Walter Chase admits that when he was at Indiana University in the 1990s, he joined an a cappella group for two reasons: to visit other campuses and to meet women.
They saw their peers alright, and, for the last 30 years, the rest of the world as Straight No Chaser.
“Things have evolved,” he said. “Now there’s tour buses and trucks and crew and audiences everywhere that we never, ever imagined performing for.”
The group has two gold-certified albums, more than 1 billion streams, 3 million albums sold worldwide, and 100 million YouTube views. They have sold more than 2 million tickets for their live shows.
“We never thought about doing this professionally,” said Chase, a tenor and Straight No Chaser’s musical director.
Straight No Chaser brings its “Making Spirits Bright Tour” to the Mesa Arts Center on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“What an honor it is that families return to see us year after year. We’ve watched children grow up and bring their children,” said Straight No Chaser’s Seggie Isho.
“To become part of their traditions each year — like making cookies, lighting candles, or opening presents — it’s something we never would have imagined when we were college students who wanted to sing at Indiana University all those years ago.”
Chase said Straight No Chaser’s set list includes holiday and pop songs from the 1960s to the present.
“We bring the humor and brotherhood we’ve shared since we started 30 years ago,” Chase said. “Audiences are responding to the show, and we’re excited to return to Arizona.
“This is the 10th time in Arizona. That was never on our radar. I always feel humbled. A lot of things in life come down to luck. We work really hard, but the fact that there are so many groups out there that could have had this opportunity, and we were just given it and ran with it, is truly humbling.”
That gratitude fuels Straight No Chaser’s work ethic with each tour.
“We work very hard to get it ready and very hard to get it up on its feet and tighten it constantly every day,” Chase said.
Rather than creating anxiety, that mindset serves as motivation.
“We know that as quickly as we can, we can go away,” he said.
“It doesn’t add pressure as much as it just makes it. It gives it a purpose. It makes it exciting to know that there are people who want to still see us and still come out to support the group.”
Music has played an important role in Chase’s personal life. Yes, he met his wife at Indiana University, where she was in the women’s a cappella group. Both of their sons are in musical theater, while his wife is a children’s theater coordinator.
Some of his favorite creative moments have happened at home rather than on stage.
“The stuff that we’ve done, the four of us together, is my favorite that I’ve recorded — we get to do together,” Chase said.
