By bringing their own contemporary style to the tunes from the 50s and 60s, THE ALLEY CATS appeal to fans of all ages, breathing new life into everyone's favorite doo-wop classics.
The four members of THE ALLEY CATS are a perfect blend both vocally and personally. More than a decade after they began, Royce Reynolds, whose solid bass vocals create the Cats' musical foundation, and Mando Fonseca, the second tenor always ready with a pun or quick quip, have the ease of familiarity which make their camaraderie and vocal play radiate from the stage. Baritone Juan Del Castillo, whose smooth vocals melt hearts the world over, and Sean Devine, recreator of all those soaring 50s first tenor lines, bring their freshness and talent to an already solid foundation of a cappella tradition. Together, they are truly the Cat's meow!
THE ALLEY CATS were formed in 1987 at Fullerton College in California, and began their musical journey with Disney's "Blast to the Past" salute. They went on to win the Southern California Harmony Sweepstakes, which led to appearances on The Home and Family Show, NBC's Madman of the People, The Arsenio Hall Show, CD Highway, Richard Simmons' workout video, Dance Your Pants Off, recordings for Fox Kids', Why Why Family and a radio spot for Sunkist. Their long standing relationship with Disney took the Cats to New York, where they were featured during the world premiere of Disney's animated feature, Hercules and back to L.A. for the Hercules' Forum of Fun at the El Capitan Theatre.
The Cats have appeared at numerous fairs and festivals around the country and have been the featured performers on stages at Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Hershey Park. They have worked with major corporate clients: Daewoo Motor Co., Walt Disney Co., D-Link, LGE, Charles Schwab, and Secure Horizons, entertaining audiences while sharing information about products at major trade shows, such as: COMDEX Fall '99 and Networld+Interop '99, Las Vegas, as well as private corporate events. THE ALLEY CATS have opened for such notable artists as Chubby Checker, The Coasters, Bill Medley, Sha Na Na, and the Tokens, as well as sharing the stage with a few a cappella artists The Bobs, The Blenders, The Nylons, and Rockapella.
Every Alley Cat performance is accompanied by the sounds of laughter and voices joining in to sing the melodies we all know and love. The Cats' engaging wit and humor have won over audiences nationally as they relate directly to the crowd with jokes, stories, and audience participation that appeal to young and old alike.
On the recording scene, THE ALLEY CATS CDs showcase their rich harmonies, as well as the energy and humor from their live shows. Their first disc, The Cat's Meow, was called "the best a cappella recording of the 50's classics we've ever heard," by Mainely A Cappella. Their most recent release, Cruisin', won a CARA (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award) for "Best Doo-Wop Song" with Tears on My Pillow, which now also appears in the 1999 CARA compilation disc produced by the Contemporary A Cappella Society.
Tight harmonies, universal humor, and unbelievable a cappella energy have made THE ALLEY CATS America's premier doo-wop group.