Internet phenom Josh Groban's fans descend on Berkshires for "meet & greet" bash

By Lisa S. McCabe12:00AM / Monday, July 28, 2003Print Story | Email Story

A Josh Groban meet & greet, organized by local fan Lisa McCabe, could be the largest such event in the singer's career

As a Berkshire County resident, I am a long time lover of music. As a child, I studied piano and violin. I sang in the school chorus, singing solos for our concerts and the National Anthem at varsity games. In college, I sang with the University Chorale, continued to play violin and even tried a little flute. I liked all kinds of music. I liked nearly every genre of music and had a broad taste for all sorts of influences. Somewhere along the way, real life took over and I relegated my music in lieu of "more important" things. It's been over a decade since I graduated and music had almost slipped completely from my active consciousness. Then, during a particularly difficult illness, I found an artist named Josh Groban. I first saw him in a guest role on Ally McBeal. Malcolm Wyatt (Josh Groban) stumbled onto the screen and caught my eye. The awkward teen bashfully wound his way through the quirky plot and finished the show by introducing me (and millions of others) to the most amazing baritone I have heard in a long time. He didn't sing anything that would generally catch my ear. It was the quality and tonality of the voice. I missed the name in the credits. After another guest appearance on Ally, and hearing him on the radio, I finally got the name. Though ill, I got myself to the music store and purchased his debut CD, self titled, Josh Groban. Now, quite ill, I listened to this voice, the craft with which the album was assembled, and no other CD was found in my player. As is often the case I identified with one song over the others, a song called "Let Me Fall." This poetic lyric speaks of confidence and will power to surmount difficulties and over come. As I lay in bed, I wondered if I would be able to find my own courage, as the singer in this song was sure he would. While mulling this over, I noticed a web address on the CD, www.joshgroban.com . I surfed. I came upon a website which formally introduced me to the artist behind the voice. At the age of 17, Josh was a young man who had been discovered by David Foster, an extremely well known Grammy winning producer. Singing with Celine David worked with Josh off and on for some time and then Josh received a call from David. David was working with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Bocelli was unable to make the rehearsal. "The Prayer" could not be sung solo. Dion needed a male voice to accompany her. Josh balked, neither thinking himself ready nor suited for the opportunity. He said no. David called back, faxed the music, and Josh was in the auditorium hours later. At the age of 17, he stood on stage with Celine Dion, in front of dozens of recognized established performers, and Josh began to sing. Activity came to a halt as people craned their necks to see who was singing. Celine Dion forgot her entrance. The story was the thing of books and movies: Young baritone discovered. The site features a player where you can stream the album, but the thing that most distinguishes this site is the community boards. I wasn't particularly familiar with internet communities. There was a vast network of topical posts or messages. Everyone was "talking" about Josh. They all had board names, inside jokes, followed one another from place to place posting, had organized to see Josh at different venues, posted pictures of themselves, Josh, and eventually llamas. It was an overwhelming place to go. I began to read, backed out, and went back the news section and the player. I was still very sick. I found myself revisiting this site - intrigued. I discovered that this board, of mostly women, called this virtual place Grobania. They called themselves Grobanites. Josh appreciated his Grobanites. He posted, as did his management team and producer, David Foster. I learned that this site had been hastily created in answer to Josh's name being repeatedly Google searched following his Ally McBeal appearances. The community became a virtual haunt almost immediately. His fans began to get together with events called Meet & Greets where they could make the virtual conversations real. They began to organize charitable endeavors. Money was being raised for ill children because people had found there way to Grobania by following a voice. Josh is the pied piper of Grobania. Grobania loves Josh. Lurking Unlike the typical artist's sites, discussion moves past Josh's talent, performances and look. There are blogs, games, artistic endeavors, on-line newsletters, compendiums of Josh's performances and interviews, and thoughtful discussion on topics of all types. This site is a prototype for the music industry. Josh is known as an internet phenomenon. I lurked here for over a year. That means that I visited and read but never registered as a user or posted along with the others. In that time, the board grew from around 500 members to 3400. I started to think I should take the next step. I had to register a board name so I could also post. Perhaps tomorrow. I lurked. During this time, I was hospitalized. Josh made stops in Canada, and Europe. Grobanites were in the audience when he appeared on US talk shows such as Rosie, Oprah, The View, Regis and many others. I listened to his CD and his voice. I read the accounts of those who had heard him and met him. I was finding my courage. During the Fall of 2002, Josh was featured on Great Performances on PBS. This fundraising feature found Josh on a stage in Pasadena before a packed house singing to his fans whom had acquired tickets through the website and had converged from around the world to watch and hear Josh do his thing. The critical review of this performance was overwhelmingly positive. Josh had been crowned the new boy wonder. In December, Josh sang "O Holy Night" for the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center. Now I should interrupt my musings here to describe Josh's music. He has been (inappropriately) referred to as "opera boy." While he does sing classically inspired music, it is neither classical nor opera (and, at this point, he is no longer a boy.) It is pop and some in the industry have categorized it as "popical" - an odd made up word. I find it extremely amusing that Josh is difficult to classify. I appreciate that fact, as it is truly a disappointment that an art form such as music gets pigeonholed into programming formulas, ultimately limiting the artist's exploration of his medium. Josh and his team have ignored the industry's pre-disposition to label and come up with a collection of music that inspires exploration. On his debut CD, Josh sings in English, Italian and Spanish. His expresses emotion through his music that few artists accomplish and he has collaborated with wonderfully talented artists such as The Coors, Lily Hayden, and Charlotte Church. Back to my story. The Christmas of 2002 found me feeling better. My mind was clearer and my energy level was improving. I got Josh's DVD of the PBS special as a present. Additional music in the package included Josh's "O Holy Night." I headed back to the website. It was time to take the step to join this interesting internet community proper. I registered in January and became an official member of Josh's community. There were 6,000 other users by this time. I became "Falling with Josh," a rather timid poster, still more comfortable with reading then posting. Soon after, however, Tanglewood released its summer schedule. Much to my pleasure, Josh Groban was a featured performer. Josh would be the featured vocalist for "Film Night at Tanglewood," John Williams' annual salute to film scores. Josh has a very special relationship with John Williams. Josh sang "For Always," the theme song for the soundtrack for "AI (Artificial Intelligence)," which Williams scored. Since that collaboration, there has been an on-going mutual admiration between the two men that has been demonstrated in their willingness to appear together repeatedly. Josh was supposed to perform at Tanglewood with John Williams last season. Shortly before the date came, Josh canceled. He had been battling an extremely tenacious case of tonsillitis. He was forced to bow out and take care of his health. There was disappointment among his fans, but, being the amiable bunch, many still enjoyed John Williams' show and had Yo-Yo Ma sign a get-well card for Josh. For the 2003 season, Falling with Josh will play hostess to Josh's fans, the Grobanites, for Josh's visit to the Berkshires. I posted to the boards and offered to host the party. I figured possibly 40 Grobanites would hang out on the lawn and "spread the Josh." Soon, I found out how much the Grobanites are willing to go through to see Josh. The response was overwhelming. I purchased 175 shed tickets and sold them all before general sales even began. I had a very large party on my hands. I wanted to provide a special time for the Grobanites. I wanted to show off my hometown and give them a time they would never forget. A lawn party might not be enough. I contacted Tanglewood and reserved one of their tents for a private party. The Tanglewood M&G (Meet & Greet) was beginning to take shape. Largest Grobanite gathering? I have a solid background in event planning. So, the organization of this event was not all that daunting. I got down to it. Soon, what had begun as a picnic on the lawn prior to the concert became a private party fully catered complete with cash bar. The M&G would entertain Grobanites before the concert and then provide a venue afterward for continued enjoyment. The Grobanite charities became involved and organized to use the opportunity to have silent auctions and raffles. Items such as Grobanian Night candles, Joshy-Washy soap, Joshy pop lollipops will be making there way to Tanglewood. The silliness is quite catchy! Grobanites from as far away as Norway will be making Tanglewood a destination. 300 of Josh's fans will attend the Tanglewood Meet & Greet. It will be the largest organized get-together of the Grobanites in Josh's career. I wanted to take advantage of the fact that Josh's fans are internet based. I put up a website designed to assist those coming to Tanglewood, Josh/Tanglewood Website [ www.geocities.com/fallingwithjosh/index.html .] Its features include links to the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, a roommate finder and information about Tanglewood. It provides most of the information anyone would need to plan a visit to the Berkshires. It includes information on the charitable work that will take place and even offers methods to file a visitor's itineraries into a master database and a donation form for Grobanites interested in assisting with the fundraising efforts. The master database is also available on-line and Grobanite volunteers in the US and Canada have been working on it. Small town feeling What I have found, is that this community, based on the internet, is a small town. They help each other, support one another, bicker and squabble and all come to the same playing field in their appreciation for Josh. I haven't looked back since registering (although I still wonder about the llamas) and I look forward to seeing how this forum continues to influence Josh's career and those of other up and coming artists. When the Grobanites come to the Berkshires the weekend of August 2, they will be treated to our hospitality and warmth. They will hear Josh. But, more then that, they will solidify friendships they have made through the internet; put faces to names and build shared memories together. This will be the largest get-together of Josh's fans to date. Josh will sing to his Grobanites and add to the rich history that is Tanglewood. I can't wait! Lisa S. McCabe plans to write an additional piece covering the activities of Josh and his fans the day of his concert, August 2, 2003, with John Williams.

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Senior Golf Series Returns in September

Community submission10:26AM / Friday, April 12, 2024

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The Berkshire County Fall Senior Golf series returns in September with events on five consecutive Wednesdays starting Sept. 18.

It is the 22nd year of the series, which is a fund-raiser for junior golf in the county, and it is open to players aged 50 and up.

The series will feature two divisions for each event based on the combined ages of the playing partners.

Golfers play from the white tees (or equivalent) with participants 70 and over or who have a handicap of more than 9 able to play from the forward tees.

Gross and net prices will be available in each division.

The cost is $55 per event and includes a round of golf, food and prizes. Carts are available for an additional fee.

Golfers should call the pro shop at the course for that week's event no sooner than two weeks before the event to register.

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