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JOSH GROBAN INVITES YOU TO COME CLOSER

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Josh Groban the Actor

Back before he had signed up with Warner Bros. Records, during one of the various industry-related functions and fund-raisers Josh sang for, he was spotted by David E. Kelley, producer of the hit comedy series Ally McBeeal. Though Kelly had not even seen Josh act, let alone knew if he could, the producer was impressed enough to create the role of a geeky teen named Malcolm Wyatt for the rising talent. Putting to use what he learned in theatre back at Interlochen, Josh appeared on the stellar 2001 season finale of the hit television program, Ally McBeal and brought the show to a stand still with his amazingly rich singing voice when he performed the heartfelt song, "You're Still You" at his character's high school prom, an event that was central to the finale plot line. His appearance in that episode proved so popular and garnered an incredible response of 8,000 fan e-mails that Kelley brought the character back in December 2001 and Josh was featured on the holiday episode of Ally McBeal. With a particularly poignant holiday-themed episode that dealt with moving on after a tragedy, Josh performed once again another track from his new record, "To Where You Are".

Rising Star

Sales of his debut album spiked and the ascendant talent was courted by various producers. He appeared on the 2001 CBS variety special A Home For The Holidays with Mariah Carey. In February 2002, he and Charlotte Church performed a duet at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City where the worldwide viewing audience was estimated to be more than one billion people, many of whom were instantly converted into rabid "Grobanites," as the artist's global fan following has affectionately dubbed themselves. Josh Groban's star was certainly on the rise, and all of a sudden, his audience found him.

After guesting on the Rosie O’Donnel Show, Josh did other career-making appearances and some of his TV appearances over the last couple of years include guest spots on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, Larry King Live, The Today Show and NBC's September 11th Concert For America.

In April 2002, almost six months after its release, his debut album bounded up the Billboard Top 200 album chart from #121 all the way to #12. The following week it cracked the top 10, peaking at #8. It soon achieved platinum status, indicating sales of over a million units, and remained in the top 20 throughout the summer.

Josh Groban was one of the featured performers on the ABC television special, The Concert for World Children's Day, which aired in November 2002. The highlight of the show was the ensemble closing number, "Aren't They All Our Children" (co-written by mentor Foster), which featured Josh performing with the likes of Enrique Iglesias, Nick Carter, and former duet partner Celine Dion. That same month, he starred in his very own PBS special on the "Great Performance" series. Another huge stepping stone to his career, in it, he sang all the tracks on his self-entitled debut album as well as a song from the A.I. sound track accompanied by the famous John Williams. He also surprised viewers with the hauntingly beautiful ballad “Broken Vow.” In December of that year, the special was then released on DVD as a two part DVD and CD, including a breathtaking bonus Christmas track 'O Holy Night'. His second album, Josh Groban In Concert, entered the charts at #35.

The following holiday season, Josh flew out to Italy to sing for the Pope on the Christmas at the Vatican special, the last major stepping stone in Groban’s career.

Josh Groban Lets Audiences Move Closer

Josh Groban began 2003 with a bang. The In Concert DVD was certified gold in January, while his debut album garnered triple platinum status in the U.S. Now, two months since the release of his self-titled debut, Josh once again, sets out to conquer the hearts and touch the souls of listeners as he opens himself to audiences with his aptly-titled new Reprise Records release, Closer. Featuring a musical tapestry of dynamic melodies that would easily grow on anyone who listens to it, Closer is a stunning collection of thirteen new tracks including three original songs by the talented young artist.

Co-produced by a stellar supporting cast, including David Foster, with whom Groban once again collaborates closely with, Closer took seven months in the making and the end result is nothing short of brilliant.

To foster creative chemistry, Josh enlisted the help of renowned musicians who helped reveal the brilliant new facets the young vocalist's versatility. Among the musicians Groban collaborated with for Closer were Eric Mouquet – one half of the innovative French World Music duo, Deep Forest – for "Remember When It Rained," featuring Groban on vocals and for the first time, on piano; Deep Forest, who did a guest performance for "Never Let Go"’; Walter Afanasieff, who co-wrote the Closer standout, "Per Te"; world-class violinist Joshua Bell who was featured in "Mi Mancherai" from the score of the film Il Postino, and a continuation, of sorts, to Josh's fascination for Italian film music; and Richard Page who penned the unabashedly romantic "My Confession." Further included among the highlights of the Closer are the sweeping opener, "Oceano" and the Spanish fire of "Si Volvieras A Mi," where Josh’s rich, baritone voice continues to showcase his unique musical stylings and distinctive brand of interpretative artistry in this collection of songs remarkable for its depth and diversity. Beautifully written and immensely personal, with music guaranteed to resonate in the hearts and minds of those who hear it, Closer is a collection by a vocalist and songwriter who understands that intimacy is the first prerequisite in the art of communication.

Scheduled to embark on his 1st world concert tour in January 2004, Groban made sure that his music for Closer would good on stage as it does in the studio.

Despite his growing international fame, rave reviews, and a triple-platinum selling album, Josh Groban has remained a humble 21-year-old who just happens to have an amazing voice and who seemingly hasn't let success get to his head nor had to sell out or make his music more accessible to the masses in order to find his audience, which ranges from young teens to seniors.

As a singer, Josh Groban is a natural talent who has, time and again, been referred to as a true musical force to be reckoned with, with a sound uniquely his own that embraces a variety of vocal influences. With melodies to die for, immense honesty and sensitivity in his music as well as his lyrics, and most of all, a rich baritone voice that convinces listeners that music was indeed created by the gods and for the gods, Josh Groban has truly established himself as a talented, rare-breed musician who’s definitely here to stay.

© Valerie V. Mayuga, 2005

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