The Blenders

History

The Blenders are a four-member vocal group from Fargo, North Dakota, consisting of Tim Kasper, Ryan Lance, Darren Rust, and Allan Rust, who stepped in for the original member Paul Dunkirk. They gained their following through a mostly a cappella style, and while later work included instruments, their signature vocal harmonies remained central. The group has toured the U.S. alongside acts like Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, and Chuck Berry, and appeared on TV shows such as The Arsenio Hall Show and The Today Show.

Their music has been featured in films including The Perfect Holiday and Nothing like the Holidays. Their albums mix original songs with covers that range from standards to unusual choices. The Blenders have recorded for Cowtown Records, Primarily A Cappella, Orchard Lane Records (once part of the Musicland Group), and Universal Records. In the 1990s, they toured hundreds of colleges and universities, earning the Contemporary Artist of the Year award from the National Association for Campus Activities in 1994 and 1995.

In 1997, they signed with Universal Records and released Loveland. The album’s singles had modest radio success in the U.S., but a remake of Dean Friedman’s “(I Am in Love With the) McDonald’s Girl” became a number one hit in several European countries. The Blenders are well known for their Christmas music, staging a Christmas Tour in theaters, mostly in the Midwest, since 1997, with occasional stops in cities like Dallas, Chicago, and Los Angeles.