Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Courtesy
Mo5aic, in church mode at Central Christian Church.
Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 | 12:33 p.m.
Our Vegas DeLuxe columnist Robin Leach is back from his annual summer vacation and resumes his ramblings with today’s Strip Scribbles. Many of our Strip and Las Vegas personalities stepped forward in his absence to pen their own words of wisdom. Our thanks to them all, but to help Robin as he picks up speed, we have a look at the many amazing sounds of Mo5aic.
You can’t argue with a legend, right? Like when Tony Bennett said to us, “You are the best vocal group I’ve ever heard.” Or when Prince said, “With Mo5aic around, who needs a DJ?!” Who are we to argue? Or better yet, how can we argue when we are speechless -- something rare for the five of us in Mo5aic -- at such praise and from artists we have admired and looked up to all our lives.
Members of the group Mo5aic perform "Bohemian Rapsody" during the 26th annual Ribbon of Life at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, June 24, 2012. Golden Rainbow, an organization dedicated to helping Southern Nevadans affected by HIV and AIDS, presented the annual fundraiser.
Members of the group Mo5aic perform "Bohemian Rapsody" during the 26th annual Ribbon of Life at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, June 24, 2012. Golden Rainbow, an organization dedicated to helping Southern Nevadans affected by HIV and AIDS, presented the annual fundraiser.
If you aren’t familiar with our sound, then what are you waiting for? Mixing funk, pop, rock, jazz, hip hop and even opera, we create something truly unique in that every sound that comes out is produced by our voices only -- making you wonder where is the band? We make guitar riffs and funky bass lines to ambient rhythms and complex chord textures all with no instruments. We are a truly vocal band!
We’ve had quite a ride over the past decade -- being named “The Next Great a Cappella Group” by Boyz II Men on CBS’ “Early Show” in 2007 and MTV’s “Top Pop Group” in 2008. We’ve been blessed to share the stage with entertainers including Marc Broussard, Il Divo, Brian McKnight, Donny Osmond, Prince, the Pussycat Dolls and Stevie Wonder, and often open for Jay Leno when he appears here. Being able to share a stage with Clint Holmes and Santa Fe & the Fat City Horns often in our hometown also is a blessing we will never forget.
We were recently nominated for not one but two Contemporary a Cappella Recording Awards, one for Best Pop/Rock Album for our EP “5” and Best Pop/Rock Song for “I Gotta Feeling” featured on “5.” We won both categories in 2009 for our album “Will Sing for Food,” and it was an honor to be nominated again.
We still can’t believe it was one of George Wallace’s maitre d’s who first caught us on a cruise and suggested that George put us in his show. What started out as a one-week trial turned into years of us delighting audiences as his opening act. Even though we still travel a lot and often perform all over the world touring and on cruises, we love calling Las Vegas home.
We love being able to give back to our community, too, whether it’s performing alongside many of the city’s top entertainers at this year’s “Ribbon of Life” for Golden Rainbow, United Way or most recently at Central Christian Church, nothing makes us happier than putting our voices to work for the greater good.
And we do love us some George Wallace! Not only did he make Las Vegas happen for us, but it also became our home. He is an inspiration on so many levels, his talent, his genuine goodness, his sharing his stage, his ability to make so many millions smile every year and his philanthropic spirit and good-heartedness. There was not a better person or entertainer to mentor us here; he is the top, “the New Mr. Vegas,” in case you didn’t know, and the “Best 10 p.m. show” in town!
We hope you catch the “Men of Mo5aic” -- Josh Huslig, Corwyn Hodge, Heath Burgett, Jake Moulton and Roopak Ahuja -- in one of our performances in “V -- the Ultimate Variety Show” at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile Shops this summer. You won’t believe what comes out of our mouths!
Our thanks to Mo5aic and our other guest columnist top chef Sean Griffin of Prime in the Bellagio as we welcome Robin home to resume today’s Strip Scribbles.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
Post a comment
Commenting requires registration.
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.
If you would like to submit your comment as a letter to the editor, you may submit it here.