3 minute read
Q&A with The Modern Gentlemen
Q&A
The Modern Gentlemen’s Brian Brigham
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By Heather Hawkins
Q: How did the group The Modern
Gentlemen meet and form?
A: We actually got started singing as a quartet back in 2003 when we were selected to join The Four Seasons with the legendary Frankie Valli. We all knew each other before hand. Of course, I’ve known my brother since he was born, but even with the other two…we had either worked together at theme parks or singing in other vocal groups. All we were told at the audition was that we were going in and singing for a 60s Rock n’ Roll band. There was a group of us who went through the audition process and finally the four of us went to Frankie’s house and sang around the piano and he found the sound he was looking for.
Q: What is your method of breaking down
A: We all have vocal harmony experience – whether it be doo wop or barber shop - those are influences that shaped our sound. During our time with Frankie Valli we were mainly harmony driven. But, we are all solo singers, so in our show [as The Modern Gentlemen] we do a mix of everything …we split up verses and sing solos and then we put in our four part harmony, too. For example, The Beatles songs are written in only three part harmony …we make it our own and create our own sound and make it fresh, but we still have that really cool retro feel.
Q: Y’all have shared the stage with a lot of Opera House alums such as The Beach Boys and Manhattan Transfer. You have
sung at the Capitol Fourth and shared a stage with Patti La Belle, do you have a wow moment you could share?
A: The thing that comes to mind is the first time we got to travel with Frankie Valli to the UK and we got to perform at Royal Albert Hall. Afterwards feeling the rush you get from the performance, Frankie was in tears, because it had been so long since he had been back to sing in London. It got to us…seeing him so emotional and him seeing us experience it as a first time performance in that historic space…it was one of those really cool moments of just loving what you do.
Q: What can we expect when you guys
come to the Opera House?
A: We will pay homage to our time with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but we will also pay tribute to all the vocal groups that we love. We will definitely do some Motown, everything from The Temptations to Stevie Wonder. We each tell our stories…. I’ve had the pleasure to sing on “American Idol,” “The Voice,” in the background. It trains you to learn songs very quickly, and I get to bring that to the show.
Q: What song is the special moment in the
show for you?
A: I love the Bee Gees tribute that we do. Before joining the group I got to do the Broadway traveling tour of “Saturday Night Fever – The Musical” I got to play the John Travolta part…It is so much fun singing that stuff.
Have more questions for the group? Prior to the show, submit requests on Facebook and Instagram @themoderngentlemen.
The Modern Gentlemen
Sun. Jan 17, 2021 // 3:00 p.m. // Tickets: $80
Modern Gentlemen, bring their modern take and play on popular hits of Pop, Rock, and Jazz to the stage. Since leaving Frankie Valli’s Four Seasons, this quartet has performed for U.S. presidents, shared the stage with The Beach Boys and The Manhattan Transfer. Similar Artists: Steve
