As part of Northern Harmony's objective to celebrate, and in turn, promote Canadian a cappella music, we have created a virtual Hall of Fame to honour some of the best Canadian a cappella groups that have graced Northern Harmony's stage over the years.
Northern Harmony, The Canadian A Cappella Festival, celebrates the multitude of genres and styles that can be produced without the crutch of instruments, and the amazing talent of Canadian vocalists. The event, which is also intended to be educational for participants, allows groups to learn from each other and the industry professionals who judge the annual competitions.
When Northern Harmony was started in 1997, it became an overnight success. It has helped to foster a cappella in its home base of Alberta and has spawned the creation of a number of groups – audience members who decided they would like to take their vocal skills to the next level.
For the Hall of Fame's inaugural inductee, the organizers are proud to name The Heebee-jeebees – winners of the first Northern Harmony and again in 2001 – as the Hall's initial member.
The Heebee-jeebees – Cedric Blary, Chris Herard, Ken Lima-Coelho and Jonathan Love – sang their first notes together in the fall of 1993 and they have been entertaining audiences ever since. Hailing from Calgary, their work combines humour, excellent vocals, strong doses of talent and showmanship, and they've won international acclaim for their original vocal stylings. In 1995, the Heebee-jeebees released their first CD, Hurry Up and Wait. In 1997, they released their Christmas album, Waiting Under the Mistletoe, and in 2000, they released their all-original-work album Heebee-jeebee TV, followed by another CD, Falalalala.
Following their win of the inaugural Northern Harmony, and catching the competition bug, the Heebee-jeebees chose to travel to the U.S. to compete against a cappella groups in the American Harmony Sweepstakes. With their win in Olympia, WA, they became the first Canadian group ever to advance to the Sweepstakes' National Finals in San Francisco.