Rob Cantor
Rob Cantor | |
|---|---|
 Cantor performing as a part of Tally Hall in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Howard Cantor |
| Also known as | Yellow Tie |
| Born | August 26, 1983 Detroit, Michigan |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | robcantor |
Rob Cantor (born 26 August 1983) is an American singer-songwriter and creator of viral videos, who is best known as the yellow-tied guitarist and vocalist of Ann Arbor-based indie rock band Tally Hall.[1][2]
Cantor is also known for his solo work as a comedy musician and viral video creator, particularly from the song "Shia LaBeouf", in which actor Shia LaBeouf is depicted as a cannibalistic serial killer.[3][4][5] His other work has included a solo album titled Not a Trampoline,[6][7] and another viral video, "29 Celebrity Impressions, 1 Original Song".[8][9]
Early life
Cantor was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[1] He attended 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.[1]
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 neckties, with Cantor's signature color being yellow.[2]
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 (2005), and Good & Evil (2011).[2]
Viral videos
Since 2011, Cantor has worked on multiple viral projects, including songs and corresponding viral videos, posted on his SoundCloud and YouTube pages.[6] In 2012, he released the comedy songs "Christian Bale Is at Your Party" and "Shia LaBeouf" (also known as "Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf").[6] In the song "Shia LaBeouf", Cantor narrates a story about the actor, Shia LaBeouf, as a cannibalistic serial killer.[5] Cantor posted a demo of the song to his SoundCloud page, from which it spread virally.[5]
On 1 July 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 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.[8][9] As of August 2015, the video has 12 million views, and the corresponding explanation video has 1.5 million views.
On 21 October 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’s Choir, and the Argus Quartet. At the end of the video, the actor Shia LaBeouf is seen applauding the performance.[3][4][5]. 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.[4] 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.[7][6] 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.[8]
Discography
With Tally Hall
- Complete Demos (2004)
- Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum (2005)
- Good & Evil (2011)
With ミラクルミュージカル
- Hawaii: Part II (2012)
Solo career
- Not a Trampoline (2014)
References
- ^ a b c Lax, Rick. "Tally Hall: Welcome To Tally Hall". Unrated Magazine. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c Cantor, Rob (4 August 2011). [httphttp://www.dallasobserver.com/music/tally-halls-rob-cantor-estimates-that-his-bands-cult-following-counts-200-billion-fans-7055694 "Tally Hall's Rob Cantor Estimates That His Band's Cult Following Counts 200 Billion Fans"]. Dallas Observer (Interview). Interviewed by Darryl Smyers. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite interview}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b Worland, Justin (24 October 2014). "Shia LaBeouf Doesn't Mind Being Called a Cannibal". Time. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c Ramisetti, Kirthana (22 October 2014). "Shia LaBeouf gives his approval to wacky 'cannibal' music video". Daily News. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c d Fixell, Ethan (27 October 2014). "Here's How You Get Shia LaBeouf In Your Cannibal Music Video". MTV News. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c d Paltrowitz, Darren (7 April 2014). "Rob Cantor Is Not A Trampoline, Even If His Career Seems Like One". The Improper. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b Cantor, Rob (1 June 2014). "Interview:Rob Cantor". Artistdirect (Interview). Interviewed by Rick Florino. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite interview}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c Whitelocks, Sadie (11 July 2014). "Impersonator Rob Cantor who wowed YouTube viewers declares himself a fraud". Daily Mail. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b Sneider, Jeff (9 July 2014). "29 Celebrity Impressions Music Video Was a Hoax; Singer Reveals 'Making Of' Video". TheWrap. Retrieved August 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help)