Photo courtesy Cool Freddie E & Six years ago, longtime vocalist Fred Elliff decided to rejuvenate a love from his youth—music and performing.
"I decided I wanted to do something that made me happy—I've always enjoyed performing," Elliff said.
He met Kevin Weishaar singing together at church and the two started the group Cool Freddie E & The Crew. Within a year, vocalist and actress Jenna Burns joined them. Their first performance was at Main Street Crossing in Tomball.
"We didn't know how we'd be accepted since we are a vocal group, but it's been great," Elliff said. "Half the audience is singing with us. We've been so blessed how the community has accepted us. Maybe we hit on a niche that just isn't out there. In six years, we've never gotten a bad review."
The fourth and youngest member of the group, Chelsey Hood, joined them two years ago. The four local vocalists recorded an album at the end of 2012.
Cool Freddie E & The Crew mostly play at private events, including weddings and corporate events. The vocal group performs several times a year at public venues, mostly Main Street Crossing and Dosey Doe Music Cafe in Conroe.
The group is performing for Cy-Fair ISD's 75th anniversary celebration Aug. 9 and March 29 at the Providence Classical School Gala & Auction in The Woodlands.
The last two years have been very busy for Cool Freddie E & The Crew. In addition to its local events, in 2012 the group played at a Hewlett-Packard corporate event in Las Vegas and at another HP event at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco.
The group took a road trip to the San Francisco gig, and the four traveled in Elliff's truck west, crossing off places on their bucket lists along the way, including visiting the Grand Canyon and driving Highway 1.
"We enjoy each other; we have fun with each other," Burns said. "We're each other's biggest fans."
Cool Freddie E & The Crew sing a large variety of music, including country, oldies, classic rock, blues, Motown, pop, jazz, top 40 and easy listening. The group has sung more than 650 songs, and it performs new songs at each show. The members will customize their performance based on what is asked for at a certain event.
"With us, you get it all," Burns said. "You get a variety of music for all age groups. People have fun at our events."
The only type of music they will not perform is rap and any song that is profane.
"That's not the image we want out there," Elliff said. "Music should not be profane. It should make people happy."
Cool Freddie E & The Crew are not just singers, but they are entertainers as well.
"When I'm talking to someone about a gig, I say, 'Do you want a band or entertainment, because we're entertainers'," Elliff said.
