ABOUT CHECO & THE VOC: Music Director, Checo Tohomaso, brings a wealth of musical experience to the VOC Soul Gospel Choir. 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 1997, 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.

This community choir is guaranteed to put a jump in your step, and a smile on your face!In order to achieve his goal of "bringing soul to the city" Checo also coaches soul, R&B, gospel and light jazz style vocals and teaches both keyboards and bass to students from across the lower mainland.

The following clips feature a small portion of the entire VOC choir during live and televised events and while it certainly can't replace the live energy experience, it'll give you a sample of what's to come... THE LATEST VOC VIDEO: VOC Live Dec 12th, 2oo4 -> HEAR CHECO ON OUR SHOW! (audio / talk radio) Dec 13, 2oo3 - Checo Tahomaso and the VOC Soul Gospel Choir - [LISTEN TO THE SHOW NOW] Discover a local phenomenon in SOUL similar to the recent Hollywood movie THE FIGHTING TEMPTATIONS - right here in Vancouver!! Nicole interviews Checo about his Motown days and tours with artists like the Commodores, Marvin Gaye and Lionel Richie ...
THE BREAKFAST SHOW - Vancouver B.C. VOC Soul Gospel Choir TV performance 2003	VICKI GABEREAU (2nd Performance) VOC Soul Gospel Choir performing a 2nd song live on the Vicki Gabereau show in Vancouver, B.C. December 2000.
VICKI GABEREAU VOC Soul Gospel Choir performing 1st song live on the Vickie Gabereau show in Vancouver, B.C. December 2000	Dec. 2002 Shaw News Coverage of the VOC Soul Gospel Choir - Can you spot NFTS publisher Nicole Whitney in the alto section? hmmm.....

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