Santo August
| Santo August | |
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August performing at Nokia Theater with Mindless Behavior
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Chresanto August July 23, 1997 South Los Angeles, CA, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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Chresanto August, professionally known as Santo August (previously known as Roc Royal), is an American rapper, dancer, actor, and former member of boy-band, Mindless Behavior.
Lakeisha Gamble, one of the contributing founders of Mindless Behavior, convinced future producer of the group, Walter Millsap, to form an American boy band. He was opposed to the idea at first, as explained in the film, Mindless Behavior: All Around the World. Millsap is the founder of Conjunction Entertainment Inc., and has worked with the likes of Beyonce, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Lopez. Along with Gamble and Millsap, there was Streamline Records head Vincent Herbert, who agreed on the concept of forming a boy band. Following the idea of forming the group, Gamble, Millsap, Herbert, songwriter Candice Nelson, and choreographer David Scott held open auditions in California in an attempt to find local boys that would fit the criteria of the group. Augusts' cousin had known Gamble, who encouraged her to bring him to the auditions. He was unaware of the group auditions, and was set to attend football practice the day of. Instead, his mother told instructed him to get dressed in his football uniform, misleading him, as they’d gone to the auditions instead. For the auditions, he had to remember choreography that was given by Dave Scott. He performed them backwards, and was a terrible dancer. However, Gamble liked his personality, and thought he could improve overtime, much to Millsap’s dismay. In turn, he missed football tryouts, but he was the second member to join Mindless Behavior, behind that of Princeton.
August was given the stage name Roc Royal by Gamble, due to his personality. “Roc” was used as an alternate spelling for the word “rock”, showing his tough side. However, “Royal” was to show his softer, sweet side. Joining soon after Princeton and August were Prodigy (Craig Crippen, Jr.) and Ray Ray (Rayan Lopez). For the next two years, they immersed themselves in music, developing their musical sound and style under the guidance of Herbert and Millsap. They moved in with their manager, Gamble, and began frequently rehearing dance routines, changing their diets, and getting to know one another. August’s mother, Tiffany Larkin, exclaimed that the transition was extremely difficult for the mothers of the group. They were not able to see their children as much as they wanted to. However, once their manager felt as though they were ready, they set up a showcase to perform for various labels. The last performance was for Management Group International, owned by successful entrepreneur and music manager, Kenneth Crear. Crear was immediately interested in signing the group. Soon after, they remained in development, but also began working on original music. Gaining their performance repertoire, they put on shows at local schools on the CLASSCFIED High School Tour. This helped them gain fans and recognition, along with their YouTube channel that held their creative "MB Cam" and Ustream account. Soon afterwards, Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine signed Mindless Behavior to the label.
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