantha Cordon, who remains with the group to this day. With the arrival of Heroines came the departure of the bowling jerseys. Change is good.
Unsung Heroes has wowed audiences on stages throughout New York City, including Crash Mansion, Symphony Space, Don Hill's Rock Club, Club Midway, The Baggot Inn, Kenny's Castaways, Soundz Lounge and South Street Seaport. The group has also performed on the campuses of NYU, Columbia University, Boston College and Harvard University.
This year, Unsung Heroes were named one of the "Best A Cappella Groups in NYC" by Time Out New York.
With a current roster of four men and four women, Unsung Heroes are Samantha Cordon, Ashley Fochtman, Carson Hinners, George Konidaris, Oliver Libby, Chris Serico, Juliana Tarris and Whitney Wood.
As they like to say, "Once a Hero, always a Hero." That and, thanks to Chris Contessa, "Unsung Heroes = Rulz."
In 1995, Steve Lee graduated from Boston College, where he had been a member of the Acoustics co-ed a cappella group. In search of a new creative outlet a year later, he invited four friends to join an informal, all-male a cappella group he dubbed "Unsung Heroes." That summer, the five rehearsed one song -- Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecelia" -- before Lee's move to Washington, D.C. prompted them to disband in September 1996.
Six years would pass before Lee returned to Connecticut and breathed new life into Unsung Heroes in the spring of 2002. He called upon some of the guys from the old group -- Calvin Lai, Chris Besgen and George Konidaris -- and Chris Serico, who recruited his friend Mike "Obie" O'Brien. Lee, Serico and O'Brien held an organizational meeting at a Stamford sports bar, where they mapped out the Heroic rehearsal schedule, location and vision before resorting to several rounds of bad billiards.
Searching for an excuse to meet at the ESPN Zone in Times Square, all six group members met for the first time and agreed, perhaps in a drunken stupor, to purchase customized bowling jerseys. With a clinking of beer steins, Unsung Heroes was reborn. The group spent the next year building a vocal band from scratch as well as a set list of rock, pop and R&B "songs that don't suck."
On March 22, 2003, Unsung Heroes made their stage debut, hosting the Bostonians of Boston College at the New Dance Group Studio near Times Square. A crowd of 90 cheered as the eight men belted Boyz II Men's "Thank You," Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game," a parody of Bud Light's "Real American Heroes" (renamed "Real Unsung Heroes") and Stone Temple Pilots' "Interstate Love Song." Since then, the group has performed dozens of songs in its ever-expanding repertoire.
In the fall of 2003, Unsung Heroes became a co-ed vocal band with the addition of two women, including Samantha Cordon, who remains with the group to this day. With the arrival of Heroines came the departure of the bowling jerseys. Change is good.
Unsung Heroes has wowed audiences on stages throughout New York City, including Crash Mansion, Symphony Space, Don Hill's Rock Club, Club Midway, The Baggot Inn, Kenny's Castaways, Soundz Lounge and South Street Seaport. The group has also performed on the campuses of NYU, Columbia University, Boston College and Harvard University.
This year, Unsung Heroes were named one of the "Best A Cappella Groups in NYC" by Time Out New York.
With a current roster of four men and four women, Unsung Heroes are Samantha Cordon, Ashley Fochtman, Carson Hinners, George Konidaris, Oliver Libby, Chris Serico, Juliana Tarris and Whitney Wood.
As they like to say, "Once a Hero, always a Hero." That and, thanks to Chris Contessa, "Unsung Heroes = Rulz."
Once a Hero, Always a Hero!
All-time roster, in chronological order:
1. Steve LeeAll-time roster, in chronological order:
[founder, original member] -- 1996, 2002-2003
2. George Konidaris
[original member] -- 1996, 2002-Present
3. Calvin Lai
[original member] -- 1996, 2002
4. Ernie Lai
[original member] -- 1996
5. Chris Besgen
[original member] -- 1996, 2002
6. Chris Serico
[co-founder, publicity manager] -- 2002-Present
7. Mike “Obie” O’Brien
[co-founder] -- 2002-03
8. Danny Adrien
2002-03
9. Scott Hecker
2002-03
10. Sam Shaw
2002-03
11. Mark Schroffner
2003
12. Oliver Libby
[music manager] -- 2003-Present
13. Chris Contessa
2003-04
14. Samantha Cordon (Savarese)
[director] -- 2003-Present
15. Rachel Lappen (Grundfast)
2003-04
16. Howard Levine
2003-04
17. Angelo Rufino
2004
18. Juliana Tarris
[logistics coordinator] -- 2004-Present
19. Corinne Gooden
2004-05
20. Elizabeth Gronewold Henry
2004-05
21. Devin Powell
2004-07
22. Ashley Fochtman
[business manager] -- 2005-Present
23. Kate Rousseau
2005-06
24. Whitney Wood
2007, hiatus, 2008-Present
25. Brad Proctor
2007-08
26. Carson Hinners
2007-Present
27. Chloe Thompson
2007-08
28. Derrick T. Smith
2008