The Harvard Krokodiloes

The Harvard Krokodiloes ("The Kroks") are Harvard University's oldest a cappella singing group, founded in 1946. The group consists of twelve tuxedo-clad undergraduates, and they sing songs from the Great American Songbook and beyond.[1]

The Harvard Krokodiloes
Also known asThe Kroks
OriginCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
GenresA cappella
Years active1946–present
Websitewww.kroks.com

The group has performed on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Good Morning America, National Public Radio, and on numerous international national television programs.[2] Each summer, the Krokodiloes travel around the world on an eleven-week, six-continent tour. They have recorded 31 albums.

They derive their name from the ancient Greek word for crocodile, krokodilos. The group's motto is Nunc Est Cantandum, or “Now is the time to sing.”[2]

History

The Kroks were founded in 1946, when four members of the Hasty Pudding Club at 12 Holyoke Street, popular for its drag musical theatre productions, began singing popular hits of their time in four-part harmony.[1]

The Krokodiloes have performed around the world for hosts including Ella Fitzgerald, Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Monaco, the Aga Khan, and King Bhumibol of Thailand. They had a particularly close relationship with Leonard Bernstein, who became friends with the group first in 1973, when he composed a setting to an E. E. Cummings poem "if you can't eat." In 1983 Bernstein wrote an original song for the group, "Screwed On Wrong," and provided an introductory letter that helped launch the group's first annual international summer tour.[3]

Since 1989 the group has appeared four times at Carnegie Hall, debuting there to a sold-out audience in 1989 at a concert to benefit world hunger, in the spring of 1995 in an American Red Cross benefit, in May 1998 in a concert for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and most recently at Zankel Hall in March 2008.[4]

In , the Kroks performed at the Inaugural Ball celebrating the inauguration of US President Bill Clinton.

In 1997, the Kroks performed at the June 30 Hong Kong handover ceremonies commemorating the return of Hong Kong province to China.

Notable alumni

Krokodiloes alumni are listed on the group's archive website.[5]

References
  1. About the Harvard Krokodiloes.
  2. http://www.kroks.com/history History of the Harvard Krokodiloes, from the group’s website.
  3. Ireland, Corydon. "Three-day extravaganza fetes Bernstein." Harvard University Gazette, 2006-10-19. Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Notice of 2008 Carnegie Hall performance. Archived 2008-01-23 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Krok Archives: Alumni and In Memoriam". Retrieved 2019-10-30.
  6. George Howe Colt, 2003 National Book Award Finalist: Nonfiction Archived 2008-09-08 at the Wayback Machine, The National Book Foundation. Accessed online 17 November 2008.
  7. Politico.com (2008). Exclusive: Gregory Craig to be White House counsel. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  8. History News Network Interview Archived 2009-06-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
  9. Leo Kiely, MillerCoors Company bio Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed online 17 November 2008.
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