Let’s see…the local concert and video shoot in March 2010 was a complete success.  Don’t believe me?  Go to http://www.youtube.com/fourthavenue1 to check out the evidence at our YouTube channel.  We released a brand new promotional video with footage taken from the concert and included full length versions of some of the songs from the concert.

We enjoyed our triumphant return in August 2010 to the UP State Fair in Michigan!  It was nice to see so many familiar faces and again perform for Michigan’s Governor.  We unveiled some new music and ate more fried food than we should.  I had at least one artery blocked by the end of our adventure.

In November of 2010, we FINALLY made our music available for digital download.  The Originals is a collection of Fourth Avenue a cappella original songs that appear on our previously released CDs (100%, Scrapbook, and high energy harmony) and a celebration of the return of the original members to the group.  It is now available for digital download at CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fourthavenue) or iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-originals/id401066633).  Make sure to link to these sites on your Facebook page (or social media of choice) and spread the word!

Next stop, Christmas!  If we don’t see you, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

FOURTH AVENUE IN CONCERT

8:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010.

Playhouse South
3700 Far Hills Avenue
Kettering, OH 45429

Tickets at door: $10, or call 1-888-262-3792

Go to www.playhousesouth.org for directions.

See you on March 26!

Have a wonderful New Year!  Make sure to come see us in 2010!

Jim has been doing a great job learning a lot of music since he rejoined, and we are really feeling like our sound is coming together.  We have added some exciting new songs to the repertoire and continue to push forward as a group.  It is nice to have a low bass who can throw in some vocal percussion to mix up the set a little more.  It gives us a chance to feature some of the vocal pyrotechnics of Maurice and gives him a chance to get into the audience and jump into somebody’s lap (Don’t try this at home.  We are trained professionals).

We have gotten to perform at some great venues so far this past year.  In August, we performed for Granville’s Summer Concert Series.  Beautiful weather and good people made for a fantastic afternoon.  Thank you, Dena McKinley, and the Granville Recreation Commission for your kind hospitality and for sending us some photos.

Also, we had a fantastic time at the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in August unleashing our Fourth Avenue brand of goodness on the extremely pleasant folks up north some may affectionately call yoopers.  The Upper Peninsula has truly become our home away from home, and we enjoy performing for the warmest, friendliest people you could ever meet.  The trip, however, was not without its challenges.  We blew a tire on our way up to the Upper Peninsula and Ryan’s cat like reflexes and steady hand helped keep us from rolling over.  A tire change and underwear check completed, we headed onward and upward to our home away from home.  However, that was not the only twist to our week; Ryan fought an ear infection all week but still managed to rock the house (or stage trailer if you’re picky).  Over the next few weeks, we will be putting some footage on our youtube channel from the Upper Peninsula State Fair.  Make sure to subscribe to our channel at http://www.youtube.com/fourthavenue1 so you are notified when we upload a video.

Ouch…wrist cramp.  It has been awhile since I updated this blog.  More to come soon (and by soon, I may mean a year from now).

Make sure to come out to see us in 2010!  Check out the updated calendar!

Scott

I wanted to give an update on all things Fourth Avenue. It has been great to have Jim Brown back in Fourth Avenue. There is a lot to be said about having a real bass at your disposal. You should hear him on our arrangement of Papa Was a Rolling Stone. Jim sang with Fourth Avenue for nine years so the “lock” between voices is coming along nicely. The stage show is also benefitting from having four original members on stage. The banter is fun, and we also are still not too old to get “jiggy” with the stage choreography. We may throw out a back here and there, but nobody has broken a hip.

All kidding aside, it is nice to be making music with longtime friends. If you have not seen Fourth Avenue lately, you will want to check out a show. If you can’t wait, please check out some of our latest video clips at Fourth Avenue’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/fourthavenue1). Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and you will be notified by email when new video clips are posted. We already have video clips up from some of our summer and fall 2008 shows, and we will be adding more soon.

Have a fantastic 2009! See you at a show!

Ahem, ahem…is this thing on? Oh, I guess it is. Hi there, it’s Jim! Many of you may remember me as the funny little bald guy with the deep rumbly voice. Others may recall (some of you with dread) my bad jokes and puns that I added to our live shows. Of course, I’m sure there are those of you who don’t remember me at all or have no idea who I am. Regardless of which group you may fall into, I’M BAAACK!!!!

I am sooooo excited to be singing with the group again! After making occasional guest appearances with the boys, or joining up with them for a wedding song or two over the years, the timing finally worked out for us to come back together, and WOW, the sounds we are making are amazing! When I was with the group for the first go-round, Maurice, Ryan, Scott and I sang together for more than 9 years and 2,500 shows in 25+ states. With all of that history to draw from, singing together again is like putting on a comfortable pair of jeans that you forgot you had: they just fit. So do we. There is a certain camaraderie that we always had when we were onstage together, and if our rehearsals are any indication, we are already well on our way to finding it again!

I encourage you to attend the performance on Sunday, August 3, 7:00 PM at the outdoor amphitheater next to the Beavercreek YMCA on Grange Hall Road in Beavercreek, Ohio. This is a venue that we have performed at annually for more years than I can remember, and it holds a specials place in all of our hearts. The show will mark the final performance of soon-to-be-departing member Gary, along with the unveiling of the new Fourth Avenue sound with me. Sprinkle in a couple of new songs and some five-part arrangements with all the guys, and you have the makings of an incredible evening of a cappella music!

As I wrap this, I’d like to thank Gary for all of the time and energy he invested in the group. Gary, although we didn’t get the opportunity to share the stage very often, you are an important part of the history of this extraordinary group, and you will certainly be missed. As you will soon find out, however, once you are a member of Fourth Avenue, you are always a member of the family. Good luck in your future endeavors, and be sure to come by and share the stage with us from time to time.

With that, I must get back to working on my music, choreography, and bad jokes. The clock is ticking, and my return to the microphone is only a few short days away. I hope to see you there!

Jim

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog…

Unfortunately, this change is not all sunshine and lollipops. We will be saying, “good bye” to Gary Thompson (at least for the time being – you never know in Fourth Avenue). Gary has been with us almost four years and his enthusiasm towards performance has always been an encouragement. Why the change? Gary’s other group, The Legends (a 50s and 60s show band) is doing very well and will be performing in Gatlinburg four months out of the year. These four months are unfortunately a popular gigging time, and Gary is in a place where it has become difficult for him to split his time between the two groups. This prompted us to start a search for a replacement. We encourage you to come out to a Fourth Avenue show and wish Gary the best in all of his endeavors. Gary will be singing with Fourth Avenue through August while we get Jim up to speed.

To start our Fifteenth Anniversary announcement off right, we have updated the media section of the website with some video clips of Fourth Avenue. One of the clips we have added is the Safe Auto commercial which featured us singing our a cappella version of the jingle as “menacing urban youth.” This was a little bit of a stretch considering we are not menacing, urban, or youth, but it was a lot of fun! Check out the videos here and stay tuned to the website over the next few months as we make some major announcements!

We saw Luke again in 2002 at the Best in the Midwest concert when we performed with several other popular midwest a cappella groups including Chapter 6. Luke is a nice guy; we wish him well in the American Idol competition.