{{short description|Spanish vocal group}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Earth Angels | image = EarthAngels.jpg | origin = Barcelona, Spain | instrument = Vocals | genre = Doo-wop | years_active = 2007—present | label = | associated_acts = | website = [http://www.myspace.com/earthangelsbcn Earth Angels] | current_members = Jordi Majó<br>Christian Carrasco<br>Joan Carrasco<br>Pol Daurella<br>Oscar López | past_members = }}
'''The Earth Angels''' are a Spanish doo-wop vocal group from Barcelona, Catalonia which performs a cappella music. Famously, while on tour, they also sing on city streets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Earth Angels: Al rescat del 'Doo-wop'|work=elperiodico.cat|url=http://www.elperiodico.cat/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAT&idnoticia_PK=557257&idseccio_PK=1013|accessdate=27 April 2010|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120032337/http://www.elperiodico.cat/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAT&idnoticia_PK=557257&idseccio_PK=1013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The group formed in 2007, when bass-baritone Christian Carrasco (son of Rafael Carrasco, second drummer of the Spanish band Los Sírex)<ref>{{cite web | title=Los Sirex en la presentación de su libro | work=EFE EME |url=http://www.efeeme.com/42391/los-sirex-en-la-presentacion-de-su-libro |accessdate=18 April 2010}}</ref> announced that he was looking for a doo-wop singer and subsequently found lead vocalist, Jordi Majó.
They specialize in cover versions of rare doo-wop songs, many originally recorded between 1958 and 1964. The Earth Angels released a music video, directed by David Conill and Christina Scheper, in which they covered the Valiants' 1958 "This is the Night for Love".<ref>{{cite web | title=Earth Angels - This is the night for love video |website=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/awards/video/id/83AGy4wmAQ0/search/curtmetratges |accessdate=15 July 2010 |language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=This is the night for love | work=WorldRecords |url=http://www.worldsrecords.com/pages/artists/v/valiants_the/the_valiants_63310.html |accessdate=27 April 2010}}</ref>
The group released ''Street Corner Style'', an album of 15 covers and two original songs, in 2010. That album was promoted heavily by Oldies Radio DJ 'Wild' Wayne on America's longest running Oldies Radio Show, 'The RnR Memory Machine on WWUH Radio in Ct. They were called the premier band of Rockin' Records' Today's Doo Wop Masters Series.<ref>{{cite web | title=Contemporary Doo Wop Vocal Groups and Single Artists |url=http://www.doowopshoobop.com/contempdw.html | work=doowopshoobop |accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref>
The Earth Angels owe their success in the United States to their discovery by ''Doowop Cafe'' host Joe Conroy (DJ Brad). The Internet radio station is dedicated to preserving 1950s American music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome To The Doowop Cafe |url=http://doowopcafe.org/ |accessdate=4 May 2019}}</ref> Conroy found a cover of the Capris' "My Island in The Sun" which the group had uploaded to YouTube, reached out to them by mail, suggested that they make a studio recording, and helped produce and distribute their music.<ref>{{cite web | title=THE EARTH ANGELS excerpted liner notes by Joe | url=http://www.rarerockinrecords.com/earthangelslinernotes.html | work=Doo Wop Café | accessdate=6 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715154635/http://www.rarerockinrecords.com/earthangelslinernotes.html | archivedate=15 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doowopcafe.net/Brad.html |title=DJ Brad | work=Doo Wop Café |accessdate=6 June 2010}}</ref> Carmen Kaye, presenter of the Australian Internet radio show ''Doo Wop Corner'', included them on her worldwide list of featured present-day doo-wop groups.<ref>{{cite web | title=Radio Show in South Australia | url=http://www.thedoowopcorner.com/featured_bands | work=Carmen Kaye | accessdate=3 July 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120234118/http://thedoowopcorner.com/featured_bands | archivedate=20 November 2010 }}</ref>
== {{anchor|History}}Origins == [[File:JohnGummoe+CarrascoBrothers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=Onstage, all in gray|The Carrasco brothers perform with John Gummoe, lead singer of The Cascades and writer of "Rhythm of the Rain", in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rhythm Of The Rain |url=http://www.rhythmoftherain.com/ | work=Sofos |year=2006 |accessdate=23 June 2010}}</ref>]]
Lead vocalist Jordi Majó was introduced to American popular music by his mother, and had listened to jazz, doo-wop and rock and roll since childhood. His father bought him his first doo-wop record, ''Classics Original Doo Wop Hits, 1955-1965 (Vogue PIP)'', when he was eight years old. After hearing the Ly-Dells' "Genie of the Lamp" of and the Valentines' "Lily Maebelle", he began to love doo-wop and collected his own records.
The Carrasco brothers, Christian, and Joan, inherited their father's taste for doo-wop classics. Since infancy, they and their mother sang along with songs by the Five Latinos, the Diamonds and Rocky Sharpe and the Replays. The Spanish radio program ''Flor de Pasión'' also developed the boys' interest in doo-wop music.
Joan developed a musical ear at an early age, learned to play the piano, guitar, drums and harmonica and was a member of Cram, a rock band. After discovering the Crystalairs, a German vocal group, Christian developed a particular interest in their musical style. In 2007, he reunited with an old friend and began practicing vocal harmony on the streets of Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web | title=Street Candles / I Count The Stars Video |url=http://www.videocure.com/video/25424.html | work=VideoCure |accessdate=16 June 2010}}</ref> They formed a group called Street Candles,<ref>{{cite web | title=40's, 50's Rhythm & Blues Style | url=http://www.thebigjamboree.com/biografia.html | work=The Big Jamboree, S.C.P | accessdate=16 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724060138/http://www.thebigjamboree.com/biografia.html | archivedate=24 July 2010 }}</ref> which split up into the Velvet Candles<ref>{{cite web | title=The Velvet Candles | url=http://webfacil.tinet.org/alexmar/11307 | work=Magic Pop | accessdate=16 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820072802/http://webfacil.tinet.org/alexmar/11307 | archivedate=20 August 2010 }}</ref> and the Earth Angels.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Velvet Candles | url=http://webfacil.tinet.org/alexmar/11307 | work=Magic Pop | accessdate=23 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820072802/http://webfacil.tinet.org/alexmar/11307 | archivedate=20 August 2010 }}</ref>
== {{anchor|First career}}Career == [[File:EarthAngels-with-KathyYoung.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|alt=Kathy Young singing, with the Earth Angels backing her up|Joan, Pol and Christian perform "A Thousand Stars" with its original singer, Kathy Young.]] Street Candles was a short, intense introduction to the music scene. After performing on the streets, they were hired by the Soul Productions audiovisual company to film a commemorative video for the fifth anniversary of the music program ''Silenci''. The video was sponsored by the Spanish television channels TV3 and El 33.<ref>{{cite web | title=I Don't Wanna Grow Up |url=http://www.sofaexperience.com/?apartat=work&id=39 | work=Sofa Experience |accessdate=16 June 2010}}</ref> After the release of their video performance of "I Don't Wanna Grow Up", they were contacted by night clubs such as the Pequeña Betty and the Irish Rover in Madrid.
The Velvet Candles' invitation to entertain at Iñaki Urdangarín's birthday party, attended by the Spanish royal family, increased their popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adn.es/cultura/20100211/NWS-0536-Candles-Velvet-The-debuta-grupo.html |title=El grupo vocal The Velvet Candles debuta con "The story of our love" |accessdate=10 June 2010 |work=Julio Soria |date=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003091556/http://www.adn.es/cultura/20100211/NWS-0536-Candles-Velvet-The-debuta-grupo.html |archivedate=3 October 2011 }}</ref> After disagreements and lineup changes, Christian, Jordi and Joan renamed the group the Earth Angels.<ref>{{cite web | title=Castara Band | url=http://www.unaplauso.com/castara-band_av3542ac.html | work=Grupo Intercom | accessdate=12 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627074801/http://www.unaplauso.com/castara-band_av3542ac.html | archivedate=27 June 2010 }}</ref>
In 2008, the Earth Angels appeared in a television commercial for the Vodafone telecommunications company.<ref>{{cite web | title=Earth Angels Vodafone A cappella | url=http://symptomsmrsa.net/video/2/video/DOOWOP/x6uvzl.html | work=Audreywop | accessdate=5 June 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> The following year, they contributed "In Your Company" to a doo-wop compilation album released by Crystal Ball Records.<ref>{{cite web | title=Doo wopin' around the world | url=http://www.crystalballrecords.com/catalog/-p-2505.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020062228/http://www.crystalballrecords.com/catalog/-p-2505.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 October 2009 | work=Crystal Ball Records | accessdate=6 June 2010 }}</ref> Taller de Músics de Barcelona vocalist Pol Daurella joined the Earth Angels for rehearsals in mid-2010, and helped them prepare the release of their first studio album before joining the group.<ref>{{cite web | title=Hola Rafael | work=Christian Carrasco |url=http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1474064774114&sk=messages |accessdate=9 May 2010}}</ref> The Earth Angels have performed and appeared on radio and television stations in Barcelona and the Balearic Islands. Christian's brother Joan later joined the group, and they recorded their first version of the Crests' "Step by Step".<ref>{{cite web | title=The Earth Angels Biography | url=http://www.rarerockinrecords.com/earthangelsbio.html | work=Rare Rockin’ Records Production | accessdate=5 June 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715154850/http://www.rarerockinrecords.com/earthangelsbio.html | archivedate=15 July 2011 }}</ref> In a little over four months. their website received about 12,000 visits. According to Jordi Majó, the secret of the group's success is maintaining the essence and spontaneity of live performances. Their name was inspired by a British tourist who said, "You sing like the angels", and by their religious beliefs.<ref>{{cite web | title=Earth Angels | url=http://hemerotecadigital.institutdelteatre.cat/jspui/bitstream/65324/1315/1/20081030MAE-PER-I.pdf | work=Cult espectacles | date=30 October 2008 | accessdate=12 June 2010 | archive-date=6 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706221554/http://hemerotecadigital.institutdelteatre.cat/jspui/bitstream/65324/1315/1/20081030MAE-PER-I.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:EarthAngels-Doowop-Pittsburgh.jpg|thumb|''(left to right)'' Jordi, Christian and Joan opposite the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh]] In 2010, Pol Daurella joined the group. Daurella was followed in 2011 by Oscar López, making the Earth Angels a quintet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kulone.com/ES/Event/2182791-Concierto-Earth-Angels-Acapella-Street-Corner-Sound |title=Concierto Earth Angels "Acapella Street Corner Sound"|accessdate=12 July 2011}}</ref> Kingsley Abbot<ref>{{cite web | title=500 Lost Gems Of The Sixties | url=http://www.ovolobooks.co.uk/pdf/press/500%20Lost%20Gems%20-%20Press%20Release%2025.04.08.pdf | work=Michelle Thorn | accessdate=23 June 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> gave their album, ''Street Corner Style'', four stars in a ''Record Collector'' review:<ref>{{cite web | title=New kids in the stairwell |url=http://www.recordcollectormag.com/reviews/review-detail/5750 | work=Kingsley Abbott |accessdate=6 June 2010}}</ref>
{{quote|text=Until very recently, The Earth Angels could be found harmonizing on the streets of Barcelona. With this debut album, however, they’ve turned in one of the most satisfying and credible modern doo-wop collections we’ve ever heard. The Angels have three key assets: impeccable choice of rare songs to cover; great background vocal arrangements, with each of the three group members tackling a wide range; and a particularly youthful and attractive lead voice in Jordi Majo.}}
In May 2010, the group participated in a doo-wop festival at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. Other performers included the Quotations, the Marcels and the Edsels, who recorded "Rama Lama Ding Dong".<ref>{{cite web | title=Earth Angels stop in for the Oldies Spectacular | url=http://www.eatzucchini.com/news_detail.aspx?News_ID=91 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710164638/http://www.eatzucchini.com/news_detail.aspx?News_ID=91 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 July 2011 | accessdate=6 June 2010 }}</ref> At the Hilton Hotel, the Earth Angels performed an a cappella cover of the "A Thousand Stars" with the Quotations and Kathy Young (who sang the original version).<ref>{{cite web | title=Kathy Young & Earth Angels & The Quotations |url=http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=399978344599&oid=47747037098 | work=Christian Carrasco |accessdate=5 June 2010}}</ref> The group participated in the seventh Phonica festival in the Catalan town of Banyoles on June 25, 2010, and the February 12, 2011 Rock, Rhythm & Doo-Wop! festival in the Dutch town of Oss.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/user/joancram This is the night for love, performed by the Earth Angels]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earth Angels}} Category:Musical groups from Catalonia Category:Doo-wop groups