The Rocturnals

Last updated

The Rocturnals (formerly known as KansasCali)
Origin Las Vegas, Nevada, US
GenresUrban rock, Rock, Soul, Rap
Occupation(s)Urban rock band
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, lead guitar, electric guitar, drum, drum machine, turntables
Years active2003–present
LabelsBlack Casino Music and Entertainment
MembersA. "Pittboss" Johnson
Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton aka Emcee N.I.C.E.
Eric "E" Borders
Adam Crow
Tristan "Trist" Cannizzaro
Website therocturnals.com

The Rocturnals (formerly known as KansasCali) is an American alternative rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada.

Contents

Formed in 2003, the band has five members, lead vocalist A. Johnson, lead vocalist-rapper Aulsondro Hamilton, lead guitarist Tristan Cannizarro, rhythm guitarist Adam Crow, and drummer Eric Borders. The band's mainstream debut came as KansasCali in 2004, when the song "If I..." appeared on both the soundtrack and DVD of the 2005 Academy Award-winning movie, Crash. The music video also featured in the "Special Features" section of the DVD and appeared on the concept album, Crash: Music from and Inspired by Crash .

Biography

Following the band's success with Crash, it was invited to feature on the soundtrack for Mr. & Mrs. Smith . The band responded with a more mid-tempo song, in comparison to "If I...", entitled, "If I Never See You Again".

The band's soundtrack success led them to be selected by Tamara Coniff, former editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine, as the opening band for Billboard's 1st Annual Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards. [1] The band was subsequently selected to appear on four other movie soundtracks: Haven, a 2004 action movie starring Orlando Bloom and Zoe Saldana, ESPN's Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos , about New York's soccer team, Kickin It Old Skool a comedy starring Jamie Kennedy and Bobby Lee, and John Feal's documentary Save The Brave.

DVD controversy

The band's appearance on the Crash DVD did not occur without controversy. Bird York, who created the movie's theme song, "In the Deep", but did not feature on the DVD, complained about the band's inclusion. York communicated with Lionsgate, Bob Yari and Superb Records and requested to have the band's song removed, and it subsequently did not appear in the director's cut version of the DVD.

Discography

Songs and albums

Songs & Album information 2002–present
"Celebrate The Earth" (single) [2]
  • Released: April 2011
  • Label: Black Casino Music and Entertainment
The Life [3]
  • Released: January 2011
  • Label: Black Casino Music and Entertainment
  • Single: "The Life"
This Is Where Amazing Happens
  • Released: February 2010
  • Label: Black Casino Music and Entertainment
  • Single: "This Is Where Amazing Happens"
  • Debuted on NBA on TNT at the Rookie All-Star Game
Doctor Fink presents a Tribute to Prince
In My America feat. The Rocturnals (Tribute LP)
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: USOFA (United Students Of America.org)
  • Single: "In My America” (Track #1 on the CD)
Save The BraveDocumentary [4]
  • Released: August 2008
  • Label: The FEALGOOD Foundation
  • Song: "In My America” feat. The Rocturnals (End Credits)
Kickin It Old Skool (movie) [5]
  • Released: April 27, 2007
  • Label: Superb Records | Yari Film Group
  • Song: "The Life” feat. KansasCali now known as The Rocturnals (End Title)
Once in a Lifetime (2006 film) starring Pelé [6]

Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos

  • Song: “U Gotta Fight!” feat. KansasCali (track #12)
  • Released: July 11, 2006
  • Label: Superb Records
Haven (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [7]

starring Orlando Bloom and Zoe Saldana

  • Song: “Uuuh” feat. KansasCali (disc 1 track #9)
  • Released: September 19, 2006
  • Label: Superb Records
It's All Love feat. KansasCali [8]
Crash: Music from and Inspired by Crash(soundtrack) [9]
  • Song: “If I...” feat. KansasCali (track #1)
  • Released: June 7, 2005
  • Label: Superb Records
Mr & Mrs. Smith (international soundtrack) [10]

starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

  • Song: “If I Never See You Again” feat. KansasCali (track #1)
  • Released: July 22, 2005
  • Label: Warner | Edel Music
Aaron Hall [11]
  • Album: Adult’s Only
  • Song: “Serve That Body” feat. KansasCali (Track #3)
  • Bonus Song: “Better Watch Your Girl” feat. KansasCali (Track #15)
  • Released: July 26, 2005
  • Label: Head Start Music Group
  • Singles: "Sorry", "If I Never See U Again", and "Hello World"
KansasCali [12]
  • Album: Vegas One (The Beginning)
  • Released: October 15, 2002
  • Label: Familia Records
  • Singles: "Teasin Me", "B4 U Say No”

Television Show Songs

Songs for TV Shows & Specials, 2000–present
Lav Luv TV One comedy special "I'm Gonna Get in Trouble
  • Released: 2009
  • Network: TV One
  • Song: "I’m Gonna Get In Trouble” feat. The Rocturnals
Lil jj comedy special "Almost Grown" [13]
  • Released: 2008
  • Distributor: FarCor Studios | CodeBlack Entertainment
  • Song: "Almost Grown” feat. The Rocturnals & DBI
Emmitt Smith presents "The Emmitt Zone"

Current members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mötley Crüe</span> American heavy metal band

Mötley Crüe is an American heavy metal band formed in Hollywood, California in 1981 by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee with guitarist Mick Mars and lead vocalist Vince Neil joining right after. The band has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. They have also achieved seven platinum or multi-platinum certifications, nine Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, twenty-two Top 40 mainstream rock hits, and six Top 20 pop singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas (band)</span> American rock band

Kansas is an American rock band that formed in 1973 in Topeka, Kansas, and became popular during the decade initially on album-oriented rock charts and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind". The band has produced nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums, one other platinum studio album (Monolith), one platinum live double album, and a million-selling single, "Dust in the Wind". Kansas appeared on the US Billboard charts for over 200 weeks throughout the 1970s and 1980s and played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. "Carry On Wayward Son" was the second-most-played track on US classic rock radio in 1995 and No. 1 in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Styx (band)</span> American rock band

Styx is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. They are known for blending melodic hard rock guitar with acoustic guitar, synthesizers mixed with acoustic piano, upbeat tracks with power ballads, and incorporating elements of international musical theatre. The band established themselves with a progressive rock sound during the 1970s, and began to incorporate pop rock and soft rock elements in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The All-American Rejects</span> American rock band

The All-American Rejects are an American rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, formed in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bassist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor. Wheeler and Ritter serve as the band's songwriters; Wheeler is the primary composer and Ritter is the primary lyricist. Although Kennerty and Gaylor are not founding members, they have appeared in all of the band's music videos and on all studio releases except for the band's self-titled debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Page Hamilton</span> American singer and guitarist

Page Nye Hamilton is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer, mostly noted for his work with alternative metal band Helmet, which he founded. Most of his work has been in the hard rock and alternative metal styles, though he trained in jazz guitar and has substantial connections with avant-garde music and film soundtrack composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet (band)</span> American alternative metal band

Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Helmet has had numerous lineup changes with Hamilton as the only constant member. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finger Eleven</span> Canadian rock band

Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1990. They have released seven studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream. Their 2003 self-titled album achieved Gold status in the United States and Platinum in Canada, largely from the success of the single "One Thing", which marked the band's first placing on the US Hot 100 Chart at number 16. Their 2007 album, Them vs. You vs. Me launched the single "Paralyzer", which went on to top the Canadian Hot 100 and both US rock charts, as well as reaching No. 6 on the US Hot 100 and No. 12 on the Australian Singles Chart. They won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year in 2008. The same album was later certified gold in the US and multi-platinum in Canada. They released their sixth studio album, Life Turns Electric, on October 5, 2010; it was nominated as Best Rock Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2011. Five Crooked Lines, their 7th studio album, was released in 2015. Between 1995 and 2016, Finger Eleven was among the top 75 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 25 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada. In 2023, the band released a compilation album titled Greatest Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junkhouse</span> Canadian rock band

Junkhouse was a Canadian rock band, formed during 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario. They released three albums during the 1990s, which spawned numerous charting singles in Canada. They initially disbanded in 1998, and have performed occasional one-off shows afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alter Bridge</span> American rock band

Alter Bridge is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida. The band was formed in 2004 by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips. After their former band Creed became inactive in 2003, Tremonti and Phillips formed a new band with former bandmate Marshall and new member Kennedy; Alter Bridge was formally unveiled in January 2004, months before Creed's official breakup in June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man of the Hour</span> 2003 song by Pearl Jam

"Man of the Hour" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Man of the Hour" accompanies the closing credits of the 2003 film Big Fish, and is the first track on the film's soundtrack album. It was released as a single on November 26, 2003. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dope (band)</span> American metal band

Dope is an American nu metal band from New York City, formed in 1997. The band has released seven full-length studio albums with their most recent studio album, Blood Money Part Zer0, being released in February 2023. The lineup currently consists of founding member and lead singer and keyboardist Edsel Dope, lead guitarist, Virus, rhythm guitarist Acey Slade, bassist Daniel Fox and drummer Chris Warner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plain White T's</span> American rock band

The Plain White T's is an American pop rock band from Lombard, Illinois, formed in 1997 by high school friends Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, and Ken Fletcher, and joined a short time later by Steve Mast. The group had a mostly underground following in Chicago basements, clubs, and bars in its early years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Panther</span> American rock band

Steel Panther is an American comedic glam metal band from Los Angeles, California. Fronted by lead singer Michael Starr, the band formed in 2000 as Metal Shop and was also known as Metal Skool before adopting the name Steel Panther in 2008. The band is known for its profane and humorous lyrics, and for parodying the stereotypical glam metal lifestyle.

KansasCali is an alternative rock group that was formed in 1999 and composed of rapper Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton, also known as Emcee N.I.C.E. and singer Anderson "Pittboss" Johnson originally an R&B/hip hop duo before adding guitarist/drummer Eric "E" Borders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnel Pineda</span> Filipino singer

Arnel Campaner Pineda is a Filipino singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the Philippines during the 1980s and internationally in 2007 as the lead singer of the American rock band Journey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday Road</span> 1983 single by Lindsey Buckingham

"Holiday Road" is a 1983 single composed and recorded by American guitarist/singer Lindsey Buckingham. Written for the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation, it was also used in the film's sequels National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), Vegas Vacation (1997) and Vacation (2015). Despite only peaking at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during its original release, it has since become one of Buckingham's best known songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orianthi</span> Australian musician, singer and songwriter (born 1985)

Orianthi Penny Panagaris, known mononymously as Orianthi, is an Australian guitarist, singer and songwriter who rehearsed in 2009 with Michael Jackson in preparation for his This Is It concert series, and performed with Alice Cooper's touring band. Her 2009 debut single "According to You" peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8 in Australia and No. 17 in the US; her second album, Believe, received a worldwide release in late 2009. The same year, she was named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" by Elle magazine. She also won the "2010 Breakthrough Guitarist of the Year" award hosted by Guitar International magazine.

Roxanne Saint is an American singer, musician, video producer, director, and actress who started singing at age 17. She's known for her role in the film Zombie Strippers and as the lead performer in the goth band Roxy Saint and the Blackouts.

<i>Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray</i> 2011 studio album by Seether

Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray is the fifth studio album by South African rock band Seether. It was the only Seether album to have Troy McLawhorn as the lead guitarist. He departed from the band just before the album's release, once again becoming the rhythm guitarist for the band Evanescence. It was released on 17 May 2011, and debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emcee N.I.C.E.</span> American Christian hip-hop artist

Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton, better known by his stage name Emcee N.I.C.E., is an American Christian hip hop recording artist, rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, inventor, entrepreneur and former lead vocalist/rapper of the duo KansasCali. He is the co-creator of the animated music series Da Jammies, The co-founder of The Stellar Award winning radio station God’s House of Hip Hop Radio powered by Dash Radio, A Best Selling Author for his book “Music Release University”. He is president of two non-profit organizations, The iTL Foundation of Los Angeles and Urbanomics 101, the Managing Editor for RYZE Magazine, a christian hip hop lifestyle magazine and an American Inventor. He is the co-producer of 2 Pac's Thugz Mansion acoustic, the first single released from the certified triple platinum album Better Dayz and the Nas acoustic Thugz Mansion (N.Y.), off of the certified platinum album God's Son

References

  1. "Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards". Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards. Retrieved November 5, 2004.
  2. "The Rocturnals – Celebrate The Earth (2011)". Amazon. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  3. "The Rocturnals – The Life (2011)". Amazon. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  4. "Save The Brave Documovie". 9/11 Health Now. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  5. "Kickin It Old Skool". IMDb. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  6. "Once in a Lifetime Soundtrack". Amazon. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  7. "Haven Soundtrack". Amazon. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  8. "K-Ci Hailey – My Book". Amazon. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  9. "Crash Movie – Soundtrack". Crash Film. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  10. "Mr. & Mrs. Smith International Soundtrack". Shaazam. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  11. "Aaron Hall – Adult's Only". Amazon. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  12. "KansasCali – Vegas One". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  13. "Lil JJ's Almost Grown Variety Show". Code Black Entertainment. Retrieved March 6, 2008.

Interviews