Night of Joy act Group 1 Crew has Florida roots Thu, 09 Sep 2010     Maxwell Reyes, from left, Blanca Callahan and Pablo Villatoro are the members of Orlando-based Group 1 Crew (Walt Disney Co.) Friday marks a homecoming for Group 1 Crew, one of the 16 acts performing at Disney World’s Night of Joy this year. The threesome has roots in a Central Florida youth Bible study.   “We gave ourselves the name Group 1,” says singer Blanca Callahan. “We were a group of individuals — we all had our individual talent — but when we came together we had one purpose, one faith, one vision, so we were a group of one … so, Group 1.” When they signed with a label three years ago, the “Crew” was appended. “We had to add ‘Crew’ to make it a little cooler,” Callahan says. Also check our our Universal Studios preview for this weekend’s Rock the Universe No Group 1 Crew member is a Florida native, but they each moved at a tender age. Callahan was born in New York, but moved here as a baby. Manwell Reyes was born to a military family in Germany, then moved to Kansas before landing in Florida, and Pablo Villatoro lived in Houston before coming here as a kid. Their musical style is energetic. “We’re considered hip-hop,” Callahan says, “But since we incorporate a lot of singing, there’s a lot of pop elements — so we like to call it hip-pop.” The group has been touring and performing this summer at Christian-music festivals, which generally feature multiple stages over a few days and nights. “It’s usually raining and super-hot,” Callahan says. In some ways, this Disney gig will be a break from that. “If you start out at Magic Kingdom, you’re pretty much spoiled,” she says. “At least you still have the A/C, and you go into stores or ride rides instead of sitting out in a field.” She says she enjoys touring, although there are challenges. “I recently just got married and just got a puppy, so it’s getting harder and harder to leave home for long periods of time,” says Callahan, 24. “When we do a tour, you can be gone for a month straight and not be able to come home. That part is really hard, but I just love what I do, so it’s fun.” Group 1 Crew’s music has had mainstream exposure, with air time on TV shows “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami,” “Run’s House,” “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane” and “America’s Got Talent,” where a dance troupe performed to a G1C single. “Manwell got to see it straight-on live in the studio,” Callahan says. “I watched from my TV screen in Orlando. It was still good.” Best of all, the “Talent” judges allowed the to dancers to finish the routine, so the whole song was played. Group 1 Crew’s third album, “Outta Space Love,” will be released Sept. 21. “We just feel like we’ve found ourselves and found a sound that we all really love.” Callahan says. “It kind of makes you proud of the outcome.” For Night of Joy, Group 1 Crew will present its old and new material. “You’ll be hearing a little mix of everything. We do have some great songs on our last two albums,” Callahan says. “Bring some oldies, some goodies, some favorites for our fans … then bring some new stuff so they can get prepared for the next record.” See for yourself Night of Joy When: 7:30 p.m.- 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday Where: Magic Kingdom, off Interstate 4, southwest of Orlando Cost: $57.95 for one night; $89.95 for both nights Phone: 877-648-3569 Online: nightofjoy.com Night of Joy lineup Friday Group 1 Crew, 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m., Galaxy Stage David Crowder*  Band, 7:45 p.m., Cinderella Castle Stage Sidewalk Prophets, 8:15 p.m., Rockettower Plaza Stage Chris Tomlin, 9:45 p.m., Cinderella Stage Castle 10th Avenue North, 9:45 p.m., Rockettower Plaza Stage BarlowGirl, 10:45 p.m. & 12:15 a.m., Galaxy Stage Thousand Foot Krutch, 11:30 p.m., Rockettower Plaza Stage Casting Crowns, 11:45 p.m., Cinderella Castle Stage Saturday Smokie Norful, 7:30 p.m. & 9 p.m., Galaxy Stage Family Force 5, 7:45 p.m., Cinderella Castle Stage Britt Nicole, 8:20 p.m., Rockettower Plaza Stage Third Day, 9:45 p.m., Cinderella Castle Stage Day of Fire, 9:45 p.m. & 11:20 p.m., Rockettower Plaza Stage LeCrae, 10:30 p.m., Galaxy Stage MercyMe, 11:45 p.m., Cinderella Castle Stage Red, 12:00 a.m., Galaxy Stage Disney Hopper Passes - Learn how to save on Disney Hopper Passes and Disney World Tickets. View other stories on the Disney News Archive