The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, also known as the SOBs, is an a cappella singing group from Yale University. Founded in 1938,[1] The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus is the longest continuously running underclassmen acappella group in the United States. Alumni of the SOBs have gone on to be founding members of other college a cappella groups such as The Pitchforks of Duke University (Jeff Warren 1978) and The Chorallaries of MIT (David H. Bass 1975, also composer of their Engineer's Drinking Song).[2]
History
On October 31, 1938, twelve Yale undergraduates gathered at Mory's Temple Bar to form an alternative a cappella group to the Yale Whiffenpoofs.[3] The group capitalized on a back-handed compliment received from an audience member: "These SOBs are good!" and formed a backronym.
Music and comedy
Custom necktie, reads "Designed Exclusively for the Society of Orpheus & Bacchus"
The society’s repertoire, which contains over 200 arrangements, is composed entirely of music arranged by current and former members of the group during its more than eight decades of existence. It spans a variety of genres from barbershop to jazz to songs by more contemporary artists like Queen, MIKA, Radiohead, Ariana Grande, Tenacious D, Kanye West and Michael Bublé.[4] In addition to singing, the group prides itself on its comedy, with a typical concert including shtick written by members of the group. Each year, the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus performs across the USA and around the world, typically wearing tuxedos or suits with custom group neckties. They have performed at the White House, La Fortaleza in Puerto Rico, the American Airlines Arena for the NBA team the Miami Heat, as well as at country clubs, yacht clubs, churches, schools and resorts. The SOBs are one of only three groups — along with the Whiffenpoofs and Whim 'n Rhythm — that have a weekly engagement at Mory's Temple Bar.
Discography
The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus records a new album every other year. Since its founding, it has recorded and released 21 albums:
Album title
Year
Songs of the O's and B's
1948
The Lost Album
1954
Singing with The SOBs
1959
Pretty Girl
1961
A Toast to the Gods
1963
Stepping Out
1966
Grapes on Cover
1967
The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus
1969
Smile Away
1972
Greatest Hits
1976
An Evening with the Immortals
1978
Too Much is Just Enough
1981
Intemperance
1987
Drinking from Lethe
1992
Morning After the Gods
1995
Wine in a Box
1998
Hot Damn!
2003
One for the Road
2006
Bandoleros
2008
The Continuing Adventures of Cyrus T. Elk and His Fantastical Flying Machine
Sam Weisman 1969 - an American film director and an executive producer of NBC's The Sing-Off.
Robert Picardo 1975 - an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH), also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace and Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years (for which he received an Emmy nomination).
Jonathan LaPook 1975 - American physician and medical journalist. He is the chief medical correspondent for CBS News.
James L. Connaughton 1983 - an American energy industry lawyer and the former George W. Bush administration environmental adviser.
