“ROCK’S SWINGING STYLE AND LARGE VOICE RECALL TONY BENNETT, FRANK SINATRA AND NAT KING COLE OF THE 1950’S WITHOUT CLOSELY COPYING ANY OF THEM.” - SCOTT YANOW/ LA JAZZ SCENE
As a Performing Artist, Rock is known for his exceptional talents as a singer, actor on stage & film, tap dancer, and recording artist. He has long made his mission clear of keeping the proud traditions and legacies of The Great American Songbook not just alive…but vibrant. The Legendary Tony Bennett recently exalted Rock by saying, “Keep on singing and keep this beautiful music alive!” Drawing inspiration from the world of jazz and classical, he showcases his exceptional vocal artistry and pays homage to the classic era of music. Building on the success of his earlier albums, Gershwin for My Soul and Matters of The Heart, Rock, a superior singer with a deep baritone voice, recently released his new four-song EP Swoon. Rock's profound musicality and passion continue to captivate listeners and breathe new life into the cherished melodies of The Great American Songbook.
“GIFTED WITH A VELVETY BARITONE, SINGER ELIJAH ROCK IS A MODERN-DAY CROONER WHOSE RECORDING DEMONSTRATE WHAT SOPHISTICATED SINGING IS ALL ABOUT." - MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE
On Swoon, Elijah Rock’s warm voice and swinging style are matched with some of Nashville’s top musicians, but it is not a country album. Produced by Hall of Fame songwriter Steve Dorff, the Nashville players give Rock’s renditions of four beloved standards the feel of Western swing. Rock’s hit single “All I Need is The Girl” from Matters of The Heart reached #1 on the World Indie Music Charts and #3 on the European Indie Music Charts. Acclaimed jazz critic Scott Yanow from the LA Jazz Scene, praised Rock in his album review with, “Rock’s swinging style and large voice recall Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole of the 1950’s without closely copying any of them.” As a vocalist, Rock is a storyteller dedicated to reviving and uplifting classics from the Great American Songbook while also contributing some of his own timeless originals. Gershwin For My Soul and the consistently romantic Matters of The Heart were important first steps in his solo singing career. His latest accomplishment, Swoon, features him taking four classics and making them his own.
“RICHLY EXPRESSIVE VOICE AND MAGNETIC STAGE PRESENCE.” -THE BOSTON GLOBE
"The music I sing from The Great American Songbook, Broadway, Classical accompanied by my original compositions is what I consider to be timeless because it’s rooted in the foundation of America’s cultural and musical legacy. But it’s also performance art in the universal language of music for all ages, shared with an explicit intention to imagine a world where human beings see each other as equals in all walks of life – an open window into open-mindedness, and a singular, compassionate vision of a united humankind."
Elijah Rock has already had a career full of highpoints and memorable moments while giving one the impression that he is just getting started. Born in Cleveland, he gained early experience as a classically trained soprano as a boy before maturing into a warm baritone singer. Among his accomplishments since then have been winning the NAACP Theater Award for Best Male Equity performer in "Breath And Imagination: The Story Of Roland Hayes," and gaining acclaim (along with an Ovation Award Nomination) for portraying Cab Calloway in the musical revue "I Only Have Eyes For You." The Glendale News raved, “Baritone Rock, with charm to spare, shifts smoothly from crisp jazz phrasings to the operatic…" Rock portrayed Barack Obama for eight years on The Jay Leno Show, showcasing his versatility alongside his talents as an accomplished tap dancer. He also hosted The Elijah Rock Variety Show, a digital entertainment program, and made a guest appearance on Showtime's Masters of Sex.
“The music I sing from The Great American Songbook, Broadway, Classical accompanied by my original compositions is what I consider to be timeless because it’s rooted in the foundation of America’s cultural and musical legacy. But it’s also performance art in the universal language of music for all ages, shared with an explicit intention to imagine a world where human beings see each other as equals in all walks of life – an open window into open-mindedness, and a singular, compassionate vision of a united humankind.”
In the early stages of his career, the artist was recognized as Eric Myricks. His musical journey commenced with intensive training in Classical Voice, and his exceptional talents secured him a highly sought-after position in the prestigious Young Artist Program at The Cleveland Institute of Music, where he became the third vocalist to attain such an honor while still a senior at University School. Guided by the expertise of Beverly Rinaldi, he continued to hone his vocal performance skills throughout his undergraduate years. Notably, he also had the privilege of receiving mentorship from the esteemed Russian Baritone, Vladimir Chernov, which significantly enriched his musical education. Rock's passion for the art of bel canto (beautiful singing in Italian) burns brightly, as he proudly showcases his unwavering dedication to this timeless and elegant vocal technique. In honor of the late great Roland Hayes, who served as an inspiration to him, Rock has coined his brand of bel canto as "Breath and Imagination." With a deep appreciation for the rich legacy of Hayes, he infuses his performances with a unique blend of breath control and artistic imagination, breathing life into every note he sings. Rock’s highly esteemed heroes are Nat King Cole, Ernie Andrews, Johnny Hartman, Billy Eckstein and Arthur Prysock on the Jazz side, and Paul Robeson, Roland Hayes, Franco Corelli and William Warfield on the classical side. Other Notable roles include The Man in "Blues in The Night," The Russian in "Chess," The Sheriff in the West Coast premier of "Desperate Measures" and Porgy in "Porgy and Bess."
Rock says, "I am interested in not only jazz and classical voicings, but moreover, the art of storytelling in song and being present and at your most vulnerable when caressing a song…to bring out the full spectrum of emotions lurking beneath the words."