VOICE ONE:
Music experts say more people are becoming interested inclassical music because it is being presented in new ways by newgroups. A group of singers called Three Mo’ Tenors is such a group.I’m Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Steve Ember. The music of Three Mo’ Tenors is our reporttoday on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((MUSIC BRIDGE FROM THREE MO’ TENORS))
VOICE ONE:
Three Mo’ Tenors present concerts that celebrate many kinds ofmusic. Their first concert was presented in New York City in thesummer of Two-Thousand. Since then, they have performed in manycities in the United States. Their concert also has been broadcaston television.
A tenor is the highest natural adult male singing voice. ThreeAfrican-American singers perform as Three Mo’ Tenors. They areVictor Trent Cook, Rodrick Dixon and Thomas Young. They sing sevendifferent kinds of music — opera, songs from Broadway shows, jazz,blues, soul, spiritual and gospel. Listen as they sing “La Donna eMobile” from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto.”
((CUT ONE – “LA DONNA E MOBILE”))
VOICE TWO:
You may think they sound like any other group of tenors trainedto sing classical music. Listen again as the same performerscelebrate the sounds of Broadway. This song is from the Broadwaymusical show “Five Guys Named Moe.” It is called “Let the Good TimesRoll.”
((CUT 2 – “LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL”))
VOICE ONE:
Broadway director Marion Caffey is creator and director of ThreeMo’ Tenors. He says he got the idea for the Three Mo’ Tenors concertwhile listening to the successful concert of the Three Tenors. Itwas performed by three world-famous opera singers, Jose Carreras,Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.
Mister Caffey says he wants Three Mo’ Tenors to show thatAfrican-American singers are skilled performers of classical music.Mister Caffey says there has been a lack of African-American tenorssinging opera or classical music in concert. He includes thismessage in the Three Mo’ Tenors concert. Rodrick Dixon sings “MakeThem Hear You” from the Broadway musical “Ragtime.”
((CUT 3 – “MAKE THEM HEAR YOU”))
VOICE TWO:
The Three Mo’ Tenors are trained in classical as well as otherkinds of music. Victor Trent Cook received a Tony Award nominationin Nineteen-Ninety-Five for his performance in the Broadway musical”Smokey Joe’s Café.” He has also performed in other Broadway shows.
Rodrick Dixon has sung in concerts in the United States, Franceand Italy. He has appeared on Broadway in the musical”Ragtime.”Thomas Young has performed in major concert halls andopera houses in twenty countries. He has also performed in theaterand as a jazz singer.
VOICE ONE:
Listen to more music from the Three Mo’ Tenors concert. Thetenors sing a collection of songs written or made popular by DukeEllington. Here they sing “You Gotta Be a Rug Cutter and It Don’tMean a Thing.”
((CUT 4 – “YOU GOTTA BE A RUG CUTTER/IT DON’T MEAN A THING”))
VOICE TWO:
Soul music became popular in the United States during theNineteen-Sixties and Nineteen-Seventies. The song “Love Train”remains popular today.
((CUT 5 – “LOVE TRAIN”))
VOICE ONE:
Music critics are praising the Three Mo’ Tenors. Experts say thetenors are excellent at singing many kinds of music, as a group andas individuals.
The Three Mo’ Tenors concert ends with a spiritually emotionalperformance of gospel songs. The tenors are joined by a small groupof gospel singers. We leave you with “It’s My Time to Be Blessed.”
((CUT 6 – “IT’S MY TIME TO BE BLESSED”))
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Lawan Davis. It was produced by CatyWeaver. Our studio engineer was Holly Capehart. I’m Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Mary Tillotson. Join us again next week for anotherreport about life in the United States on the VOA Special Englishprogram, THIS IS AMERICA.