Rock Choir signed up for album deal

Feb 4 2010 by Jack Abell and Hannah Williams, Buckinghamshire Advertiser

CHOIRS from Amersham and Gerrards Cross have been signed up for a multi-album deal with recording giant Universal.

The two rock choirs, who perform pop, gospel and Motown for adults, teenagers and children, have been signed up by Universal, the world's largest record company and home to the likes of Take That, Lady Ga Ga and the Rolling Stones.

The first album features 1,000 singers from rock choirs across the UK, including the Amersham choir based at Elangeni School, in Woodside Avenue, Chesham Bois.

Singer and performer Pippa Gearing, who leads the Amersham choir, said: "We are so thrilled by this. The choir was only introduced to the area last year and already we have achieved so much.

"The individuals who join Rock Choir tend not to have sung in public before, so when I told them we had been offered a record deal they didn't know whether to cheer or panic.

"I explained that they were going to be part of an album that featured the other rock choirs in the area and they all relaxed.

"I never make any members sing alone and they certainly don't have to get on stage if they don't want to. Rock Choir is all about having fun each week at rehearsals.

"New members join us all the time and soon get the hang of it."

Tom Lewis, head of A&R for Decca Records, the Universal label releasing the album, said he hoped it would be the 'feel good album of the year'.

He said: "Rock Choir is a phenomenon. When you hear them sing it makes you feel fantastic.

"It's totally infectious stuff. With the recording, we really wanted to somehow bottle up the energy, joy, enthusiasm and vitality of the choir so that it could be shared with as many people as possible."

The album will be released later this year and will feature the songs Something Inside, So Strong, Can't Hurry Love, Walking on Broken Glass, Dancing in the Street and Rescue Me.