Album Notes

Four friends from Fargo, ND, have become one of the most popular a cappella acts on the collegiate circuit, although their horizons have expanded way beyond that. Two years in a row they have won the Contemporary Artist of the Year award, presented by the National Association of Campus Activities. In the expanded horizon realm we find them opening for Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Savage Garden, Blues Traveler, Chicago, The Righteous Brothers, Lou Rawls and Chuck Berry. A tip-of-the-iceberg list of big media appearances would include The Arsenio Hall Show, The Today Show on NBC, Crook and Chase, CNN, WGN TV & Radio and National Public Radio. We can attest personally to the fact that these four are great performers. News flash! The Blenders recently sang backup vocals on two songs for Tuck and Patti's new album.

When they talk of the source of their creative capacities, their families are always credited with musical nurturing, particularly vocally. When they refer to their hometown it is the Academy Award-winning town of Fargo. When they refer to their current home base it is Minneapolis, MN. Who are they? Tim Kasper, Ryan Lance, Darren Rust and Allen Rust. There was one change in the lineup, that being the replacement of original member Paul Dunkirk by Darren Rust's brother, Allen, who jumped right in when called upon. The group didn't skip a beat. In fact it was only five days from the time he was asked to join the group until he wrapped up his former life in the commercial musical world of Los Angeles. He flew from LA, went straight to the recording studio and sang the lead vocals on "Let It Fall" (found on the CD - Now and Then), all in one day!

You can expect a mix of original songs and great covers of some of their favorites from rock 'n roll and R&B with a touch of jazz added, in both their live shows and on their albums. They are all prolific writers and have been producing their own music. Initially, they did all their own recording, as well, but a certain amount of the technical work will no doubt be done by others now that they have signed a contract with Universal Records. Expect their first release on Universal in the Spring of 1999.

All in all, it has been an exciting and productive eight years for four great singers, to begin in their hometown, produce their own music, crisscross the country singing in forty-six states and signing with a major label. All we want to know is, did Ryan Lance and Tim Kasper really teach together in the same dance studio, pre-Blenders?