Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, The Blenders are proud to call
Minneapolis, MN their home. They are nearing a 30 year milestone of
touring the U.S. with their unique style of vocal, harmony-based
music. They have appeared with such acts as Jay Leno, Howie Mandel,
Savage Garden, Blues Traveler, Chicago, The Righteous Brothers, Lou
Rawls, Chuck Berry and many more. They have appeared on a variety of
national and regional television shows including The Arsenio Hall Show
(FOX), The Today Show on NBC, Crook and Chase (TNN), and WGN. Radio
performances have included WGN and National Public Radio, to name a
few. In 2007, their music was featured in the Queen Latifah film, The
Perfect Holiday. In 2008, The Blenders’ version of “Lean on Me”
(Songs from the Soul) was featured in the film trailer for “Nothing
Like the Holidays.” They have also won 3 Emmy® Awards for their
work in television commercials. The Blenders spent their first few
years building up their fan base by touring hundreds of colleges and
universities across the country. In the process, they received the
Contemporary Artist of the Year Award in 1994 and 1995 by the National
Association of Campus Activities. With the support of these loyal
fans, they have created a presence that continues to expand worldwide.
Each member of The Blenders had the good fortune of growing up in a
musical family that nurtured their love of song. Although their
influences stretch far and wide, Tim Kasper, Ryan Lance, Darren Rust
and Allan Rust find a common bond in vocal music. From R&B and Jazz,
to Pop and Rock, their tight harmonies and upbeat arrangements always
provide the perfect blend. The Blenders continue writing their own
music as well as adapting songs of their favorite artists. They have
released 15 recordings to date including a compilation album called
“Now and Then” (1997). It features three cuts from each of their
first three albums; “Totally Whipped” (1992), “From the Mouth”
(1994), and “The Blenders” (1995), along with three previously
unreleased tracks. Also in 1997, The Blenders released their first
Christmas album entitled “Nog”, which is a favorite among their
fans and features the group’s unmistakable, smooth vocal harmonies.
The Blenders found international success with their first-ever
major-label release, “Loveland” (1999) on Universal Records. They
hit number one in a handful of European countries with a remake of the
quirky song, “(I am in Love with the) McDonald’s Girl.” In 2011
and 2012, their version of the song was used in a national TV and
radio commercial for McDonald’s. After a year hiatus that began at
the end of 2000, The Blenders returned to the scene in 2002 with a new
Christmas album entitled “When it Snows”. With an enormously
successful holiday concert tour to support it, the album quickly found
its way onto the Billboard charts within a few weeks of hitting the
stores. In 2004, they released “The Blenders Holiday Best”, a
compilation of their holiday CDs with the added track, “I’ll be
home for Christmas.” In 2004 they also released “Another Folkin’
Christmas” (an EP as their alter-egos The Folkers). In 2005 The
Blenders released their third holiday CD, the critically acclaimed,
“Most Wonderful Time.” “Song from the Soul”, their 11th CD
release (October 2006) was The Blenders’ first non-holiday CD
released in 8 years, followed up in 2008 by “Songs from the Soul:
Vol. II.” The Blenders also have a ‘live’ DVD called
“Christmas with The Blenders.” As a companion piece, they released
a 2 CD set containing Christmas songs form their first three holiday
CDs “The Blenders: Christmas Collection.” In 2011, they added to
their extensive Christmas repertoire with “Christmas Light.” In
2014, The Blenders celebrated their 25th Anniversary adding a 6-song
EP to their collection entitled simply, “25”. In 2015, after over
two and a half decades of touring and recording, The Blenders were
inducted into The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. Often described as,
“One of America’s best-kept vocal secrets”, The Blenders
continue to record and tour the country, delighting their audiences
with their signature vocal sound.
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23/12/2019 Last update