'We loved Ottawa,' Santo Ragno enthused during a three-way telephone interview with the group's manager and bass singer, Steve Steinberg.
'We're excited about coming back and would love to fun into some of the people we met. Someone came up to us and said he considered us to be role models. That was a first. He told us ... that our image seemed simple and nuturing-- and we looked like we were having a good time,' Ragno recalled.
The group's look is described as "West Hollywood Hot.' Their sound is both classic and contemporary-- from danceable pop, to doo-wop and R&B.
'It started as a hobby,' says Steinberg who was with the four-member group originally known as Vicki Lester. The other three singers decided to leave the group as they wanted to keep their singing a hobby rather than a career.
'I was able to replace them with the current guys,' says Steinberg. 'The first thing we did in public was the Harmony Sweepstakes singing contest. We came in third. One of the judges brought aling a friend in publicity whjo was looking for an a cappella group. A few days later I wrote to the woman, then spoke to her and sent some tapes and photos,'
The publicist was Vivienne Crawford, executive producer of Warner Records. Steinberg says she asked'are you a gay group that sings or a singing group that's gay?'
Steinberg says he didn't hesitate to quip, 'We are gay and singing!'
Crawford told Steinberg she was sending him a contract. Later, problems developed with Warner Records and the group switched to Mercury Records.
Men Out Loud debuted their first album, Sweet Enuf 2 Eat, in June last year. The CD received much praise and recognition, hitting #1 on the Advocate's Top 10 list of CDs purchased by gays and lesbians.
Steinberg, a singer, dancer, actor, and educator, is a native of LA. Ragno, originally from Connecticut, is the first tenor, and a former member of the a cappella group Tom Fool. (Ragno is also well-known for being the shortest member of Men Out Loud, barely scraping the clouds with his five foot one frame.)
Joseph Pearce, second tenor, hails from Salt Lake City, Utah. He began singing in church at a very early age and was a member of a barbershop quartet. He's a former member of Footlights and Encore, singing, and dancing ensembles, as well as the West Hollywood Chorale.
Last, but not least, is the group's newest member, baritone Rob McElroy, from San Diego via Texas. Like most of the members, he began singing in school and competed in vocal contests. He appeared in numerous and varied types of musical groups, including the band Panorama.
'We are hoping to make a cross-over-- like getting a dance hit,' says Steinberg.
Men Out Loud are refreshingly candid and out there, both
with their music and inmistakable gayness. They love what they do and have
fun with their music as well as their audiences."