June 25, 2009

Contact:   Bill Giduz, 704-894-2244

The 2008-09 Davidson Generals were: (Back l-r) Seyi Ayorinde '10, Nick Kruter '11, Billy Powers '10, Alex Hernandez '10, John Kirby '10, Sam Baroody '09, Matt Jones '09, Owen Swetenburg '11, (Middle l-r) Brandon Wright '10, Graham Gockley '11, and (Front l-r) Brian Platter '12, Ryan Chiles '12, Andrew Hanson '12, Ben Ferguson '09.

A song by The Davidson Generals all male a cappella group will be included on an annual compilation album of best songs from college groups around the globe. The Generals cover of "Gotta Get Thru This" will be among 30-36 songs on the two-disc album “Voices Only 2009.”

“Voices Only” has been produced annually since 2004 as a private enterprise of California a cappella artist, producer, and promoter Corey Slutsky. Each year Slutsky invites collegiate groups to submit their new albums for consideration, and he selects the songs for a compilation album.

Others selections for the album are from groups such as the Tufts Beelzebubs, the UNC Clef Hangers, the Harvard Callbacks, Dartmouth Aires, USC Sirens, and Duke Pitchforks.

"It's an honor for us to be featured alongside such talented groups from much larger schools with tremendous resources—some of whom even receive course credit,” said Generals president Billy Powers ‘10. "This recognition validates the hard work we've done, and gives us motivation to work even harder next year."

“Gotta Get Through This” was a number one hit on the UK Top 40 list in December 2001 for British singer-songwriter Daniel Bedingfield. The Generals performed it as the senior solo for Lewis Beard ’07 (arranged by Lana Sims ’08). It also appears as the first track on the Generals' latest album, "A General Consensus."

This is actually the second time the Generals have appeared on the “Voices Only” album. Their cover of "Used 2 Love U," sung by Mike Parsons ’08, was included in “Voices Only 2006.”

The Davidson Generals was formed in 1999 as the college’s first student a cappella group. There are now two other groups —The Delilahs all-female ensemble, and the Androgyny mixed ensemble.

The Generals includes 12-14 singers, and the group holds auditions for new first-year members at the beginning of each school year. The group performs about 10 to 20 concerts per year for a wide variety of occasions.

Some are in connection with campus fundraisers or service projects, such as the Bosom Buddies gala, the Davidson Farmer’s Market, and the Ada Jenkins Health Fair. They also perform at private weddings and area senior living centers, and produce their own end of the year “Big Show” in Duke Family Performance Hall.

They are not compensated for their charity work, other than accepting muffins for their performance at the Farmer’s Market! Proceeds from performances at private parties and “The Big Show” finance production of an album, which the group releases every other year. Their sixth offering will be released in spring 2010.

The ensemble rehearses for 90 minutes at least twice a week. They have arrangements for 30 to 40 songs in their repertoire, and learn about 10 new songs per year.

Powers said next year’s plans include visiting a local high school to share their knowledge of a cappella and other music with choral students, and a major fundraising event for elementary school students in conjunction with The Delilahs and Androgyny. The Generals also plan to compete in an a cappella event at Wake Forest University.

For more information on Voices Only 2009, and to order a copy, visit www.voicesonlyacappella.com.

Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,800 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.