Lending a unique voice to Skate for the Heart

October 7, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Normally, being a YouTube sensation means a few minutes of fame.

For 10-man a cappella vocal group Straight No Chaser, it meant a nonstop ticket to stardom. The group’s unique version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” a few years ago was viewed more than 10 million times on the Internet.

“It’s pretty cool, and at some points we have to pinch ourselves because we’ve been doing this for two years, and it still seems so surreal at times,” said Straight No Chaser member Ryan Ahlwardt, calling from Indiana.

The story began in 1996 when 10 Indiana University undergraduates formed the group Straight No Chaser, whose name comes from a Thelonious Monk song.

The act performed around the Bloomington, Ind., campus until graduation, when all its members went their separate ways. Then in April 2006, original member Randy Stine posted the act’s “The 12 Days of Christmas,” which includes snippets of “I Have a Little Dreidel” and Toto’s “Africa.” The video was eventually seen by Atlantic Records, which offered the act an album deal.

“Our first album, ‘Holiday Spirits,’ was released last October,” said Ahlwardt, who has ties to Northeast Ohio with his in-laws calling Hudson home. “It sold over 120,000 copies and got some great radio airplay with ‘The 12 Days of Christmas.’ And then earlier this year, the label asked to put bonus tracks together for an updated version of ‘Holiday Spirits.’ But they liked the new material so much they decided for us to just go ahead and do a full, new Christmas album called ‘Christmas Cheers,’ which is due out in October.”

Also in the mix for the 10- person act is a 60-date tour this fall and winter. As you can imagine, the entire experience for Ahlwardt and his bandmates has been quite extraordinary.

“There are six of the founding members still in the group,” said Ahlwardt, who joined the act in 1999 at Indiana University. “So basically, guys just graduated and went into the work force and did various things in business and music, and then had to reassemble because of the YouTube video that caused so much exposure.”

This meant quite a lifestyle change for the group, with some of its members already making a career outside of music. For instance, act founder Dan Ponce was working in Chicago as a television newscaster, and Stine was a salesman. For Ahlwardt, an aspiring singer-songwriter who taught music to make ends meet, the Straight No Chaser opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time. Having already released a few albums on his own, he’s hoping the exposure can eventually help him launch a solo career.

In the meantime, Straight No Chaser is Ahlwardt’s focus, with a Sunday appearance planned for the Skate for the Heart show at Covelli Centre in Youngstown. Ahlwardt promises an evening of familiar pop and rock hits, as well as one specific sing-along Christmas song.

“We’ll do our Straight No Chaser a cappella spin on things and really surprise folks,” Ahlwardt said.

if you go

What: Skate for the Heart featuring Straight No Chaser

When: 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St., Youngstown.

Tickets: $36.50, $51.50, $69.50 and $89.50 at the box office