DeCarlo Jarrell Raspberry, a versatile and passionate vocalist. Hailing from Washington, D.C., DeCarlo started performing at a very young age. Singing before he could speak if you let his mother tell it. His roots of sound are grounded in that of Jazz and Gospel/Traditional Church music. Being discovered by his first grade music teacher Peggy Greenman in class is where it all took off for him in the world of arts. Studying, watching and performing with Cecelia Calloway, daughter of the Late Jazz Great Cab Calloway, he learned the rudiments of Jazz, vocal line, and improvisation. From then on, DeCarlo received wonderful opportunities to share his gift, being pushed in the right direction by his music teacher.
He began to sing for assemblies and gatherings in school and out. He had the opportunity to sing for the“5k Penguin Race” which benefitted a senior citizen center to singing jazz in various performances. DeCarlo started to gain exposer to the arts which bled into his personal life and into church plays and musicals.
DeCarlo started his journey into classical music in High School, where he trained with vocal teachers, coaches and explored a new sound sand parts of his voice he never knew he had. Out of that, he has had the opportunity to sing in multiple competitions and concerts, as well as for high profile events, Presidential, Kennedy Center, Christmas in Washington.
DeCarlo has sang behind amazing artists such as Beyonce, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, and Kristin Chenoweth to name a few.
Receiving his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance and Opera from The Boston Conservatory, he made his debut on The Boston Conservatory stage in the supporting lead role of "Pish-Tush" in Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado, as well as leading role of "Jack/Jesus" in Studney and Muphy's Musical Reefer Madness. Mr. Raspberry is an an avid performer in the Washington, D.C. and New York City Area, spanning roles in shows such as "Rocky Horror Movie Picture Show", Sondheim's "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow", L'amore de trei re , new musical "TRUTH", new acclaimed opera "Stinney", Booker "Ragtime", “Sister Act”, “Showboat”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Dreamgirls”as well as concerts such as the Kennedy Center and Strathmore to name a few. When not performing, Mr. Raspberry can be seen working with children of all aspects to further their education through the Arts, providing first class teaching.
"I rarely forget a voice.... it’s hard not to adore his rich, smooth voice giving a solid performance at all times."
-MD Theatre Guide, Raychel Harvey-Jones
September 9, 2017
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