专辑简介

Added FX is a hip-hop R&B group comprised of four talented young men based out of Cleveland, Ohio. They were bonded by one common interest, pure dedication and drive to succeed as performers. Billy West, Jeremy Rath, Jay Rogers, and Donnie Cole came together and began their journey to achieve their goals: To soar to the top of the music industry with their strong work ethic and drive. To impress everyone who sees them perform live with their intense dancing, smooth flows, and tight harmony. To create and perform music that touches the soul, making a positive change in the lives of their listeners. Added FX has taken those three goals and developed a presence that is undeniable. They just recently released their Debut Album, working with producers like Chip Dixon who has credits with P. Diddy of Bad Boy Records, Darkchild, Mary J. Blige, and more. The group has also worked with Drew Hefner (71 North). Added FX hit the road this past August for their 2nd concert tour focusing on the Midwestern States. Added FX was born in March of 2000 when Jeremy and Donnie met at a local Cleveland club. They were local rivals that would flex on each other every weekend at the popular teen club, Dance.com. Jeremy had previously sung with the "Singing Angels", a nationwide singing group. Donnie had experience in the music business as a lead singer in prior vocal group. Realizing they both had similar talents, goals, and interests, they finally exchanged numbers. The two soon began choreographing dances and arranging vocal harmonies, to then form "Added FX". It wasn t long before Added FX was seen performing shows at local middle schools, high schools, clubs, and dance competitions. Their talent shone through as they won Grand Champions at every competition entered. Jeremy decided to take a different approach to get the group recognized by those already in the industry, putting together wild and crazy videos and adding portions of Added FX's performances at the end. He then gave these tapes to a wide variety of artist when their concert tours came to Cleveland. It wasn t long before national recording acts such as *NSYNC, O-Town, LFO, Craig David, and PYT quickly responded. Added FX continued pursuing their goals, developing their relationships within the industry, and within one year they ended up on stage in front of 40,000 fans at an *NSYNC show during their 2000 No Strings Attached tour. The boys also had an opportunity to perform as the support act for O-Town in 2001, which helped Added FX receive their first media mention in a Cleveland newspaper. Soon there after Added FX received their first national television exposure when Jeremy appeared on an 2002 MTV show. In early 2002 Jeremy and Donnie met Jay Rogers through a mutual friend and recognizing his vocal ability, and personality, he quickly became part of the group. Jay had been singing his whole life improving his vocal skills along the way through private vocal training and school choirs. In November of 2002 he had the opportunity to perform and win a contest hosted and judged by O-Town. Jay was also a Top Ten Finalist at the Dayton (Ohio) Idol which advanced him to the tryouts for FOX's hit television show American Idol. His New York American Idol audition landed him in the top 120 out of 12,000 contestants. Jay's dedication to pursue a music career was best displayed when he gave up a college hockey scholarship to join Added FX. The last addition to the group, Billy West, has a resume including dancing at the 1997 World Series, a ten year veteran of the American Commodore Tuxedo performance troupe, and just a natural ability to wow any crowd with his crazy freestyle dancing and Breakdancing. Donnie had originally met Billy as a part of the American Commodore shows where they became friends. Billy, well known in the Cleveland area, was eager to join the group and by April of 2002 Added FX was complete. With the ability to now focus 100% on achieving their dreams, Added FX went to work. Even without financial backing or support Added FX created an official website and continued to write songs, choreograph, and perform every opportunity they could. Throughout 2002 Added FX had the chance to again perform as a support act for O-Town, perform with Rich Cronin of LFO, perform on the WB network, perform at Kanye West's After Pary, Usher's After Party, and 71 North's album release party. In mid-2003 they began working with Critical Music, who produces for 71 North, on their first single "VIP." In July of 2003 Added FX had an opportunity to perform at the O-Town Fan Conference, a charity event to raise money for the local Cleveland drug rehabilitation and prevention center, The Covenant, focusing their service on children and teenagers. Added FX followed that up with a performance at the Miss Ohio Pageant 2004, International Children's Games 2004 (Cleveland, OH.), Hard Rock Cafe (Cleveland, OH.) and the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Halftime Show (Dec. 31, 2005). A nice way to end the year! What makes Added FX unique is they have earned everything on their own. They pride themselves on choreographing each of their performances, writing all of their own music, editing and producing their own videos, and creating their own dance mixes. Each member plays a crucial role in their success: Jeremy is a key writer in the group and is the main choreographer. Donnie has the creative/artistic mind and the talent to write powerful and emotional ballads. Jay has the musical edge; designing the melodies and vocal arrangements, he also serves as the groups spokesman. Billy provides incredible freestyle dancing and smooth flows. Although Added FX have been lucky to work with platinum recording artists such as *NSYNC, O-Town, and LFO, "boy band" is not the label they prefer. Added FX is a hip hop group with tight raps and abstract choreography that sets them apart from anyone in the industry. Once you see them in action you will know, Added FX is no "bubble gum" pop group, they bring more to the table than any other group of their kind. Although Added FX has had various successes in the music business, their lives have not always been this glamorous. Donnie was left on his Grandmothers doorstep by his parents at 8 months old, only to have them enter in and out of his life occasionally leaving him with very few happy memories. He remembers his parents putting their cigarettes out on his arm, and waking up in a hospital only to find out his mother had hit him with her car. This traumatic life inspired him to write the emotion-filled track Not Enough Time. Jeremy was adopted and has yet to find his birth parents. Billy and Jay both come from single parent homes, creating responsibilities that most teenagers wouldn't typically face. These situations have created a bond between this group unlike any other. As a group, Added FX has also faced a variety difficult situations. While putting so much time and money into their music they were forced to live out of their cars for over 6 months. Added FX has accepted every challenge that they have been faced with throughout their lives, both personally and professionally. Having the opportunity to perform music and achieve their dreams is the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Added FX is continuing to work on new tracks with producers based in Cleveland, Detroit, and Columbus who have a resume of working with the likes of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Bad Boy Records, New Edition, Dave Tolliver of Men at Large and 71 North. Added FX has collaborated with Charles Grigsby of American Idol season 2. The group has also been writing with platinum recording artist Rich Cronin of LFO and Lauren Mayhew of PYT. With a new single on it's way Added FX is a group who is destined for success.