Elijah Rock is a triple threat entertainer. Current projects include Rock co-starring in the upcoming independent drama, ‘Salvation Street’ set to film in April with film producer Brad Wilson, who also produced Rock in the comedy ‘3 Blind Saints,’ now available on DVD. Rock is also a new cast member in the upcoming crime/drama series 'Blood Brothers.’ On stage, he currently plays the role of Tater in the world premier Bluegrass Musical, ‘Paradise,’ at the Ruskin Theater. In May 2013, Rock will star in the first multicultural cast of the musical ‘Chess’ as The Russian-Anatoly at the East West Players.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Rock grew up singing in the church and was discovered by The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus and The Cleveland Opera Children’s Chorus where he fell in love with Classical Music, Broadway and Jazz. It’s no wonder, that when he heard Billy Eckstine and Sammy Davis, Jr. on old recordings played by his father, he would find his musical calling and devote his life to the performing arts.

As a high school youth, Rock studied classical voice at the world-renowned Interlochen Arts Camp for two summers. In his senior year, he had the honor of being one of the first vocalists to be accepted into the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Young Artist Program. It was also in Cleveland, where he studied drama, improvisational and sketch comedy at the Karamu House Theatre - the oldest long-running African American theatre in the country.

Moving to New York City, he became the featured vocalist with the Jazz ensemble, ‘Ensemble Uniqua,’ led by trumpeter Antonio Dangerfield. Rock’s robust baritone-tenor range and rich vibrato can be easily traced to his classical bel-canto training and the influential likes of Billy Eckstine, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Sammy Davis, Jr. In New York, he debuted his one-man big band review, ‘Things Are Still What They Used To Be’ Off-Broadway. Rock has played roles in several shows whose original productions won numerous Tony Awards. He played the iconic lead role of ‘Coalhouse Walker Jr,’ in the multi-award winning musical “Ragtime,” and ‘Adrian’ in “Smokey Joe's Cafe.” Other notable theatrical credits include the musicals “Baby It's You,” “Sophisticated Ladies” and “Jacques Brel.” Plays include “Fences,” “Jitney,” “Vaudeville” (a play with music),“ To Be Young Gifted and Black” and “Hoodoo Love” (a play with music), as ‘Ace of Spades,’ written by Broadway playwright Katori Hall.

Los Angeles beckoned Rock as a soloist for the ‘The Los Angeles Jubilee Singers,’ singing Negro Spiritual music in concert halls around the world. This passion for the history of the African music in America runs deep in Rock and why five years ago, he took on the stage name Elijah Rock- a Negro Spiritual composed by Moses Hogan. On his EP, Rock features a Jazz recording of ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.’ He says, “The Spirituals keep me humble and grounded in our steep tradition.” On June 26th, Rock headlined the annual KJAZZ (88.1) FM Hollywood and Highland Summer Jazz Concert Series for the third year. Previous years, he was the lead singer of ‘The Downtown Project,’ which he co-founded and held a residency at the Edison Downtown Los Angeles. “It’s writing standards for a new generation that most excites me,” says Rock. “My original songs like ‘That First Time, ‘New York City Springtime’ and ‘Shake It Baby Blues’ are examples of tunes that make you think you’ve heard them back in the 50’s and 60’s. I just put a new spin on a classic motif to make Jazz music more relevant to a wider audience.”

With the new releases of his debut Jazz vocal Single, 'That First Time' and his debut Jazz Vocal EP, 'Elijah Rock LIVE in Hollywood,’ now available on Itunes and Amazon, Elijah Rock is fast becoming the next big voice in Jazz and Broadway. A throw back entertainer who can also hoof with the best of them, Rock is the classic crooner for a new generation. It is felt in his voice, personal style and spirit. He calls it, ‘Sway Music.”

Website: www.elijahrock.net
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Twitter: @ElijahRock
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