Root7 connects county with a cappella tunes
By Lynn Monty, Free Press Staff Writer • August 6, 2008
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RICHMOND — The line at the lemonade stand was long as the smooth sounds of local musical group “Root7” filled the Richmond farmer’s market on a recent Friday. The sweet smells of fresh baked bread filled the air as people danced under the falling afternoon sun.
“Dip de dip ... walking in a coal mine, going down and down, whoop, I might have slipped down ... ” an a cappella rendition of Lee Dorsey’s “Working in the Coal Mine” rang through the market as well as other fun favorites for kids and adults alike. A group of more than 30 sang along.
Root7 began two years ago with beat boxing man Joe Antonioli, of Williston, and funky baritone Ben Russell, of South Burlington. Soprano Karen Taylor Mitchell of Colchester joined, too, as did a total of seven. Hence, the name, Root7. But the name does have a deeper meaning.
“It was a vocal exercise that we did,” Antonioli said. “I would tell them we would have to practice the root (note) in the seventh (chord).”
It just stuck, Mitchell said. The group also liked that it could be easy for locals remember because it shares a name with the highway that runs through the county.
The group practices weekly and plays at a number of Vermont farmer’s markets, restaurants and festivals throughout the year. “It’s the best thing about the week,” Mitchell said.
“It’s a busy life but we love to sing,” Mitchell said. “We practice weekly and we all work full-time and are parents. We find so much joy in performing and we really hope that translates to the audience,” she said.
Shawn Enterline of Bristol said he had never performed before joining Root7.
“In the shower and the car, that was it,” he said of his singing. “My grandfather lived a nice long life. He was a barber shop singer but I didn’t realize what a huge part of his life it was until after his death. I met Karen Taylor Mitchell and at the time I didn’t know the difference between a tenor, baritone or bass and it turns out I am a baritone with a little bit of range on each end. They took me in and its been two and a half years of total fun,” he said.
Melita Sedic-Lawton of Essex is originally from Croatia where she performed with a group on Eurovision. “She is our celebrity singer,” Mitchell said.
Sedic-Lawton is a teacher at Williston Central School. “I met these guys two years ago. We enjoy the same thing and sing everything ... pop, rock, folk and children’s songs. It’s a nice variety.”
The band also includes Shawn Carroll of Huntington and Vikki Day of Williston is filling in for Emily Mitchell of Williston who is on maternity leave.
Richmond resident Jeff Wagg sponsored the group to sing at the Richmond Farmer’s Market.
“I encountered them in an a cappella music fest a few months ago. It occurred to me that I spend my entire life working on computers. Everything I do comes from computers and is for computers ... I realized even my music comes from computers. Seeing them perform reminded me that people can make music without anything other than their own voices.”