Twenty-two years ago, the music of Motown traveled around the globe to Sydney, Australia, where four high school students – brothers Andrew and Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allen – became instantly enamored. In sharp contrast to their country’s common obsession with “guitars, grunt and good old rock and roll,” these young gentleman embraced soul, gospel and harmony groups. Forming a singing group in tribute to their love of a cappella doo-wop, Human Nature was born.
Today, Human Nature is Australia’s leading pop vocal group, having released nine albums, 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 presented them in an exclusive booking at Las Vegas’ Imperial Palace, where they played five and six nights a week to sold-out crowds for two-and-a-half years.
Human Nature is now ready to tackle the rest of America. Their first stateside release is “The Motown Record”, featuring 11 soul classics plus a bonus track, including “Get Ready,” the band’s collaboration with Smokey Robinson, distinctive doo-wop versions of “Ooh Baby Baby” and “Just My Imagination,” as well as the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving,” the Temptations’ “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” Stevie Wonder’s “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 we’ve 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 telecast of the group’s Las Vegas show filmed by longtime Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich, was at the center of PBS’ fund-raising efforts last December, featuring an appearance by Smokey Robinson. A DVD version of the show includes 40 minutes of bonus content featuring the band discussing Motown’s enduring influence with the label’s 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.
Human Nature’s many accomplishments include performing at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 and performing on Oprah 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.
Human Nature will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida from November 27 to December 1, 2012.
Human Nature will be at the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida from November 27 to December 1, 2012.
