The Polyphonic Spree is a self-described "choral symphonic pop" group from the Dallas, Texas area.
The group was founded by Tim DeLaughter and has had from 13 to 27 members. The group currently consists of 24 members ranging from vocals, to organ to tubular bells. The three original members, Tim DeLaughter, Mark Pirro and Brian Wakeland were members of the band Tripping Daisy before their guitarist Wes Berggren died in 1999. After the tragic end of Tripping Daisy, DeLaughter temporarily gave up music to run Good Records, a record shop in Dallas, Texas.
In 2000, DeLaughter, Pirro and Wakeland were asked to create a 30-minute support of Grandaddy. Rather than reforming Tripping Daisy, the three decided to explore a concept DeLaughter had of creating a modern symphonic pop-band. He wanted a symphonic sound including a live choir. Inspired by the sunny, experimental pop bands of the seventies such as Electric Light Orchestra he loved as a child, the call went out for a wide array of musicians. Gradually, the band and the new music took shape through various contacts. A half-hour of music was written and rehearsed by the 13 original members of what became The Polyphonic Spree, who began performing live.
The reaction to the fledgling band was overwhelmingly positive. The band then grew to its present size, (somewhere near 25 members) as it found a growing following of fans energized by the band's powerful stage presence. The setlist of the first Spree show, titled "The Beginning Stages of The Polyphonic Spree", along with a 10th piece entitled "A Long Day" (fully formed from 11-year-old samples of the voice of Tim DeLaughter) was recorded and distributed to skeptical venues that were reluctant to host the enormous band. Eventually, demand for the Spree's music on CD became so great that the album saw commercial release.
