Music Director Checo Tohomaso brings a wealth of musical experience to the Vancouver Outreach Community Soul Gospel Choir (VOC). Born in Florida and raised in Hawaii as well as Okinawa Japan, he has entertained with many notable performers throughout his career. Checo was honored to play keyboards, percussion and sing background vocals for the last European tour of Motown legend Marvin Gaye.As a keyboard player and background vocalist for the Green Machine, the band providing the sound for The Commodores and Lionel Ritchie, he continued to tour the world extensively until Expo ’86 brought Checo to Vancouver.
Checo started the VOC in 1996, with a goal of bringing people of different cultures together to deliver a message of peace, hope and healing through their common passion: singing. The dynamic choir mixes together the sounds of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Hawaiian, Calypso, and Reggae. The vibrant delivery results in an audience that can’t resist joining in by toe tapping, foot stomping, jumping, singing,dancing and hand clapping!
Performing in venues all over the lower mainland for audiences that often number more than one thousand, the 150 member VOC Soul Gospel Choir has “changed lives” with its energetic, soulful performances.
