The Real Group

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Real Group


Img_capt = (From left) Johanna Nyström (standing in for Margareta Bengtson), Katarina Henryson, Peder Karlsson, Anders Edenroth, Anders Jalkéus.
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Stockholm, Sweden
Genre = A cappella, Vocal jazz, Pop
Years_active = 1984 - present
URL = http://www.therealgroup.net
Current_members = Anders Edenroth
Anders Jalkéus
Katarina Henryson
Peder Karlsson
Emma Nilsdotter
Past_members = Margareta Bengtson
Johanna Nyström

The Real Group is a professional a cappella group from Sweden, consisting of five members: soprano Emma Nilsdotter, alto Katarina Henryson, tenor Anders Edenroth, baritone Peder Karlsson, and bass Anders Jalkéus. Margareta Bengtson had been the Soprano with the group since its inception, but broke off from the group to work on her solo albums at the end of 2006. Johanna Nyström filled her spot for some time, until Emma Nilsdotter replaced her in 2008, and had her first appearance with the group in Kremlin Palace [http://www.therealgroup.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=163&Itemid=178 The Real Group performs in Kremlin Palace, Russia] . Group web site content.] . Johanna Nyström has also filled in for both Margareta Bengtson and Katarina Henryson whenever they have been on maternity leave or otherwise away.

The group's members compose or arrange most of the songs that they perform. A large portion of the group's recorded songs are sung in English, with the remainder being almost entirely in Swedish.

History

Formation

The Real Group was formed in 1984, when its original members were students at the Swedish Royal College of Music.

Musical style

Vocal ranges of the members

*Emma Nilsdotter: ???(not posted on website)
*Katarina Henryson: From D below middle C up to high C.
*Anders Edenroth: From C below middle C up to A below high C.
*Peder Karlsson: From low E up to C above middle C.
*Anders Jalkéus: From contra A up to G above middle C.

Vocal ranges of previous members

*Johanna Nyström: ??? (not posted on website)
*Margareta Bengtson: From F below middle C up to G above high C

Performances

The Real Group has performed in more than 2000 concerts worldwide.In 2002 The Real Group performed at the opening ceremony of The FIFA World Cup in Seoul. They performed live to the audience of 60 000.

Discography

Trivia

* The group cites Bobby McFerrin as an early source of inspiration: "What we do may never have happened if we hadn't heard his [albums] ."cite web | title=The Real Group Questions & Answers| work=Group web site content | url=http://www.realgroup.se/page/3/18/19| accessdate=August 15 | accessyear=2006 ] .
* The Real Group does not tour often in the United States; to avoid extended absence from their families, the group has a policy not to take tours lasting longer than one week, and tour-booking management agencies in the US don't generally accept such relatively short tour lengths.cite web
title=The Real Group Questions & Answers
work=Group web site content
url=http://www.realgroup.se/page/3/18/129
accessdate=August 11
accessyear=2006 ]
* Margareta Bengtson and Anders Jalkéus were previously married to each other, but have since divorced. Up until the August 31, 2006 announcement of her planned retirement from The Real Group, the group's publications still referred to Bengtson as Margareta Jalkéus.
* On December 22, 1993, to commemorate the fiftieth birthday of Queen Silvia of Sweden, The Real Group backed up former ABBA member Anni-Frid Lyngstad in a performance of the ABBA hit "Dancing Queen", using an a cappella arrangement that would later be released on the album "Varför får man inte bara vara som man är".

Awards

* Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs):
** 1995: Best Contemporary Cover: "Dancing Queen" from "Varför får man inte bara vara som man är"
** 1995: Best Jazz Song: "Flight of the Foo-Birds" from "Varför får man inte bara vara som man är"
** 1996: Best Female Vocalist: Margareta Bengtson
** 1997: Live Album of the Year: "Live in Stockholm"
** 1997: Best Original Pop Song
** 1997: Best Jazz Song
** 1997: Best Female Vocalist: Margareta Bengtson
** 1998: Best Holiday Album: "En riktig jul"
** 2003: Best Classical Album: "Stämning"
** 2003: Runner Up for Best Classical Song: "En vänlig grönskas rika dräkt" from "Stämning"
** 2004: Best Holiday Album: "Julen en her"
** 2004: Best Holiday Song: "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" from "Julen En Her"
* Other awards:
** 2002 Karamelodiktstipendiet sv icon, an annual award given to a Swedish entertainer by Povel Ramel.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.therealgroup.net/ Official website]