Varsity Fanclub
| Company type | Vocal group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Capitol Records |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Varsity Fanclub was an American male vocal group established in 2007 under Capitol Records.
Career
The band's initial roster—comprising Drew Ryan Scott, David Lei Brandt, Bobby Edner, Jayk Purdy, and Thomas Fiss—was formed through a casting process. Their first notable appearance took place at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which attracted an audience exceeding 40 million viewers, followed by a guest role on ABC Family's The Middleman. Their debut single, Future Love, penned by Ryan Tedder and Evan Bogart and produced by members of OneRepublic's production team, received airplay on Radio Disney and The N. Between 2008 and 2009, they toured as supporting acts for Rihanna, the Pussycat Dolls, and Jesse McCartney before parting ways with their management and record label; during this period, Fiss also exited the group.
Following auditions, Thomas "T.C." Carter was added to the lineup. With new management directing their efforts toward the European market, the band crafted fresh songs and choreography. They released the digital single Spank That, which was promoted through a video contest and a dance collaboration with Miley Cyrus. In the summer of 2010, Varsity Fanclub embarked on a three-month tour across Germany, coinciding with the release of their first physical single in Europe, I'm Your Guy. During this period, they appeared on television programs such as ZDF-Fernsehgarten and VIVA Live and performed at family-oriented festivals including REWE Family and Super RTL's Toggo Tour.
Bobby Edner left the group in April 2011. That summer, the band returned to Germany for additional festival performances. Their single Opera along with their debut album were released in autumn 2011. By September that year, they had severed ties with German manager Philipp Hallenberger. In April 2012, David Lei Brandt departed to participate in Lady Gaga's two-year dance tour. Early in 2013, remaining members Purdy, Scott, and Carter expanded the group by adding Blake English and Devin Fox.
Members
- Drew Ryan Scott (born June 1) hails from Lafayette, Louisiana. He is a songwriter and producer who has worked with the Jonas Brothers on "Hey You" and Miley Cyrus on "Gonna Get This." Additionally, he provided vocal performances for actors Sterling Knight in StarStruck and Bryce Papenbrook in Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie.
- Jayk Purdy (born August 7) originates from Las Vegas, Nevada, and has been involved in school bands since his youth.
- Thomas "T.C." Carter (born May 3) from Naples, Florida, is known for winning dance competitions and appearing in commercials for brands like Nike, Microsoft, and Nintendo as well as Nickelodeon shows such as iCarly and Victorious. He joined Varsity Fanclub in 2009 following Thomas Fiss’s departure.
- Bobby Edner (born October 5) comes from Los Angeles, California. His acting credits include TV series like Charmed, films including Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, and commercials for Taco Bell, Dunkin' Donuts, and Axe. He also provided the English voice for Vaan in Final Fantasy XII.
- Thomas Fiss (born December 7) from San Diego, California was an original member who left the band in 2009. At age 12, he performed on Broadway in the musical The Full Monty.
- David Lei Brandt (born November 29) is from Evansville, Indiana. His acting work includes a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and hosting Disney Channel’s Toontown. He exited the group in April 2012.
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Varsity Fanclub
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Rankings | Associated Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Airplay | U.S. Pop 100 | ||||
| 2008 | "Future Love" | 62 | 90 | Varsity Fanclub | |
| 2009 | "Zero" | — | — | ||
| 2010 | "Spank That" | — | — | ||
| 2010 | "I'm Your Guy" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single either did not chart or was not released | |||||
Awards
- 2010: Children's Campus Award in the "Super-Band 2010" category
- 2011: Recipient of the Boyband 2011 Award presented by Kindercampus