Surprise Visitor Raises Up Singer
Syracuse Post
January 21, 2005
By Mark Bialczak
Dana Sovocool felt the presence of another man onstage while he was singing Josh Groban's song "You Raise Me Up" to close a rehearsal for the Turning Stone Resort and Casino's Team Talent Showcase late Tuesday night.
"I thought it was somebody to check the mike, but the person wouldn't go away," recalls Sovocool, the Syracuse resident who's been Turning Stone's human resources manager the last 12 years.
Turning Stone entertainment manager Joel McKissick watched closely.
"He was trying to be all professional. He thought it was a monitor guy or something," McKissick says. "So he's ignoring him."
The visitor to the stage started poking the singer in the ribs. Finally, Sovocool broke down and turned to the side.
"And there Josh Groban stood," Sovocool says. "I jumped, then ran to the other side of the stage."
Groban climbed down from the Showroom stage, took a seat in the booth, and told Sovocool to sing his song again, from start to finish.
"He said, 'Go on. I want to hear that high B flat'," Sovocool says.
Sovocool's experience in Central New York musical theater paid off.
"I got done, and he gave me a standing ovation," Sovocool says. "He said, 'You're awesome.' I said, 'No, you're awesome.' "
Then Groban invited Sovocool to join the Corcoran High School chorus onstage to accompany the internationally famous singer when he sings "You Raise Me Up" during his show Saturday night at the resort's Event Center.
The answer: Yes, of course.
The brush with fame was set up by Turning Stone stage coordinator Adam Short. Groban was rehearsing in the Event Center Tuesday night. The singer who mixes pop, opera and Broadway styles came to Verona a week early for rehearsals because Saturday's show is the first of his 2005 tour.
Short asked the 23-year-old singer whether he'd like to hear somebody perform one of his songs, and Groban said yes.
Sovocool was still thrilled about the moment as he served as master of ceremonies Wednesday night at the talent contest.
He's getting good at telling the tale.
"Then I was up all (Tuesday) night calling people," Sovocool says.
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