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Jeff Thacher

{{short description|American musician (born 1967)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Jeff Thacher

| image =Jeff Thatcher, 2015.jpg

| caption = Thacher in 2015

| birth_name = Jeffrey Thomas Thacher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|12|23}}

| birth_place = Noank, Connecticut, US

| death_date =

| death_place =

| origin = Potsdam, New York

| instrument = Mouth drumming, vocals

| genre = A cappella

| occupation = Performer, singer-songwriter, record producer, video director

| years_active = 1991–present

| label = Shakariki Records / PAID, Inc., Amerigo Records, J-Bird Records, Rentrak Records, ForLife Records

| associated_acts = Rockapella
Five O'Clock Shadow
The Nylons
The GrooveBarbers

| website = {{URL|www.rockapella.com}}

}}

Jeffrey Thomas Thacher (born December 23, 1967) is an American musician, best known as a member of the vocal group Rockapella. A professional vocal percussionist and singer who emerged on the early contemporary a cappella scene in 1991, Jeff Thacher co-founded the Boston-based a cappella group Five O'Clock Shadow (aka FOCS) that year and went on to join Rockapella in 1993 as their full-time mouth-drummer.

Biography

Thacher was a 1990 graduate of Berklee College of Music's Music Production & Engineering program, and afterward spent several years in television & radio production when not performing{{cite web|last=Schulz |first=Mike |url=http://www.rcreader.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12393&Itemid=48 |title=Spitting Sounds: Vocal Percussionist Jeff Thacher Performs with Rockapella at Hancher Auditorium |publisher=Rcreader.com |date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=October 19, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/25006 |title=Jeff Thacher |publisher=Rockapella |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909171236/http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/25006 |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 1991 Thacher performed as a tenor in Five O'Clock Shadow, when Rockapella was looking to add human-made drum sounds to their live shows.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/24931 |title=Biography |publisher=Rockapella |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908021012/http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/24931 |archive-date=September 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Thacher's first concert with the group was on May 15, 1993, at the Berklee Performance Center,{{cite web |url=http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/25000 |title=Shows 1986–2001 |publisher=Rockapella |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909135601/http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/25000 |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }} after which he began touring internationally with Rockapella, making his first CD appearance with them on the song "Big Wet Rag" from the Carmen Sandiego soundtrack sequel Carmen Sandiego: Out Of This World (1993). The first album to feature Jeff's distinctive sound throughout was Rockapella's first all-originals album, Vocobeat (1994), for the Japanese market.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/24937 |title=Discography |publisher=Rockapella |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909092400/http://www.rockapella.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/24937 |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Rockapella were still a quartet during their television stint on Carmen Sandiego until the fifth and final season of the show (1995) when Thacher appeared with them for that season.

As the mid-1990s progressed, the terms "organic" and "imitative" began to be used to describe contrasting a cappella vocal percussion styles, with Thacher as the most prominent progenitor of the "organic" approach, combining blatantly literal replication of drums with sounds that didn't seek to duplicate, but rather fill the role of a drum or percussive instrument.{{cite web|url=http://www.casa.org |title=The Contemporary A Cappella Society |publisher=Casa.org |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mouthdrumming.com/askwes/answers.html |title=got spit? percussion: Ask Wes |publisher=Mouthdrumming.com |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2011}} Thacher was also the first vocal percussionist to employ a throat microphone (aka "throat mic") using electronic guitar pickups adhered to the larynx area of the throat (see piezoelectric sensor). The technique allowed intentional throat grunting sounds to be heard more effectively in live shows and on recordings (1997). He became the first such artist to be professionally endorsed by a guitar pickup company (Seymour Duncan, from 1998 to present, now D-TAR).{{cite web|url=http://d-tar.com/cgi-bin/topartist1.pl?LineNum=28 |title=D-TAR Top Artists |publisher=D-tar.com |accessdate=October 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502161821/http://www.d-tar.com/cgi-bin/topartist1.pl?LineNum=28 |archivedate=May 2, 2012 }}

Performer Discography

=Domestic releases=

class="wikitable"

! align="left" valign="top" |Release Date

! align="left" valign="top" |Album/Single

! align="left" valign="top" |Artist

! align="left" valign="top" |Label

|

align="center" valign="middle" |December 2018

|align="center" valign="middle" |Jams, Vol. 2

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 2017

|align="center" valign="middle" |"How Bout Now?" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |September 2017

|align="center" valign="middle" |Jams, Vol. 1

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |June 2017

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Workin My Way to You" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 2016

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Better 2gether" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |July 2016

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Sir GotALot" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |February 2016

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Candy Man" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |April 2015

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Rock Around The Clock / Tell Me Something Good" single

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |March 2013

|align="center" valign="middle" |Motown & More

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 2011

|align="center" valign="middle" |A Rockapella Holiday

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records / PAID, Inc.

align="center" valign="middle" |September 2010

|align="center" valign="middle" |Bang

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records / PAID, Inc.

align="center" valign="middle" |June 2004

|align="center" valign="middle" |Live in Japan

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Shakariki Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |Comfort & Joy

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Amerigo Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |August 2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |Smilin'

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Amerigo Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |March 2001

|align="center" valign="middle" |In Concert

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |October 2000

|align="center" valign="middle" |Christmas

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |March 2000

|align="center" valign="middle" |2

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" | J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |February 1999

|align="center" valign="middle" |Don't Tell Me You Do

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" | J-Bird Records
Re-released on Shakariki Records in 2004

align="center" valign="middle" |Mid-1997

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" | Independent

align="center" valign="middle" |Mid-1996

|align="center" valign="middle" |Lucky Seven

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" | Independent

align="center" valign="middle" |Mid-1995

|align="center" valign="middle" |Primer

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" | Independent

=International releases=

class="wikitable"

! align="center" valign="top" |Year

! align="center" valign="top" |Album

! align="center" valign="top" |Artist

! align="center" valign="top" |Label

align="center" valign="middle" |2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |In Concert

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rentrak Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 2001

|align="center" valign="middle" |Christmas

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rentrak Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 1996

|align="center" valign="middle" |Lucky Seven:
Memories And Dreams

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |ForLife Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 1995

|align="center" valign="middle" |Best Fest

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |ForLife Records

align="center" valign="middle" |November 1994

|align="center" valign="middle" |Out Cold

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |ForLife Records

align="center" valign="middle" |April 1994

|align="center" valign="middle" |Vocobeat

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |ForLife Records

=Compilations=

class="wikitable"

! align="center" valign="top" |Release Date

! align="center" valign="top" |Album

! align="center" valign="top" |Artist

! align="center" valign="top" |Label

align="center" valign="middle" |September 2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |Best A Cappella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |ForLife Records

align="center" valign="middle" |2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |More Than Ever

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rentrak Records

=Unaffiliated releases=

class="wikitable"

! align="center" valign="top" |Year

! align="center" valign="top" |Album

! align="center" valign="top" |Artist

! align="center" valign="top" |Label

align="center" valign="middle" |Summer 2005

|align="center" valign="middle" |Live at Duo Music Exchange

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |Duo Records

=Miscellaneous releases=

class="wikitable"

! align="center" valign="top" |Year

! align="center" valign="top" |Album

! align="center" valign="top" |Artist

! align="center" valign="top" |Song

align="center" valign="middle" |2007

|align="center" valign="middle" |Hokie Nation: An A Cappella Tribute

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"I'll Hear Your Voice"

align="center" valign="middle" |2002

|align="center" valign="middle" |20 Christmas Stars, Vol. IV

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Merry Christmas Darling"

align="center" valign="middle" |2000

|align="center" valign="middle" |Mark and Brian: Little Drummer Boys

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Silver Bells" (Live performance)

align="center" valign="middle" |1999

|align="center" valign="middle" |Revival – Sam Harris

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"A Change In My Life" (Background vocals)

align="center" valign="middle" |1996

|align="center" valign="middle" |Voices Only: A Cappella Originals

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Bed Of Nails"

align="center" valign="middle" |1993

|align="center" valign="middle" |Carmen Sandiego: Out of This World

|align="center" valign="middle" |Rockapella

|align="center" valign="middle" |"Big Wet Rag"

=Solo/Other CDs As Guest Performer=

class="wikitable"

! align="center" valign="top"| Release Date

! align="center" valign="top"| Album

! align="center" valign="top"| Artist

align="center" valign="middle"|2011

|align="center" valign="middle"|Unplugged

|align="center" valign="middle"|John K. Brown

align="center" valign="middle"|2010

|align="center" valign="middle"|bOOmbOOm

|align="center" valign="middle"|John K. Brown

align="center" valign="middle"|2006

|align="center" valign="middle"|Unorthodox

|align="center" valign="middle"|Sean Altman/What I Like About Jew

align="center" valign="middle"|2005

|align="center" valign="middle"|Glory

|align="center" valign="middle"|The Groovebarbers

align="center" valign="middle"|2002

|align="center" valign="middle"|Alt.mania

|align="center" valign="middle"|Sean Altman

align="center" valign="middle"|2000

|align="center" valign="middle"|Some Children See Him

|align="center" valign="middle"|Gas House Gang ("Go Tell It On the Mountain")

align="center" valign="middle"|1999

|align="center" valign="middle"|Hot Lips – The Vocal Band Sampler

|align="center" valign="middle"|compilation (The Nylons: "Monkey")

align="center" valign="middle"|1999

|align="center" valign="middle"|Fabric Of Life (Vocal Percussion Remix)

|align="center" valign="middle"|The Nylons ("Monkey")

align="center" valign="middle"|1997

|align="center" valign="middle"|SeanDEMOnium

|align="center" valign="middle"|Sean Altman

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://facebook.com/jeffthachermusic Official Facebook artist page]

{{Rockapella}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thacher, Jeff}}

Category:Living people

Category:American male musicians

Category:American beatboxers

Category:1967 births

Category:Rockapella members