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''Elijah Rock is an award-winning Actor, Singer, Writer, Producer and Artrepreneur. He is the 2014 NAACP Theatre Award recipient for Best Male Equity performer in “Breath and Imagination-The Story of Roland Hayes” written by award- winning playwright Daniel Beaty and staged at the renowned Colony Theatre in Burbank, CA. This season, Rock reprised the role of Roland Hayes in Boston, MA at ArtsEmerson’s historical Paramount Theatre (Jan 27-Feb. 8, 2015). While in Boston, Rock was honored to sing the National Anthem at the 2015 State of City Address for Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh in Boston Symphony Hall. Currently, Rock will star as the Crooner in the World Premier of “Words by Ira Gershwin”, which opens at the Colony Theatre on April 18th-May 17th, 2015. In television, Rock recently appeared as a recurring guest star in the second season of “Masters of Sex” on Showtime. On the big screen, he is preparing to star in the biopic “Lincoln Perry” to be produced with Brad Wilson and directed by the award-winning writer/director, Antwone Fisher.

Early life and Career
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Rock grew up singing in the church and was discovered by The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus and The Cleveland Opera Children’s Chorus where he fell in love with Theatre, Classical Voice, Broadway Performance, Jazz Performance and Jazz Tap. It’s no wonder, that when he discovered the likes of Paul Robeson, Harry Belafonte, Joe Williams and Sammy Davis, Jr. at an early age, he would find his calling and devote his life to the performing arts. As a high school youth, Rock studied classical voice and acting at the world-renowned Interlochen Arts Camp for two summers. In his senior year, he had the honor of being one of the first vocalists to be accepted into the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Young Artist Program. It was also in Cleveland, where he studied theatre drama, dance, improvisational and sketch comedy at the Karamu House Theatre – the oldest long-running African American theatre in the country. Rock went on to become a soloist for the renown ‘Los Angeles Jubilee Singers,’ singing Negro Spiritual music in concert halls around the world. Rock’s diverse skill set began landing him lead roles in theatre productions off-Broadway and in regional theatre’s across the country. Plays include August Wilson’s ‘Cory’ in “Fences,” and ‘Youngblood’ in “Jitney,” “Vaudeville” (a play with music), “To Be Young Gifted and Black” and “Hoodoo Love” (a play with music) as ‘Ace of Spades.’ Musicals include the iconic lead role of ‘Coalhouse Walker Jr,’ in “Ragtime,” ‘Adrian’ in “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Baby It’s You,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Paradise,” as ‘Tater’ (a World Premier Bluegrass Musical) and ‘Anatoly’ in “Chess” at the East West Players, LA.

Film and Television Credits
Rock’s short film ‘Lunch with Jeremiah’ in which he co-wrote, co-produced and costared has screened at the 2013 Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF), 2013 NYLA International Film Festival and the 2014 Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival.

Film
Rock starred in CHRISTMAS ON SALVATION STREET,3 BLIND SAINTS,LUNCH WITH JEREMIAH (Co-writer),FORTUNE COOKIE MAGIC TRICKS,THE PERFECT HUSBAND,MASHED POTATOES,CRENSHAW NIGHTS, and THE FAMILY WILL (Writer/Producer)

Television
MASTERS OF SEX, BLOOD BROTHERS, BURNED (film),THE CONAN O’BRIEN SHOW,THE JAY LENO SHOW, and JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

Recording Artist and Entertainer
As a recording artist, Rock’s first album, “Elijah Rock Preacher of Love. Vol 1.” mixes funk, rock and gospel with captivating original songs and remakes of classic spirituals like Wade in the Water and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. Since then Rock has focused much of his musical inspiration into the releases of his debut Jazz vocal Single, ‘That First Time’ and his debut Jazz Vocal EP, ‘Elijah Rock LIVE in Hollywood,’ now available on iTunes and Amazon. He says, “My original songs like ‘That First Time, ‘New York City Springtime’ and “Pretty Little Baby” are reminiscent of the classic standards but with a new twist.” In his shows Rock is known for featuring his ‘paddle-n-roll’ style of tap dancing. He has been hoofing since the age of ten and always credits his late teacher, Ed Bubba “Taps” Ferguson. Rock’s prominent voice teachers include Russian baritone, Vladimir Chernov and Beverly Rinaldi.

Producer and Entreprenuer
A founding executive with LimeLion Group, LLC, Rock is merging Arts & Entertainment and internet technology. The start up is the worlds’ premier provider of data, news, information technology, solutions, analytics and services that gives humanity access to a network of information, people and ideas so they can make better informed decisions during their talent scouting, content consumption, talent investment, collaboration or even when simply surveying the Arts & Entertainment industry landscape around them from their desktops, tablets or mobile devices. In content production, he is a member of Decipher Entertainment, which creates lifestyle through the art of cultivating rich and diverse images. Decipher constantly reevaluates between entertainment, the industry and it’s interactivity in culture. Rock is dedicated to producing film content that has universal appeal and uniquely reflects our humanity.

Personal life
Rock resides both in Los Angeles, CA, and New York City.

Awards and Honors

 * 2014 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Male Equity
 * 2015 NATIONAL ANTHEM for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s State of City Address at Boston Symphony Hall