About THE SHOP
Founded in in 1993, the Doo Wop Shop is the oldest (and only all-male identifying) a cappella group at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
The group comes from humble beginnings: En route to who-knows-where via UMass ride-share, two strangers sparked a conversation about singing. From there, the two became a quartet, making themselves UMass' first official a cappella group. The four established a small repertoire (two of which are still performed today!) and set off to serenade their significant others.
Though off to a modest start, they quickly became a hit among sorority houses and dorms all over campus. Soon the group grew in number and found themselves performing on stages and in lecture halls for much larger audiences. Such gigs proved to be a viable way to support the group in its early years.
For almost two decades the Doo Wop Shop thrived in a local setting, performing mainly in Amherst and around Massachusetts. This would all change in late 2010 when the group published a new, eight minute arrangement to YouTube titled: (you guessed it) "Disney Medley". The combination of our favorite Disney songs with the group's signature goofiness had already proven to be a smash hit on campus. But nobody could predict what would happen next. Thanks to a handful of online fans spreading the video across the Internet, the Disney Medley blew up nationwide and internationally. Today the video sits at close to 14 million views, and current members regularly meet fans and auditionees who first heard DWS from the Disney Medley all those years ago.
The Doo Wop Shop has established their presence as a premier collegiate group, performing both privately and publicly throughout the country with notable acts such as Mariah Carey in 1993 and the Rockettes in 2014. In December of 2014 the group was invited to perform for the White House Staff Holiday Reception, and had the honor of giving a private performance to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (they danced with us!)
The Doo Wop Shop has made a tradition of blending musical excellence with their signature goofy demeanor, which results in a sound that's founded in a mutual passion for singing, hard work, and most importantly: having fun! Musically, the Doo Wop Shop keeps one foot in the past, and one foot in the present. Think anywhere from The Temptations, Otis Redding & Sinatra all the way to the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Juxtaposed with more contemporary selections like BØRNS' "Electric Love" and even "Sunday Candy" by Chance the Rapper, our music reaches audience members of all ages. Ultimately, the group's goal is to bring joy and levity to all in our local, online and international community.
The group comes from humble beginnings: En route to who-knows-where via UMass ride-share, two strangers sparked a conversation about singing. From there, the two became a quartet, making themselves UMass' first official a cappella group. The four established a small repertoire (two of which are still performed today!) and set off to serenade their significant others.
Though off to a modest start, they quickly became a hit among sorority houses and dorms all over campus. Soon the group grew in number and found themselves performing on stages and in lecture halls for much larger audiences. Such gigs proved to be a viable way to support the group in its early years.
For almost two decades the Doo Wop Shop thrived in a local setting, performing mainly in Amherst and around Massachusetts. This would all change in late 2010 when the group published a new, eight minute arrangement to YouTube titled: (you guessed it) "Disney Medley". The combination of our favorite Disney songs with the group's signature goofiness had already proven to be a smash hit on campus. But nobody could predict what would happen next. Thanks to a handful of online fans spreading the video across the Internet, the Disney Medley blew up nationwide and internationally. Today the video sits at close to 14 million views, and current members regularly meet fans and auditionees who first heard DWS from the Disney Medley all those years ago.
The Doo Wop Shop has established their presence as a premier collegiate group, performing both privately and publicly throughout the country with notable acts such as Mariah Carey in 1993 and the Rockettes in 2014. In December of 2014 the group was invited to perform for the White House Staff Holiday Reception, and had the honor of giving a private performance to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama (they danced with us!)
The Doo Wop Shop has made a tradition of blending musical excellence with their signature goofy demeanor, which results in a sound that's founded in a mutual passion for singing, hard work, and most importantly: having fun! Musically, the Doo Wop Shop keeps one foot in the past, and one foot in the present. Think anywhere from The Temptations, Otis Redding & Sinatra all the way to the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Juxtaposed with more contemporary selections like BØRNS' "Electric Love" and even "Sunday Candy" by Chance the Rapper, our music reaches audience members of all ages. Ultimately, the group's goal is to bring joy and levity to all in our local, online and international community.
