The EDLOS come with a truly remarkable performance pedigree. This dynamic group has performed with the likes of Waylon Jennings, Crystal Gayle, Ray Charles, Chicago, the Temptations, Lou Rawls, Bernadette Peters, Tower of Power, and many others, and can be seen in their own special on PBS' "The Lonesome Pines Special".

Described as an "a cappella quartet supreme... splendid... magnificent..." by the San Francisco Examiner, as well as "on the verge of world fame" by the San Francisco Chronicle, this powerhouse a cappella group, appealing to men, women, and children of all ages, is a do-not-miss musical experience, bringing music of all eras and styles to sold-out concert halls and theaters, all without benefit of instruments.

"The EDLOS" was formed in 1989 when a group of four classically trained singers got together to explore a broad range of music and musical styles. From early on it was clear that a unique chemistry existed between these four singers. Their musical journey took them from early Gregorian chant to bluegrass and country, from Motown to Rock and Roll and finally to original compositions incorporating elements from all of these musical styles. No matter shat show they are presenting, the EDLOS always incorporate comedy into their stage show. They are remembered as much for their musicianship as they are for their infectiously funny and entertaining stage presence which is further enhanced by their use of props, wigs, hats, and costume changes.

For the last 12 years the EDLOS have been performing continuously at festivals and concert halls throughout the United States and Canada. A sampling of their festival appearances includes the Kerrville Folk Festival (Kerrville, TX.), the Strawberry Music Festival (Yosemite, CA), the Riverbend Festival (Chattanooga, TN), the Summer Lights Festival (Nashville, TN), the WE Festival (Minn.), The Great American Music Festival (Branson, MO.), the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Street Festival (Pittsburgh, PA.), and the Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco, CA.). Their concert appearances have taken them to almost every state in the United States (even Alaska!). They are very proud to have appeared at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. They have won numerous awards for their recordings and compositions and are, in fact, the only group in the history of the Harmony Sweepstakes, the most highly esteemed of all a cappella competitions, to win all three top prizes: 1st Place, Best Arrangement, and most important - Audience Favorite.

So far the EDLOS have recorded 8 Cds, all on Auriga Records. Their previous CDs include their Debut CD "Loud is Good"; their live CD "Meet me in the Lobby"; their first holiday CD "A Capellan Christmas"; their country CD aptly titled "A Cappella Country"; their second holiday CD "WinterSongs"; a compilation CD titled "The EDLOS' Sampler"; "Just Us", featuring 14 original songs all composed, arranged and performed by members of the EDLOS. And finally, their newest recording titled "Retropella". It is an a cappella journey back to the psychedelic 60's. All of their recordings have been met with critical acclaim. Two more recordings are currently in the works - One, an all-classical CD in which the members of the EDLOS are returning to their classical roots, and one an all-Beatles CD.

The following are some quotes written about the EDLOS:

"vocal masters... opera singers turned zany a cappella performers"
Modesto Bee

"This group is a real vocal phenomenon... an a cappella male quartet that combines a very funny comedy routine with some of the finest singing anywhere... impeccable musicality... unusual dynamic and sonic effects... inventive vocal arrangements... their ensemble would do credit to a fine string quartet... the marvel is that, although most of the songs were done in a spirit of parody. The style was authentic and the musicianship far surpassed the original performers... an almost inhuman perfection that out-synthesized a synthesizer!" Stockton Record

"Four Tremendous Singers... exceptional arrangements... magnificent harmonies... had the crowd mesmerized... two hours of the best damn singing (we) had ever heard... brought the enthusiastic crowd to its feet... they present a song with attention to detail, and with wonderful abandon, have fun at the same time... the capacity crowd loved it!"
Napa Register

Funny, Satirical and Jovial... the typical newcomers go in asking,"Who the heck are the EDLOS?" (and come out saying) "These Guys are Incredible!"
Merced Sun-Star

"Best Bet: UFO's called the EDLOS... the remarkable EDLOS kicked off the Lonesome Pine Series in fine, twisted fashion!"
Louisville Courier Journal

"The EDLOS are performance artists. The guys... just took my breath away... A highly recommended show for the entire family"
Music Connection magazine

The Individual EDLOS

Craig Knudsen

Craig is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Craig's performance credits span a wide variety of musical styles and performance mediums. As an opera singer, he has performed leading roles with numerous opera companies. These companies include Pocket Opera, Mendocino Music Festival Opera, West Bay Opera, Berkeley Opera, Las Vegas Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera and the Austin Opera in Austin, TX. As a classical singer he has been the tenor soloist in many oratorios with performance groups that include the Santa Clara Chorale, the U.C. Symphony, the Mendocino Music Festival, the Prometheus Symphony, the Valley Chorale Society and the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra. He also toured to the East Coast as a tenor soloist with the George Coates Performance Works, performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Craig originally came to the Bay Area in 1982 to join the San Francisco Mime Troupe as a saxophone player/actor. He became a collective member of the troupe, and between 1982 and 1984 toured extensively with the troupe in the U.S. and Canada. Before the Mime Troupe, he resided in Austin, TX. where he was the sax player with the Marcia Ball Band, again touring throughout the United States. Marcia is a grammy nominated recording artist on Rounder Records. For the last 20 years Craig has also maintained a private vocal studio in Berkeley teaching a broad range of students in genres ranging from opera to rock and blues to musical theater. He is also represented by Stars, the Agency for whom he does on camera and voice-over work. Recently he started his own talent agency, Knudsen Productions. Knudsen Productions books entertainers into venues both locally and nationally.

Eric Morris

Eric Morris has been a tenor soloist with such diverse groups as the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, Marin Opera, Canada Opera Piccola and many others. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Eric was the tenor soloist for the first annual Sing-it-Yourself Messiah at the SF Opera House. Mr. Morris has specialized in contemporary music as well, singing many pieces by Benjamin Britten, John Cage, Aaron Kernis, Charles Wuorinen and Igor Stravinsky. Recently Eric has become a faculty member at Notre Dame de Namur University, teaching private voice lessons, vocal performance, opera workshop, and as a lecturer. He has won awards for his compositions as well, and is an avid bicyclist, accordionist, tennis player and banjoist.

Larry Venza

Lawrence Venza graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance. He apprenticed with the Santa Fe Opera, attended the Opera Workshop in Florence Italy under Tito Gobbi and worked at the Music Academy of the West with Martiel Singher. He has sung major operatic roles with the Sacramento Opera, Pocket Opera, Oakland Opera, Long Beach Opera, San Jose Opera, Marin Opera, Boise Opera and the San Francisco Opera Guild. He has also performed as baritone soloist with the San Francisco Ballet, the Oakland Ballet, the Marin Symphony, the Berkeley Symphony, the Fremont Symphony and the Maui/Honolulu Symphony. Larry has been performing and touring with the award winning a cappella quartet, the EDLOS, for almost sixteen years.

Avi Jacobson

Avi Jacobson's musical endeavors started with piano lessons at the age of five, trumpet at eight, and tuba at eleven. After moving from his native Philadelphia to Israel at the age of 16, he graduated from the Telma Yellin High School of the Performing Arts in Tel Aviv and received a Bachelor's degree in composition and choral conducting from the Samuel Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University. Avi served as assistant conductor of the Israel Defense Forces Band and Orchestra and appeared and soloed with a broad variety of Israeli performing ensembles, including the Cameran Singers, the Rinat Israel National Chorus, the Vokal a cappella octet, the bluegrass Golden City String Band, and as guest banjoist and tubist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Avi returned to the United States in 1997 after 27 years abroad, and has performed and soloed with the Pacific Mozart Ensemble.

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