Josh Groban's Old Soul

The Singer Is A Favorite With Older Audiences, But Is Remarkably Successful Across The Board

(CBS)  Josh Groban has been called "the boy wonder of the voice," with a classic sound and a repertoire that defies categorization, even in a record store.

"When I go into music stores, I find it, you know, all over the place," he told Sunday Morning correspondent Sandra Hughes. "I like to think of what I do as pop music. I think of my voice as a pop voice. But it's not without its classical training and classical influences and world music influences and that kind of thing."

He's not a big fan of the catchy term some people have given to his style of music: "Popera."

"I've never been fond of those kind of gimmicky kind of words for things" he said. "I really hope people listen to me and say, 'Oh, that's just Josh.'"

Just 26, his three CDs have sold a combined 16 million copies. Groban is packing arenas, especially attracting female fans — Grobanites, some call them — mothers and daughters alike.

"It started off, I think, as a much older audience, 'cause that was kind of naturally who was buying this kind of music to begin with," he said. "But what's been really, really cool is — without having to change myself, without having to change what I do — I've been able to really reach a lot of my peers, too."

He reaches his audiences with a mix of mostly ballads and love songs, often sung in Italian or Spanish.

"I've always loved languages. I've loved the musicality of languages," he said. "I've loved the idea of telling a story in many different ways."

Even though singing in a foreign language can alienate some people, Groban says he can't please everyone, but he thinks his music is still accessible to most of his fans.

"I feel like with every passing moment it's reaching more people," he said.

Groban has been working with voice coach David Romano for eight years.

"We work classically," Romano said. "We train classically. He chooses to sing the way he sings, okay, which works quite well. It's amazing that he has the gift to be able to do that. So that's where the gift comes in."

During a break in a busy touring schedule for his latest album titled "Awake," Groban continues to work on his voice and rehearse with his band.

"You know, the schedule on me, with me, is so grueling and so demanding, and it's basically a rock and roll schedule while still having to have a pure and legitimate voice," Groban said. "Rough singing is not what they come for to my concert."

Groban began attending concerts and musicals with his parents when he was a child. He knew early on that music was his passion.

"I'd sit in the audience and I'd get chills," he said. "And I'd say, okay, well, if I can be the person that makes someone else feel that one day, then that's it, I'll be the happiest person in the world."

At the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, he seemed destined for success.

"It was the first place that I went to that I really started to feel like I was developing my own identity," he said. "And I was becoming confident as a human being."

From there it all happened very quickly for Groban. He was still in high school when he was picked as a last-minute replacement to sing at the California governor's inaugural.

"It was a total moment, you know," Groban said. "My dad was in the bleacher seats [with a ] shaky camera. I came out, big tuxedo, tie. My stage presence was not very good!"

Another of those moments came a few weeks later. When Andrea Bocelli couldn't get to the Grammies in time to practice his duet with Celine Dion, Josh got the offer to fill in at the rehearsal.

"And that was the point where I kind of said, I don't think I can fill those shoes," Groban said.

But he did. His dad brought the camera along for that, too. Groban took off for college, but left six months later to record his first CD.

[flexiblehors]

josh is wonderfully talented. he is a gifted musician who touches so many people in so many ways. Thank you Mr. Groban, for blessing us all with your gift.

[emma915]

Josh's voice is wonderful. The first time I saw him was when he did the performance with Celine. Amazing! I buy his albums. But, I do have one complaint. He's let his hair get a tad too long, and I hate the 'need a bath' look that all of today's gentlemen celebs think is so ***. I know he's probably just freshly bathed, but his hair and the stubble on his face take away from his performance.

[beccabee2]

well thats interesting....

nice article

but in 2001 i was a fan and i was only 13. i needed his music in my life.