First Reaction | Warriors by VoicePlay |Who is that Guy

[@huldradraco]

That is Earl Elkins Jr, one of the original members and high tenor. He left the group 3 years ago, not long after this video got released.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for sharing and clearing that up for us ☺️

[@shilohauraable]

Caesar replaced Earl.

[@WelcomeApathy]

@@shilohauraable Cesar replaced J. None as baritone.

[@daletimberlake8109]

Earl was tenor 1 and Eli was tenor 2. You got it right on timing with Earl leaving and Cesar joining with Eli transitioning to tenor 1 (Rock Tenor God), although it's Cesar who goes highest on Dream On. You'll see Earl on all their videos from 3 or more years ago. When you watch the Halo Theme (this year), you'll get another of their earliest members returning (not going to give too much away). Watch the Halo video all the way to completion and you'll get some good history of #Voiceplay. Another great reaction guys! Already loved #ImagineDragons and this cover of #Warriors is incredible!

[@Le7emeChat]

Actually, only after J. None left did Cesar join VP. The little mermaid and My mother told me are from that time with J.None without Earl when they seems to shift from 5 men group to 4+featured guest group, format they kept after J. None left & Cesar joined.

[@rosemarywoodhouse6831]

Yes please for Dream On!!!

[@AndieO]

Terrific suggestion. I'll add Just Sing (with subtitles) to the list. Some amazing artists in it and the explanation of who they are & how they connect. Love to all ❤

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the kind words and those recommendations/Information 😊 Legends

[@annabush2414]

I have never been disappointed with a Voiceplay video you have to watch " boy bands in 5 minutes " and " Queen in 5 minutes " both are fun!

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We will check it out ☺️

[@christinestromberg4057]

Yes this is the previous line-up of Geoff, Layne J.None, Eli, and Earl who left in 2020 for personal reasons, not stated. He was the high tenor, very high actually, though his tenor voice was beautiful. He, Layne and Geoff were together since middle school so it was a sad time when he decided to leave. After J,.None also left, in 2021, they advertised for a fourth member and very quickly took on Cesar. As yet they haven't taken on a fifth member. It's unlikely they will wait in hopes of J.None returning; that would be some years away. In the meantime they will continue to use guests to complete the line up. They have put out requests for people to audition buti it takes a very special talent to be a part of VoicePlay and as yet there's been no announcement about that.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thats amazing Christine. Thank you for sharing the info

[@DTA-Music]

Other commenters have already filled you in on Earl, but you won my heart by crying for Cesar. XD Following J.None's departure, he first performed with the group in June of 2021 in "We're Good," and was first credited as a member with "If I Were A Rich Man/Girl" in July of that year.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Haha we appreciate your comment ☺️

[@DravenGal]

#Voiceplay! And nice job noticing VioLayne was beatboxing while he played!

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Defintely deserved a shout out of respect

[@DravenGal]

@@highlyreactivereactions Absolutely! I think only one other reactor I've watched watching this noticed that. And I watch a LOT of reactors!

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

If you want to see more of Earl try their queen in 5 minutes. Earl was a original member he left for personal reasons a few years back but he is phenomenal and this is still my favourite ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for the recommendation

[@shilohauraable]

I still turn on their Road Trip and the live Rooster video with Earl and Tony still there when I need some fun! I love those two videos! 😅

[@DravenGal]

Has anyone suggested "My Mother Told Me" by Voiceplay yet? Or, for a good laugh "Drunken Sailor?" (Make sure you watch to the very end!)

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for those recommendations

[@carinarodebak9419]

You will see Earl if you go back in time, to older videos. He has a special voice. Death of a Bachelor and Queen in 5 Minutes will highlight him special. Through the years he grew a beard so he even changes appearance a bit. It has tricked some reactors. After Earl left we started to hear more of the Eli rockbelts. Not that he couldn't produce them before, but they weren't so frequent as nowadays. An early good video is Kiss, cover of Prince. There is still a member you haven't seen,, Tony Wakim ,who was the baritone before JNone, who came in 2016. Phantom of the Opera highlights his talent. Cesar came in 2021. Nowadays Tony co-owns PattyCake Production with Layne, where most videos are filmed. He is still very much active behind the scene. The VoicePlay family, present members and regularly returning guests is a tight group. Every guest they bring in sounds as if they always sung with them and slots in as the 5th seamlessly.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for that Introduce and information. We really appreciate it

[@janetdw]

As others have already stated, that is Earl - an original member who left in 2020. He has changed his looks through the years because he grows a beard and then shaves it and looks way different. It’s always fun to watch a reactor react to them for the first time while Earl was still in the group. You can always see their surprise when tall slender Geoff ends up with those deep deep deep bass notes and burly buff Earl comes out with that super high tenor. For a fun departure from their produced videos you might want to check out a recording done of them live doing Elvira. It’s not the greatest quality because technology has changed so much. But it’s a great example of how they looked and sounded when they were performing live. It was part of their touring repertoire and is the arrangement that jumpstarted the arrangement that Home Free did when they did Elvira with the Oak Ridge Boys. He asked Geoff for his arrangement and then he tweaked it and performed his own special magic because of course they were working with 10 people not five. Here’s the URL for the live version of Elvira if you’d like to either watch or react to it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYrPq42LrNWXY5Isi=6mtic4CLawABwAcH Quick (sort of) incomplete timeline: 1997- 2009ish performing under the name 4:2:Five with Geoff, Layne, Earl and baritones that seemed to go in and out with the occasional addition of the beat boxer. 2009- 2017 beatboxer Scott Porter left, Layne switched from baritone to beatboxing, Tony Wakim came in as baritone and Eli also joined around that time. They changed their name to VoicePlay around that time. 2017 - after two years with the Sing Off tour Tony left to cofound PattyCake Productions with Layne and J filled the baritone spot. 2017 - 2020 Earl left the group and Eli started taking the high tenor lines. They were down to four members at that point and started using more guest artists as well as performing occasionally just with the four of them. 2021 - J left and we gained Cesar. They are still officially a four member group using guest artists to fill in the spot and whenever he can, J joins in. That’s a little easier now because he’s been transferred from Washington state to Washington DC. He has also been recast in the Navy from baritone to bass. He has at least two years left of his hitch.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate that information. Absolute legend ☺️

[@skippykeri]

A good one to watch with earl is panic at the disco part 1 and 2. Also the billie ellish mix. And their queen melody

[@janetdw]

And that is another prequel situation. They might really appreciate it since they did the prequel a year LATER.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We will have to check them out 😊

[@lizlilliman3644]

The Billie Elish one needs to be 1st , filmed later but is a prequel to panick at the disco

[@Aurora-cv5to]

Warriors is absolutely one of my favorites. And I agree - I'd love to hear more VioLayne, I could spend an entire afternoon listening to nothing else, but .... we had to wait 3 years till they brought out Nothing Else Matters. Layne said he started Suzuki violin lessons at 4 or 5.... I don't really understand, but I've been around violinists before, and never heard anyone with his muscular precision. He's dazzling. In this one it sounded to me like the violin was a fifth voice in the group, but in Nothing Else Matters the vocal lines backed up his violin and the voices sounded like string instruments. It baffles me, but it's gorgeous and I love it.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Defintely more VioLayne. There's something so unique and beautiful about it that like you, can't get enough of it 😊

[@kirsten3833]

Guys, you just need to check out the Description Box under the Voiceplay Videos. You will find all the Informations you need there. Including the Names of who is who in the Video

[@highlyreactivereactions]

That is true Kirsten but we normally go into every reaction blind and normally fans will give a good extra detail about what he means to the group aswell. We love to learn that way through the knowledge of the fans ☺️

[@neonslime5516]

If you haven't yet checked into Geoff's KZbin channel you might want to. His version of Blackbird by the Beatles shoes his vocal range.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate that recommendation

[@bjspeck4337]

Earl is that guy. He was an original member from high school days. He left for personal reasons about 3 yrs ago. He's in all of the older videos and he's quite excellent. Moana is excellent as is Queen in 5 Minutes and Boy Bands in 5 Minutes. Since Christmas is on the way, try Mission: Jingle Bells. All 3 of these are good choices for learning more about Earl Elkins. Be aware that last weekend, VoicePlay was on stage with Chicago in Atlantic City NJ. There are at least 3 songs that they sang and they will be seen before long. Both Earl and then J None left within 6 months. Check out We're Good and you will see Cesar in his last audition with VoicePlay. Outstanding. Cesar has a great voice and can do both baritone and tenor. so VoicePlay can feature a larger group of vocalists. See him hit the high notes in Dream On.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you so much for sharing that information with is about Earl ☺️

[@amandahowells5389]

#voiceplay OMG yes I was waiting for you guys to react to this, it’s one of my favourites. Great reaction.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate you Amanda ☺️

[@shirleykarr560]

Arguably Warriors is the first in a trilogy (so far). After the zombies got Earl and J. None, the survivors picked up Cesar and guest Omar Cardona for Dream On. Omar was then captured and the guys picked up Anthony Garguila for Seven Nation Army. If you want more VioLayne, check out Nothing Else Matters.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Nothing Else Matters is on the playlist ☺️

[@martymiller9802]

You’ve got to see “Dream On”.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for the recommendation

[@garryandjanepannell8594]

I always loved the slight competition that Geoff and Earl had going about who was going to do it better the lower note or the higher note. To see them doing both I would recommend 'Daddy Sang Bass' you'll also get to see their partners and family from back then (you also see how strong Earl is with a hay bale). I miss Earl but love Caesar and the higher notes from Eli since they changed up.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Haha awesome. Nothing wrong with abit of friendly competition

[@b.buster.]

That's Earl Elkins, original member of Voiceplay with Layne and Geoff.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Wow awesome!

[@Traci2000]

Earl Elkins Jr. He's a founding member of VoicePlay and he left the group a few years ago for personal reasons. He hasn't collabed with them since then. He's pretty heavily featured in "Queen in 5 Minutes." He's a high tenor. He's in all their older videos too. He's a funny guy and very talented vocally. If you wanna see what they sounded like live without the crowd noise, you can watch their older aca top 10's. There's pretty much no production on those videos. My favorite of those is "Broadway" and there's a short little blooper reel of Earl at the very, very end of it. ❤ #VoicePlay

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for sharing that knowledge on Earl Traci. Appreciate you

[@TheBabs02]

#voiceplay, next one "dream on" and you have all three of the post apocalypse songs. Btw they have done "Moana" and other Disney songs. For more acapella groups check out the bass gang and voctave.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendation and the knowledge. Dream on will have to be next 😊

[@Badger77722]

Cesar is the newest permanent member of VoicePlay, so you'll only see him in relatively recent videos. Earl Elkins Jr. (the guy you didn't know) was one of the founding member (with Geoff and Layne), and will be in the videos earlier than about 3 years ago - I think this was one of the last ones he appeared in. Earl is a high tenor, even higher than Eli, and his voice is very distinctive once you've heard it a few times. Speaking of Moana medley - Earl appears in that one, and has a solo doing the Dwayne Johnson song You're Welcome - so you should get on that one quickly! 🤣😂🤣

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for the info

[@Denalicat]

This was the first of 3 post apocalyptic videos , "Dream On" and then"7 Nation Army". After Earl left they did "Heart of Life" just the 4 and then "The Bones" with Emoni Wilkins, she had joined them on The Sing Off Tour.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Dream on coming soon of the trilogy ☺️

[@gundulamayer0808]

I absolutely enjoy your reactions to Voiceplay! Please more #voiceplay .... and hopefully also to the non-acapella solowork of #geoff ;-) If you have questions around their arrangements, you will be surprised, how much information they provide in their video descriptions.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you! We will definitely be checking out some Geoff solo work aswell. Thank you for supporting the channel

[@acorrado5529]

Thanks for another great reaction to Voice Play! As the other Voice Players have already told you in the comments, that high tenor you did not know is Earl Elkins, original member with them since they were in high school. After Earl left, Eli Jacobson started singing the high rock tenor parts while newly hired Cesar De La Rosa sang the lower parts. Thanks for noticing that Layne can beatbox and play violin at the same time as Kevin Olusola from Pentatonix plays cello while beatboxing ("cello boxing") I would love to see Kevin as a featured guest and duet with Layne but it is unlikely ever going to happen due to the restrictions and touring demands of Pentatonix contract. I would recommend checking out "I Knew You Were Trouble/As Long As You Love Me" by Voice Play as it is an early one with different members featuring a female lead from Rachel Potter and a big surprise from Layne.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you so much for sharing that information with us ☺️

[@lazylady8591]

Earl Elkin is the guy that you wanted to know. He, Geoff, and Layne went to high school together. Geoff gave a touching tribute to Earl when he quit. Earl was in the Zombies vs Hillbillies video without the beard. Earl was in Voiceplay when they were on The Sing-Off.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Oh damn didn't recognise him without the beard 😂

[@drooney9]

To see more of Earl, try Queen in 5 Minutes, or the Moana medley

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendation

[@dawnpatterson8708]

Here for you. 😉 #Voiceplay #highlyreactivereactions

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Always appreciate you Dawn

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

Voiceplay started out their musical careers as 4:2:Five, with a lineup of James May (no relation to the Queen guitarist), Layne Stein, Geoff Castellucci, Earl Elkins Jr ("the guy you can't identify" in this video), and Scott Porter. May left and was replaced by Tony Wakim (who is now Layne's business partner in Pattycake Studios), while Scott Porter left to become an actor (he's had several successful shows on US television) and was replaced by Eli Jacobson. Tony Wakim left to move purely into production (though he does occasionally contribute musically) and was replaced by Jesse "J. None" Nunn. Earl left the group for unrevealed personal reasons, while J None joined the Navy. Earl was replaced by Cesar de la Rosa, and the group has yet to find a permanent replacement for J None (many fans think they're keeping a space open for J. None's return after his time in the Navy is done). Instead, the group has cultivated a group of regular featured singers they work with on a rotating basis, including Omar Cardona and his brother EJ, Ashley Diane, Anthony Gargiula, Jose Rosario Jr., Rachel Potter, and Adriana Arellano.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for sharing that information 😊

[@jonadabtheunsightly]

Earl was with the group for a long time. Some of the best stuff with him in it includes Queen, Boy Bands, Tennessee Whiskey, Phantom, A Crimpella, This is Halloween, Oogie Boogie, Jingle Bells, Grim Grinning Ghosts, Road Trip. Sooner or later you'll see one old enough to have Tony in it.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Looking forward to seeing more of him☺️

[@annetteanderson7482]

Yes, you are covering the top three a cappella groups but I would also suggest you try Voctave. They are also very different. Start with the Great Movie Medley. They also do a lot of Disney; for that start with the Disney Princess Medley which showcases the voices of the women in the group.

[@rosemarywoodhouse6831]

Then the men get to show off with Disney Heros and Villians.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We seen alot of recommendations for Voctave so will probably hit the list in the near future 😊

[@ruthrussell1329]

There is actually an even earlier member. Tony Wakim, see their cover of Phantom of the Opera for a good example of him. He works at Patty Cake Studios, along with Layne. I think it is pretty much theirs. Tony even made a walk on for Hellfire recently. He was the messenger but Eli did the voice.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Oh damn thank you for sharing. We will have to keep an eye for that 😊

[@lkayh]

Excellent reaction! I see others have clarified the “cast” of Voiceplay over the more recent years. There are a few others who were members from the REALLY early days-I’m sure people will tell you about them when you see videos they’ve contributed to.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We are learning the more we go on ☺️

[@raycardy4843]

Guys, it's fun to see you down the #voiceplay rabbit-hole! If one of you likes a classical twist, check out their cover of 'In The Hall Of The Mountain King' - they came up with an amazing storyline to go with this iconic piece of music - with no words, as it was an orchestral piece (part of the 'Peer Gynt' suite by Edvard Grieg)..! 😉

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Sounds amazing Ray. We will have to check it out

[@jennifersmith8923]

Comments have you covered on names. Just gonna say that it blows my mind that not only do they sing insanely well eith crazy vocal ranges, they play instruments, do editing, compose, lighting specialists....the list is endless. And in real life they are tryly kind nice people. Not jerks.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

They defintely deserve there success 😊

[@bjspeck4337]

You're welcome. Love an excuse to see people react to it.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Mad respect

[@marleiaisenhoward1891]

Check out Dream on Aerosmith cover! Another acappela cover check Enemy

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendations ☺️

[@glowormrdr6183]

I love this one so much, I can't remember what the original sounded like. I should go hear it, just for fun.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

😂 yeah ww will have to do the same

[@jimjacobs322]

If you watch Just Sing by Voiceplay with the captions on you learn a lot about the group.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendation

[@ashleyholmes]

#volceplay Mission lmpossible and Jingle bells mashup

[@janetdw]

I don’t watch scary movies, but several reactors have mentioned that there’s also a tie into the movie Saw with the red collars and the madman. I just really appreciate the lunacy of trying to sing those two songs and make them make sense.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Sounds awesome!

[@alexwalker8440]

Just take an extra 5 secs and look right after the credits area. They're good at listing who's who in most videos. Earl Elkins Jr., the big, bearded guy, is one of the original members, from 1997 thru 2020, when he left for personal, undisclosed reasons. You already saw him in the Zombies vs. Hillbillies video (minus the beard, lol). This is my fav VP formation so far, after Tony Wakim left in 2016 (still close to them, as part of PattyCake Productions with Layne) and JNone joined. I love Cesar, but sorry; to me Geoff, Eli, Layne, Earl & JNone are the best!

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We like to always learn from the fans, get some Good insider knowledge about the artist and yes we didn't recognise him with the beard 😂

[@lisab7392]

#voiceplay 😁😁

[@highlyreactivereactions]

💯

[@BurnsBridges]

Fantastic reaction…I’m having fun watching you two go down the #voiceplay rabbit hole the same way I did. On an aside: since you two were discussing Moana AND you both enjoy metal, you should check out Jonathan Young’s versions of “How Far I’ll Go” (featuring Peyton Parrish) and “You’re Welcome” (featuring Caleb Hyles and David Michael Frank). Not a cappella…but a blast. Keep on, gents. 👏🏻

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We appreciate those kind words and recommendations ☺️

[@AndieO]

#VoicePlay Suggest : Just Sing Panic In 5 Minutes The Chicken Song Road Trip (their earlier days) Rich Man/Girl Butter Wicked Medley I'll stop now before I list their entire catalog 😂❤

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for those recommendations

[@BrendaMyers-ks3rt]

#Voiceplay🎉🎉🎉

[@highlyreactivereactions]

💯

[@thisismetoday7423]

One of my favorites! ❤

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Loved this one

[@BetsySnyder-ui1tw]

You should watch Dream On and also Man in the Mirror!

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Thank you for the recommendation

[@michelledisque5926]

Y'all should check out "Jolly Sailor Bold" by The Bass Gang another acapella group that's pretty great.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendation 😊

[@fourlance8633]

Hi,i MUST correct you,there are 4 a capella groups,you forgotten the "BASS GANG, four Basses, but i only can say, HEAR in there stuff, centuries is my Favorit 👍👍👍 , they have also so much awesome songs and arrangements.watch out

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We are looking at checking them out in the future ☺️

[@kellywilliams364]

For another powerful video bt Voiceplay you HAVE to check out Hoist the Colors....it has broken many reactors😂

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Sounds intersection Kelly. We will have to check it out

[@jennyg3110]

If you like classical and metal in one person - listen to DanVasc!

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Sounds amazing

[@wolfknight412]

Little tip... if you don't know who someone in a video is, don't check the comments. Check the video description. Usually has more information.

[@highlyreactivereactions]

We love going off the fan base knowledge. Normally gives us good feedback and fans love to share their knowledge aswell. We are all about blind ☺️

[@wolfknight412]

@highlyreactive7708 You should react to their "Sing Off" performances. Tony Wilkum was with them back then. Also, their performance of The Phantom Of The Opera. See their roots.

[@elizabethhostetter1946]

For a flip-the-table song, try Avi's Change on the Rise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWmVc4eugbOlpdksi=2zdEWNOhXso2PQwn

[@highlyreactivereactions]

Appreciate the recommendation