The 440 Alliance
Encyclopedia
The 440 Alliance is an American
cello rock
band from Arlington, Texas
consisting of four cellists and a percussionist. The group formed in 2004 and is known for their diverse approach to the cello, incorporating electric effects, turntables, piano, and mallet percussion. They received national exposure on NPR
's All Songs Considered
and on Fox
's musical reality show, The Next Great American Band
. The group has performed at a number of private parties for celebrities including Troy Aikman
(Former NFL Quarterback
for the Dallas Cowboys
), Jerry Jones
(Dallas Cowboys
owner), John Kirtland (Former drummer for Deep Blue Something
and owner of Kirtland Records
), a private party for the members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
, as well as the Dallas, TX movie premier for the film 'The Soloist
' (starring Jamie Foxx
and Robert Downey Jr.
).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cello rock
Cello rock
Cello rock and cello metal are subgenres of rock music and heavy metal characterized by the use of cellos as primary instruments, alongside or in place of more traditional rock instruments such as electric guitars, electric bass guitar, and drum set.Cellos, often in groups of three or more, are...
band from Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
consisting of four cellists and a percussionist. The group formed in 2004 and is known for their diverse approach to the cello, incorporating electric effects, turntables, piano, and mallet percussion. They received national exposure on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered
All Songs Considered is a weekly online multimedia program started in January 2000 by NPR's All Things Considered director Bob Boilen. At first, the show featured information and streaming audio about the songs used as bumper music on All Things Considered. The program has turned into a source of...
and on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's musical reality show, The Next Great American Band
The Next Great American Band
The Next Great American Band is a reality television talent show. The show premiered on October 19, 2007 and aired on FOX at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times Friday nights...
. The group has performed at a number of private parties for celebrities including Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
(Former NFL Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
), Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
(Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
owner), John Kirtland (Former drummer for Deep Blue Something
Deep Blue Something
Deep Blue Something is an American rock band best known for its hit single "Breakfast at Tiffany's." The group was founded in 1992 in Denton, Texas by University of North Texas students Todd and Toby Pipes, Clay Bergus and John Kirtland...
and owner of Kirtland Records
Kirtland Records
Kirtland Records is a record label based in Dallas, Texas. It was founded by John Kirtland, who was formerly the drummer for Deep Blue Something.-Artist roster:*Burden Brothers*Bush*Bril*The Flys*The Hourly Radio*Sarah Jaffe*Pat McGee Band...
), a private party for the members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
, as well as the Dallas, TX movie premier for the film 'The Soloist
The Soloist
The Soloist is a 2009 American/French/British drama film directed by Joe Wright, and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr. The screenplay by Susannah Grant is based on the book, The Soloist by Steve Lopez...
' (starring Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
and Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert John Downey, Jr. is an American actor. Downey made his screen debut in 1970 at the age of five when he appeared in his father's film Pound, and has worked consistently in film and television ever since. During the 1980s he had roles in a series of coming of age films associated with the...
).
Current members
- Drew Johnson (High Notes) – Cello, Pedal FX
- Brandon Vanderford (Lieutenant Branderford) – Drums, Mallet Percussion
- Andrew Walton (Captain Bringdown) – Cello, Talk Box
- Nathan Keefer (Major Scales) – Cello, Piano, Acoustic Guitar
- Neil Fong Gilfillan (Maestro Fong) – Cello, Turntables
Discography
- Crooked Bridge, 2010
- Bogus Gravitas
- Sweet Cello 'O' Mine - Guns 'N Roses
- The Gold Cartridge (Zelda) - Koji Kondo
- Fugue 'N Blues
- The Price Is Wrong - Bob Israel
- Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
- Crooked Bridge Jam
- All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
- The 440 Alliance, 2006
- This is Gonna Rock!
- 440 Jam
- Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
- Tango de la Turntable
- Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
- Title
- I Am the Walrus - The Beatles
- ¡Te Gusta 440!
- Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
- Black Tux (Hidden Track)
- surlaW ehT mA I (Hidden Track)
- Playin' Cellos, 2005
- Pulp Fact (Miserlou) - Dick Dale and the Deltones
- Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
- Classic Crunk
- A Day in the Life/Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Live) - The Beatles
- Super Mario Bros. (Live) - Koji Kondo
- 440 Jam (live)
Articles
- NPR Music - The 440 Alliance: 'This is Gonna Rock!'
- Pegasus News - The 440 Alliance review
- The Shorthorn - North Texas Band Reaches Reality TV Realm
- The North Texas Daily - 4 cellists, percussionist see early success