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The guys asked for directions.
The girls
started screeching. So it’s understandable
that Margie Barrows, driving her daughter
and three friends to North Dartmouth Mall
for a 13th birthday celebration, was
stunned.
"I’m like, who are they?" she says. Boy,
is Barrows ever out of the local loop.
Unbeknownst to her, the gorgeous,
albeit lost, trio was none other than bon
Voyager, a pop group that, as of late, has
been amassing a huge following in these
parts.
Also, unbeknownst to her, the girls had
already seen the guys perform, gone crazy
and picked out a favorite. So, with visions
of David, 14, John-Paul, 12 and Jonathan
Greenberg, 11, dancing in her head.
Nichole Barrows made a command
decision, one that endeared her to pals
Melanie Ross. Morgan Johnson and Muriel
Carl.
I decided to forgo the movies," she
says. After all, as the birthday girl, Nichole
was calling the. shots. Besides, when it
came to seeing either "She’s All That" or
seeing bon Voyager in the mall’s center
court, well it was like, duh?
I couldn't stand another screaming voice
in the car," allows Margie, who ended up
watching from the sidelines as the guys
sang, danced and set hearts aflutter.
"I think they’re pretty good, they’re not
as aggressive as some of the other groups,
like Marilyn Manson," she points out.
No indeed, the brothers Greenberg are
refreshingly delightful, without being well,
nerdy. That’s thanks, in part, to their father
Steve, 44, who, better than two decades
ago, went overseas to do humanitarian
work among young people caught up with
drugs in countries with harsh penalties for
possession and use.
"I always had a guitar on my back," he
explains. Since music is a universal
language, Greenberg was able to get his
message across to young people, involving
them first in playing and singing, then in
volunteer projects. With positive results
came government approval for his efforts
and great press.
So, it was only natural that as his kids
came along David in Bangladesh, John-
Paul and Jonathan in Belgium good music
and good works were an integral part of
their upbringing.
"I’ve been singing since I was 3 or 4,"
says David. "Our own songs to make
people feel happy."
One thing led to another and, as their
talent grew and style evolved, bon Voyager
– as they decided to call themselves in a
tip of the hat to their travels – ’ became a
hot number at charity events. They toured
Belgium and Portugal before their father
decided to return to his homeland last
year.
They settled in South Yarmouth, where
his parents reside. And, among home
schooling the boys, writing their music and
driving them to various lessons, Greenberg
found time to land his sons several charity
bookings.
The group played for the Special
Olympics at Boston University and the
Christmas telethon at the New Harbor Mall
here. Those led to other performances in
the region, like the one at Old Rochester
Regional Junior High School, where
Nichole and her pals became instant fans.
"We didn’t expect such a big reaction so
fast," says Steve, explaining the group’s
CD – "World of Dreams" and Web site,
www.bonvoyager.com, have helped
maintain the fan base built abroad, while
boosting popularity here.
They answer all their own mail – they’ve
even got a club in Thailand – because, as
David mentions, at this point they can still
handle it. They count their early supporters
as more friends than fans and say they’ll
never forget the folks who’ve stood by
them.
While a portion of the CD’s proceeds go
to humanitarian causes, Greenberg says
the time has come for the group to start
turning a profit, no matter how modest, in
order to move to the next level, refine its
act, attract audiences in bigger cities.
Besides, quips the father of nine, "I have a
big family to support,"
The talented guys, who sing – at least a
couple of numbers a cappella, which is by
no means easy – and dance to a backup
tape that was recorded by studio
musicians, have been performing for so
long now that it’s second nature. And, as
for the girls, well it’s just a natural
progression.
"It’s fun to go on stage, says John-Paul,
"Exciting," puts in Jonathan.
"They’re cool, but sweet," says Steve,
"It would be nice not to lose that."
He believes they’ll stay as nice as they
are because of their background helping
others, "No matter where we take this,
we’ll keep the vision," he vows.
It is inevitable, of course, that the three
good-looking brothers would be compared
to three other good looking brothers known
as "Hanson" who have sung their way to
stardom.
The Greenbergs take it in stride and
dismiss talk of posing as Hanson
wannabes by pointing out they been
singing far too long to let something like
that bother them. Besides, as of last year
in Belgium, popularity was far higher than
that of those other guys.
But let’s hear it from the experts, those
teen girls who squirm at the very mention
of bon Voyager.
"They’re a lot better than Hanson, and
better looking," says Muriel. "They’re like
10 and Hanson is like 2," maintains
Kathryn Guy, 13.
"Their music has a message, it’s not
like bad," observes Morgan.
"John-Paul," sighs Melanie, clutching an
autographed CD.
As the boys performed to the admiring
glances of teen girls, teen boys smirked
and swag gered, in a blatant bid to divert
the girls’ attention. It didn’t work.
Barrows, who says she’d be Willing to
drive the girls to other concerts, wryly
admits she understands the fascination.
It’s how she felt years ago about a guy
named Elvis.
