As seen on PBS, the hot new vocal group Under the Streetlamp performs an electrifying evening of classic hits from the American Radio Songbook. Exuding the irresistible rapport of a modern day Rat Pack, the quartet – former leading cast members of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys – performs with tight harmonies and slick dance moves that take audiences back to an era of sharkskin suits, flashy cars and martini shakers – a time when on hot summer nights, people would gather under a streetlamp to sing.
Michael Ingersoll, Shonn Wiley and Michael Cunio first rose to fame in Chicago performing in Jersey Boys together for a year. When the show’s run came to a close, audiences were left wanting more, and the three formed Under the Streetlamp, with friend Christopher Kale Jones from Jersey Boys’ national tour rounding out the quartet.
The group developed a repertoire of hits from the American Radio Songbook of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s – Doo-Wop, Motown, old time Rock ‘n’ Roll and favorites from such timeless stars as The Drifters, The Beach Boys and The Beatles. And, they received special permission from Frankie Vallie and Bob Guido to perform a medley from The Four Seasons’ catalog of chart-topping hits. With the mantra “Retro never sounded so now!,” they began bringing these classic sounds to a whole new audience, while simultaneously reminding original fans why they fell in love with the music in the first place.
“We think of ourselves as hosts to a party,” says Cunio. “And we’ve invited people of all ages. They can sing along. They can dance in the aisles. We of course show respect for these great songs and we want everyone to leave the party smiling.”
As they performed gigs around Chicago, the party grew and grew. Under the Streetlamp quickly earned a local and devoted following – and a reputation for generation-bridging concerts that paved the way to a much-anticipated debut CD/DVD, Under The Streetlamp: Live! The concert recording became the centerpiece of PBS pledge drives in major markets throughout the country including Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington DC, Miami, Atlanta and many more. With more than 2,000 airings since its 2011 debut, the PBS special has reached an estimated audience of a whopping 250 million viewers.
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