# O.A.R. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/O.A.R. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/O.A.R..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.A.R. > Source revision: 1355025845 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American rock band}} {{about|the band||Oar (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{ambox | name = Refimprove | type = content | class = ambox-Refimprove | image = 50x40px|alt= | issue = This article '''needs additional citations for verification'''. | fix = Please help [{{fullurl:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|action=edit}} improve this article] by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. | date = December 2023 }} {{Infobox musical artist | name = O.A.R. | background = group_or_band | image = O.A.R. 2015.jpg | image_size = 250 | landscape = yes | caption = O.A.R. performing at Lincoln Theater in 2015 | origin = [Rockville, Maryland](/source/Rockville%2C_Maryland), United States | genre = [Alternative rock](/source/Alternative_rock), [indie rock](/source/indie_rock), [roots rock](/source/roots_rock), [heartland rock](/source/heartland_rock) | years_active = 1996–present | label = [Vanguard](/source/Vanguard_Records), [Wind-up](/source/Wind-up_Records), [Lava](/source/Lava_Records), [Atlantic](/source/Atlantic_Records) | associated_acts = [Matt Nathanson](/source/Matt_Nathanson), [Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers](/source/Stephen_Kellogg_and_the_Sixers), [Brett Dennen](/source/Brett_Dennen), [Foxtrot Zulu](/source/Foxtrot_Zulu) | website = {{URL|https://www.liveoar.com}} | current_members = Marc Roberge
Chris Culos
Richard On
Benj Gershman
Jerry DePizzo }} '''O.A.R.''' (short for '''Of A Revolution''') is an American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band, founded in 1996 in [Rockville, Maryland](/source/Rockville%2C_Maryland).{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277030/oar/biography|title=O.A.R. – Biography|last=Hicks|first=Robert|website=www.billboard.com|publisher=Rovi|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=August 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805052949/http://www.billboard.com/artist/277030/oar/biography|url-status=live}} The band consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Marc Roberge, drummer Chris Culos, guitarist Richard On, bassist Benj Gershman, and saxophonist/guitarist Jerry DePizzo. Touring members include trumpet player Jon Lampley and keyboardist Mikel Paris. Known for their live shows and extensive summer touring, the band has released ten studio albums and six live records—most recently ''Live From Boston'' in December 2024. Four of its members grew up in Rockville and attended [Thomas S. Wootton High School](/source/Thomas_Sprigg_Wootton_High_School). After graduating, they studied at [Ohio State University](/source/Ohio_State_University), where they met DePizzo from [Youngstown, Ohio](/source/Youngstown%2C_Ohio). ==History== ===Formation and early years (1996–2004)=== After earlier iterations performing together as far back as middle school, O.A.R. was formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Marc Roberge and drummer Chris Culos, inspired in part by Roberge's older brother, who plays drums for the band [Foxtrot Zulu](/source/Foxtrot_Zulu). They later recruited Richard On and Benj Gershman. In 1996, they recorded their debut album, ''[The Wanderer](/source/The_Wanderer_(O.A.R._album))'', at Gizmo Recording Company in Silver Spring, Maryland with engineer/producer Gantt Kushner. Many songs from the album, including "Black Rock" and "That Was A Crazy Game of Poker", became staples of their live shows and are still played at most concerts today. Three of the four band members attended one semester at [Alexander Muss High School in Israel](/source/Alexander_Muss_High_School_in_Israel), graduated from [Wootton High School](/source/Thomas_Sprigg_Wootton_High_School) in Rockville, Maryland, then moved to [Columbus, Ohio](/source/Columbus%2C_Ohio), to attend Ohio State University. While at OSU, they met Jerry DePizzo, from [Youngstown, Ohio](/source/Youngstown%2C_Ohio). He joined the band as the saxophonist, completing the current lineup. In 1999, they returned to Gizmo Recording to record their second album, ''[Soul's Aflame](/source/Soul's_Aflame)''. Unlike other similar bands, O.A.R. did not use much formal advertising/marketing plans to obtain an audience, instead choosing to rely on word-of-mouth and touring alone. Their third album ''[Risen](/source/Risen_(O.A.R._album))'' debuted at No.11 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' top internet sales chart. They received offers from various major labels but ultimately chose to sign with [Lava Records](/source/Lava_Records) in 2002. The following year, their fourth album ''In Between Now and Then'' debuted at No. 156 on the [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200) chart. ===Mainstream success (2005–present)=== In 2005, O.A.R. released their fifth album, ''[Stories of a Stranger](/source/Stories_of_a_Stranger)'', which debuted at No. 40 on the Billboard 200. It produced the singles "Love and Memories", "Heard the World", and "Lay Down." "Love and Memories" was the band's first single to chart and receive significant radio airplay, peaking at 98 in the [Pop 100](/source/Pop_100), at 30 in [Modern Rock Tracks](/source/Modern_Rock_Tracks), and at 18 in [Adult Top 40](/source/Adult_Top_40). The music videos for "Love and Memories" and "Lay Down" received airplay on [VH1](/source/VH1) and [MTV](/source/MTV). The video for "Lay Down" received a "Woodie" award from MTV for streaming video. On January 14, 2006, O.A.R. reached a new peak of popularity by drawing roughly 18,000 fans and selling out New York City's [Madison Square Garden](/source/Madison_Square_Garden), which earned them a review in ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)''.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/arts/music/16oar.html | work=The New York Times | title=A Scrappy Jam Band, but Hold the Jam | first=Kelefa | last=Sanneh | date=January 16, 2006 | access-date=May 20, 2010 | archive-date=July 15, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715031533/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/16/arts/music/16oar.html? | url-status=live }} On October 5, 2006, a press release declared that O.A.R. had officially sold more than 1.2 million albums over their career.Press Release (2006). [http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=169874 "O.A.R. Makes History With Over 1 Million Sold"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817145239/http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=169874 |date=August 17, 2022 }} marketwire.com (accessed October 6, 2006) The band attributes much of its popularity to the recording and subsequent trading and downloading of their live shows. [[File:OARlive.JPG|thumb|O.A.R. during 2009 summer concert tour at the [Saratoga Performing Arts Center](/source/Saratoga_Performing_Arts_Center) in [Saratoga Springs, New York](/source/Saratoga_Springs%2C_New_York)]] On July 15, 2008, O.A.R. released their sixth studio album, ''[All Sides](/source/All_Sides_(O.A.R._album))''. The first radio single for ''All Sides'', "[Shattered (Turn the Car Around)](/source/Shattered_(Turn_the_Car_Around))", was released on June 13. Despite the band initially having hesitations about including the song on the album, it surpassed "Love And Memories", peaking at 2 in the [Adult Top 40](/source/Adult_Top_40){{cite book |title=Data for week of November 22, 2008 |date=22 November 2008 |publisher=Billboard |page=88 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2008/BB-2008-11-22.pdf |access-date=21 May 2024 |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519162824/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2008/BB-2008-11-22.pdf |url-status=live }} and was later certified platinum by the RIAA. In December 2008, [VH1](/source/VH1) named the music video for "Shattered" as number 18 on their Top 40 Videos of 2008. In 2010, O.A.R. returned to the studio to record their seventh studio album, ''[King](/source/King_(O.A.R._album))''. The band introduced several of their new songs during their 2010 tour, including "Over and Over", "Fire", "Dangerous Connection", and "Gotta Live." ''[King](/source/King_(O.A.R._album))'' was released on Wind-up Records on August 2, 2011, and debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, the highest-charting debut for the band so far. The album's first single, "Heaven", was released on June 7, 2011. On May 8, 2012, O.A.R. released a new single, "Champions" featuring rapper [B.o.B](/source/B.o.B), as part of a collaboration with [Duracell](/source/Duracell) in support of Team USA in the [2012 London Summer Olympics](/source/2012_London_Summer_Olympics).{{cite news |last1=Schillaci |first1=Sophie |title=B.o.B., O.A.R. Team Up for Olympics Song 'Champions' (Video) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/bob-oar-olympics-song-champions-321708/ |access-date=21 May 2024 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter}} On November 19, 2012, O.A.R. released a live CD/DVD entitled ''[Live on Red Rocks](/source/Live_on_Red_Rocks_(O.A.R._album))'', which consists of footage and music from their performance at [Red Rocks Amphitheatre](/source/Red_Rocks_Amphitheatre) on their 2012 summer tour.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5869808/sundance-2014-watch-oar-rock-at-park-city-live|title=Sundance 2014: Watch O.A.R. Rock Park City Live|magazine=Billboard|access-date=1 September 2015}} In an interview with Billboard magazine posted on January 16, 2014, Jerry Depizzo revealed that their eighth studio album would be released in May 2014, and that the lead single would be "Peace"—a new song they played live many times on their 2013 summer tour. On March 21, 2014, the band announced via various social media sites that the new album, titled ''[The Rockville LP](/source/The_Rockville_LP)'' would be released on June 10, 2014. ''The Rockville LP'' debuted at number 13 on ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'''s top 200, #1 independent albums, #6 top current rock albums, and #7 current digital albums.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/o-a-r/|title=Billboard Artist Site for O.A.R|magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|language=en-US|access-date=2023-02-02|archive-date=February 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202185156/https://www.billboard.com/artist/o-a-r/|url-status=live}} On November 12, 2014, they were part, as many Southern rock and country music bands and singers, of a show in tribute to [Lynyrd Skynyrd](/source/Lynyrd_Skynyrd), at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. In May 2016, the band announced the release of a career spanning compilation to coincide with their 20th anniversary. Entitled ''[XX](/source/XX_(O.A.R._album))'', the album was released on August 5, 2016, bundled with a disc of live performances and two new songs "Follow Me, Follow You" and "I Go Through"''.''{{Cite web|url=http://amusicblogyea.com/2016/08/01/exclusive-album-premiere-o-a-r-xx/|title=Exclusive Album Premiere: O.A.R. – "XX" – A Music Blog, Yea?|date=August 2016|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=August 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809201419/http://amusicblogyea.com/2016/08/01/exclusive-album-premiere-o-a-r-xx/|url-status=live}} The band embarked on a two-month tour of North America.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/article/o-r-announces-summer-tour-new-album|title=O.A.R. Announces Summer Tour & New Album|date=2016-05-10|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-08|archive-date=August 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819170831/http://www.jambase.com/article/o-r-announces-summer-tour-new-album|url-status=live}} In 2018, O.A.R. returned to the studio to record their ninth studio album, ''The Mighty''. The first single from the album is "Miss You All the Time", released on October 12, 2018. ''The Mighty'' was presented and released to the public on March 29, 2019. O.A.R. released a new single “Alive” on November 18, 2021, to tease out a forthcoming tour and album in 2022. The album, titled The Arcade, was their tenth album. It was released on July 15, 2022. == Charitable endeavors and other appearances == The band's Heard The World foundation was founded to support youth, education and sustainable programs both in the U.S. and abroad.{{cite web |url=http://www.heardtheworld.org/ |title=Heard The World Homepage |publisher=Heardtheowrld.org |access-date=2015-09-04 |archive-date=February 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208201215/http://www.heardtheworld.org/ |url-status=live }} On December 14, 2012, O.A.R. performed with the [Baltimore Symphony Orchestra](/source/Baltimore_Symphony_Orchestra) at the [Music Center at Strathmore](/source/Strathmore_(Maryland)). The concert benefited the Heard the World Foundation. In December 2009, Jerry DePizzo headlined a charity fundraiser for Music Loves Ohio in Columbus at The Basement.{{cite web|url=http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2009/12/17/9A_MUSIC17_ART_12-17-09_T10_9GG0EH7.html|title=O.A.R. sax man instrumental in giving youngsters a boost|author=Kevin Joy|work=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220051433/http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2009/12/17/9A_MUSIC17_ART_12-17-09_T10_9GG0EH7.html|archive-date=20 December 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The band worked with [SAIC](/source/Leidos), a US defense contractor, to raise money for the [Paralyzed Veterans of America](/source/Paralyzed_Veterans_of_America), a service organization focused on assisting veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases, through digital downloads of the band's song "Light Switch Sky." Proceeds from downloads of the song through July 22, 2010, supported paralyzed veterans. The song was co-written by O.A.R. and their fans through a competition on Twitter.[http://www.saic.com/oar/news/062110.html]{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On October 4, 2012, the band headlined a "But for Ohio State: Rock the Oval" concert at [Ohio State University](/source/Ohio_State_University) to help raise money for the school that the band's members attended. O.A.R. and Phillip Phillips' 2014 Summer Tour benefited [Habitat for Humanity](/source/Habitat_for_Humanity). O.A.R. performed live from Times Square on December 31, 2014. O.A.R. performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the [2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games](/source/2015_Special_Olympics_World_Summer_Games). Marc Roberge and Jon Lampley performed the Star Spangled Banner in Columbus, Ohio before an NHL game between the [Columbus Blue Jackets](/source/Columbus_Blue_Jackets) and the [Boston Bruins](/source/Boston_Bruins) on March 5, 2022. The game was notable for holding a ceremony retiring the first jersey number in Blue Jackets history; [Rick Nash](/source/Rick_Nash)'s number 61. In 2025, the band released a song for the [Washington Nationals](/source/Washington_Nationals) baseball team's [City Connect](/source/City_Connect) jerseys called "Our Diamond, Our District."[https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/o-a-r-original-song-our-diamond-our-district-now-available-to-stream-3ad0b7ccc9ad Washington Nationals PR "Curly W" Blog] ==Members== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Current members''' * Marc Roberge – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1996–present) * Richard On – lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–present) * Benj Gershman – bass guitar (1996–2020; Part-Time 2020-Present) * Chris Culos – drums, percussion (1996–present) * Jerry DePizzo – saxophone, guitar, backing vocals (2000–present; session 1999) '''Current touring members''' * Mikel Paris – keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present) * Jon Lampley – trumpet, sousaphone, backing vocals (2011–present) {{col-2}} '''Former touring members''' * Evan Oberla – trombone, backing vocals (2011–2014) {{col-end}} '''Timeline''' {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:25 PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:1996 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1996 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1996 Colors = id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals,_rhythm_guitar id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar,_backing_vocals id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar,_backing_vocals id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:sax value:gray(0.5) legend:Saxophone id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:live value:gray(0.75) legend:Live_release id:bars value:gray(0.95) BackgroundColors = bars:bars LineData = color:studio layer:back at:11/29/1997 at:04/08/1999 at:02/06/2001 at:05/27/2003 at:10/04/2005 at:07/15/2008 at:08/02/2011 at:06/10/2014 at:03/29/2019 at:07/15/2022 color:live at:05/06/2002 at:07/27/2004 at:06/05/2007 at:04/14/2009 at:01/12/2010 at:11/19/2012 at:11/29/2019 BarData = bar:Marc text:Marc Roberge bar:Richard text:Richard On bar:Benj text:Benj Gershman bar:Chris text:Chris Culos bar:Jerry text:Jerry DePizzo PlotData= width:11 color:lvocals bar:Marc from:start till:end color:lguitar bar:Richard from:start till:end color:bass bar:Benj from:start till:end color:drums bar:Chris from:start till:end color:sax bar:Jerry from:01/01/2000 till:end width:3 bar:Jerry from:01/01/2005 till:end color:rguitar bar:Jerry from:03/01/1999 till:01/01/2000 color:sax }} ==Discography== {{Main|O.A.R. discography}} * ''[The Wanderer](/source/The_Wanderer_(O.A.R._album))'' (1997) * ''[Soul's Aflame](/source/Soul's_Aflame)'' (1999) * ''[Risen](/source/Risen_(O.A.R._album))'' (2001) * ''[In Between Now and Then](/source/In_Between_Now_and_Then)'' (2003) * ''[Stories of a Stranger](/source/Stories_of_a_Stranger)'' (2005) * ''[All Sides](/source/All_Sides_(O.A.R._album))'' (2008) * ''[King](/source/King_(O.A.R._album))'' (2011) * ''[The Rockville LP](/source/The_Rockville_LP)'' (2014) * ''The Mighty'' (2019) * ''The Arcade'' (2022) == See also == * [ScreamCreature](/source/ScreamCreature) ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{official website|https://www.liveoar.com}} *[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=o.a.r.|bio=true}} Billboard.com Band Profile] *[http://www.oarsa.org/ oarsa.org] setlist archive, lyrics, and fan site {{O.A.R.}} {{Authority control|state=expanded}} Category:Jam bands Category:Ohio State University alumni Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Alternative rock groups from Maryland Category:Indie rock musical groups from Maryland Category:Musicians from Rockville, Maryland --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [O.A.R.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.A.R.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O.A.R.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.