Rob Cantor: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:13, 7 September 2015

Revision as of 11:56, 13 September 2015

Line 1:

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Rob Cantor

Line 8 ⟶ 9:

| alias = Yellow Tie

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|08|26}}

| birth_place = [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]], [[Michigan]], U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

*[[Alternative rock]]

Line 16 ⟶ 17:

}}

| occupation = {{flatlist|

*[[Musician]]

*[[singer-songwriter]]

}}

| instrument = [[Guitar]]

| years_active = 2002–present

| label = {{flatlist|

Line 32 ⟶ 33:

| website = {{URL|robcantor.com}}

}}

'''Rob Cantor''' (born 26 August 26, 1983) is an American [[singer-songwriter]] and creator of [[viral video]]s, who is best known as the yellow-tied [[guitarist]] and [[vocalist]] of [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]]-based [[indie rock]] band [[Tally Hall]].<ref name=unrated/><ref name=DO/>

Cantor is also known for his solo work as a [[comedy music]]ian and viral video creator, particularly from the song "Shia LaBeouf", in which [[actor]] [[Shia LaBeouf]] is depicted as a [[cannibal]]istic [[serial killer]].<ref name=time/><ref name=NYdaily/><ref name=MTV/> His other work has included a solo album titled ''Not a Trampoline'',<ref name=improper/><ref name=AD/> and another viral video, "29 Celebrity Impressions, 1 Original Song".<ref name=DM/><ref name=wrap/>

==Early life==

Cantor was born and raised in [[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills]], [[Michigan]].<ref name=unrated/> He attended [[Andover High School (Michigan)|Andover High School]], where he met future [[Tally Hall]] member Zubin Sedghi and future collaborator Zach Krasman. In 2002, when attending [[University of Michigan]], he formed Tally Hall with Sedghi and musician Andrew Horowitz. He majored in [[molecular biology]], with a minor in nonprofessional music. He graduated in 2005, and turned down a full scholarship to [[medical school]] in order to pursue music full-time with Tally Hall.<ref name=unrated>{{cite journal|title=Tally Hall: Welcome To Tally Hall|journal=Unrated Magazine|last=Lax|first=Rick|url=http://www.unratedmagazine.com/Document.cfm?Page=Features/index.cfm&Article_ID=245|access-date=August 2015}}</ref>

==Career==

===Tally Hall===

Between 2002 and 2011, Cantor performed as a [[guitarist]] and [[vocalist]] of the [[Michigan]]-based band [[Tally Hall]]. Tally Hall is currently on hiatus. The band's five members are distinguished by the color of their [[necktie]]sneckties, with Cantor's signature color being yellow.<ref name=DO>{{cite interview||last=Cantor |first=Rob |interviewer=Darryl Smyers |title=Tally Hall's Rob Cantor Estimates That His Band's Cult Following Counts 200 Billion Fans|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/tally-halls-rob-cantor-estimates-that-his-bands-cult-following-counts-200-billion-fans-7055694|periodical=[[Dallas Observer]]|date=4 August 4, 2011|access-date=August 2015}}</ref>

Cantor's career as a member of Tally Hall saw the release of three full-length albums: ''[[Complete Demos]]'' (2004), ''[[Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (album)|Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum]]'' (2005), and ''[[Good & Evil (album)|Good & Evil]]'' (2011).<ref name=DO/>

===Viral videos===

Since 2011, Cantor has worked on multiple viral projects, including songs and corresponding [[viral videos]], posted on his [[SoundCloud]] and [[YouTube]] pages.<ref name=improper>{{cite journal|title=Rob Cantor Is Not A Trampoline, Even If His Career Seems Like One|journal=The Improper|last=Paltrowitz|first=Darren|url=http://www.theimproper.com/music/11848/rob-cantor-trampoline-career/|date=7 April 7, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref> In 2012, he released the [[comedy music|comedy songs]] "[[Christian Bale]] Is at Your Party" and "[[Shia LaBeouf]]" (also known as "Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf").<ref name=improper/> In the song "Shia LaBeouf", Cantor narrates a story about the actor, Shia LaBeouf, as a [[cannibal]]istic [[serial killer]].<ref name=MTV/> Cantor posted a demo of the song to his [[SoundCloud]] page, from which it spread virally.<ref name=MTV/>

On 1 July 1, 2014, Cantor posted a video titled "29 Celebrity Impressions, 1 Original Song", in which he and Tally Hall member Andrew Horowitz performed Cantor's song "Perfect" in 29 different celebrity [[Impressionist (entertainment)|impressions]]. A week later, he released a [[making-of]] video, demonstrating that the act was a [[hoax]] done through audio and video [[editing]], and in fact featured 11 different impressionists.<ref name=DM>{{cite journal|title=Impersonator Rob Cantor who wowed YouTube viewers declares himself a fraud|journal=[[Daily Mail]] |last=Whitelocks |first=Sadie |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2688814/I-single-impression-Impersonator-wowed-7-2million-YouTube-viewers-mimicking-Shakira-Frank-Sinatra-declares-fraud.html |date=11 July 11, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref><ref name=wrap>{{cite journal|title=29 Celebrity Impressions Music Video Was a Hoax; Singer Reveals ‘Making'Making Of’Of' Video|journal=[[TheWrap]]|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|url=http://www.thewrap.com/29-celebrity-impressions-music-video-was-a-hoax-singer-reveals-making-of-video/|date=9 July 9, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref> As of August 2015, the video has 12 million views, and the corresponding explanation video has 1.5 &nbsp;million views.

On 21 October 21, 2014, Cantor posted a video titled "'Shia LaBeouf' -– Live", the music video to his 2012 song of the same name. The video is a mockup of a live [[concert]], featuring numerous dancers and performers, primarily the [[Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles]], the West Los Angeles Children’sChildren's Choir, and the Argus Quartet. At the end of the video, the actor Shia LaBeouf is seen applauding the performance.<ref name=time>{{cite journal|title=Shia LaBeouf Doesn’tDoesn't Mind Being Called a Cannibal|journal=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|last=Worland|first=Justin|url=http://time.com/3537818/shia-labeouf-cannibal/|date=24 October 24, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYdaily>{{cite journal|title=Shia LaBeouf gives his approval to wacky ‘cannibal’'cannibal' music video|journal=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|last=Ramisetti|first=Kirthana|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/shia-labeouf-appears-cannibal-music-video-article-1.1983818|date=22 October 22, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref><ref name=MTV>{{cite journal|title=Here’sHere's How You Get Shia LaBeouf Inin Your Cannibal Music Video|journal=[[MTV News]]|last=Fixell|first=Ethan|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1974586/shia-labeouf-cannibal-rob-cantor/|date=27 October 27, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref> Cantor has stated that the video took four months to organize and one day to shoot, and that it was worked on by 161 people, including Cantor's former musical collaborators Zubin Sedghi and Zach Krasman.<ref name=NYdaily/> As of August 2015, the video has over 23 million views.

===''Not a Trampoline'' and other work===

During Tally Hall's hiatus, Cantor has focused on his solo career, working as a commercial songwriter and eventually releasing a solo album, ''Not a Trampoline'', in 2014.<ref name=improper/><ref name=AD>{{cite interview |last=Cantor |first=Rob |interviewer=Rick Florino |title=Interview:Rob Cantor |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/interview-rob-cantor/10996086|periodical=[[Artistdirect]]|date=1 June 1, 2014|access-date=August 2015}}</ref> Featured performers on the album include singer-songwriter [[Madi Diaz]] and Jhameel.

In 2012, Cantor appeared on the album ''Hawaii: Part II'', released under Tally Hall member Joe Hawley's side project ミラクルミュージカル.

==Personal life==

Cantor currently resides in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=DM/>

==Discography==