Human Nature

As Martha and the Vandellas once put, Theyre dancing in the street in Chicago, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore and DC nowcant forget the Motor CityAcross the ocean blue, me and you.

The music of Motown traveled around the globe, landing on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia, where four high school studentsbrothers Andrew and Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allenwere more interested in soul, gospel and harmony groups than their countrys usual obsession with guitars, grunt and good old rock and roll. Forming a singing group that began as a tribute to their love of a cappella doo-wop, the foursome was directed to the music of the legendary label by a music teacher.

That was 22 years ago. Today, Human Nature are Australias leading pop vocal group, having released nine albums (many containing their own, self-penned original material), five of which went to #1 in their native continent, selling millions of records world-wide and garnering 23 platinum awards, 70 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits. The group has opened for Celine Dion and Michael Jackson in Europe and Australia. Their chart-topping Motown tribute, Reach Out, went five-times-platinum, attracting the attention of famed songwriter Smokey Robinson, who recorded Get Ready with them and presented them in an exclusive booking at Las Vegas Imperial Palace, where they have played five and six nights a week to sold-out crowds for the past two and a half years.

Having inked a comprehensive worldwide deal that includes merchandise, sponsorships and endorsements, ticket/music bundling, touring and corporate gigs with Universal Music Groups Universal Music Enterprises (they remain with Sony in Australia), Human Nature are ready to tackle America, and carry the legacy of Motown music for a new generation. The first release under the new agreement will be The Motown Record, featuring 11 soul classics plus a bonus track, including Get Ready, the bands collaboration with Smokey Robinson, distinctive doo-wop versions of Ooh Baby Baby and Just My Imagination, as well as the Four Tops Reach Out Ill Be There and Baby I Need Your Loving, the Temptations My Girl and Aint Too Proud to Beg, Stevie Wonders Uptight, Martha and the Vandellas Dancing in the Street and the Supremes Stop in the Name of Love. The versions are faithful, yet updated and freshened, everything weve loved about them renewed and revitalized, performed and arranged by four guys who clearly love to sing and harmonize on these particular songs.

Human Nature Sings Motown, a special telecast of the groups Las Vegas state show filmed by longtime Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich, will be at the center of PBS fund-raising efforts in December, featuring an appearance by Smokey Robinson. Ehrlich enthused about working with the band: When you hear their versions of the great Motown classics, youre not only reminded of the greatness of the originals, but you hear nuances that bring those originals up to date without tarnishing them in the least.

A DVD version of the show includes 40 minutes of bonus content featuring the band discussing Motowns enduring influence with the labels legendary songwriters Lamont Dozier, Eddie and Brian Holland, all of whom have given their blessings to Human Nature, as well as more than 20 minutes of performances not shown in the original broadcast. Both CD and DVD are exclusive to PBS subscribers through December before being available at retailers in March 2012.

Smokey Robinson, who has nurtured the band and is actively working with them to reinvigorate the Motown brand, says: The members of Human Nature are extraordinary vocalists who truly now how to entertain and I knew that they would be hugely successful.

And now its time for Human Nature to conquer America with its own music.

Human Natures many accomplishments include performing the Australian national anthem at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000, and performing on Oprah last summer, when the show was taped before thousands in Australia, but nothing beats making it in America, the home of not only Motown, but much of the music they are most passionate about.

Get ready because here comes Human Nature.

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