By Janelle Gelfand
Enquirer staff writer

He's dark-haired, baby-faced and possesses a mellifluous baritone voice. So maybe it's not surprising that 23-year-old pop opera star Josh Groban has a growing hoard of groupies called "grobanites," who range from preteens to senior citizens.

Josh Groban (Photo provided)

His first-ever international concert tour - which began in small venues in January and quickly moved to arenas - sold out within 20 minutes in almost every market. One of the only bright spots in the otherwise dismal tour industry this summer, Groban makes a stop at Riverbend Music Center on Tuesday.

Groban, who is a classically trained baritone, was discovered at age 17. Since then, his life has been an odyssey of major TV appearances (Ally McBeal, the Closing Ceremony of the Salt Lake City Olympics, The View, Good Morning America), his own PBS special and a debut disc that sold 5 million.

What's most striking about the superstar in conversation is how boy-next-door nice he is.

Groban spoke on his cell phone while sipping a Starbucks frappuccino in Tysons Corner Shopping Center in McLean, Va., sharing stories about life on the road, how he's handling fame and his second album, Closer, which was released in November and is approaching 4 million sold.

My favorite song on your new album is "Mi mancherai" ("I will miss you"), with violinist Josh Bell. Whose idea was it to collaborate?

It was my idea, actually. I had performed with him at a private concert. We clicked right away and got to be really good friends. I just felt like it needed an instrument, something to express innocence, just the sweet sadness of the song. And I immediately thought of Josh.

I hate to tell you, but I found your album in the easy listening section of our music store.

OK, I don't think it's hard rock. (Laughs.) Every time I go into a music store, it's in a different section. I leave it to the listener to decide where it is, because I can't put my finger on it.

This is the second leg of a huge tour. How's it going?

It's the hardest I've ever worked, and it's the most fun I've ever had. It has so much energy. We added some bigger lights and musical surprises, and some new songs. I get to play some new instruments. It's been just a blast for everybody involved. The audiences have just been crazy.

What's it like to live out of a suitcase?

(Laughs.) It's fine with me. I'm extremely unorganized. So having a very small space to put everything is always probably a good thing for me. If I'm in one place for too long, there's always clothes everywhere.

Is there a song that you're dying to sing?

I'm dying to sing songs of Stephen Sondheim. I think that some of his individual songs that he's written for shows like Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along - are just so great. I'm really chomping at the bit to get hold of some Sondheim material.

Are you thinking of branching into opera, too?

It's something I think about every single day, and I have such a passion for it, such a love for it and a respect for it. That's one of the reasons I decided not to make that statement yet. I think at one point, I would love to just concentrate on opera alone, and come out with that at the right time.

What will your next album be?

I want to do much more original music. I love songwriting. I'm going to be exploring new sounds and working on world music, and doing a lot more writing and piano work and see where that takes me.

Have you always composed music, too?

I wrote a lot of poetry in elementary and high school. I was always interested in keyboards and trying instruments. When I was 15, I would constantly be exploring sounds, writing music and playing for my parents, talent show stuff. It really wasn't until recording the second album that I felt confident enough to sit down and actually put some of those on paper.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Maybe that I play the drums. I think people sometimes think that it's much more glamorous than it is, and are always surprised when I tell them that there are definitely dark sides and down sides to everything that's going on, and everybody has their demons that they have to fight, sometimes. I think the fans know quite a bit about me at this point, so I'm not sure there are any surprises.

More about Groban

Birthday: Feb. 27, 1981

Home: Los Angeles

Preconcert regimen: "I can't eat two or three hours before I go onstage, or I'll have to, like, pop Tums all night. Then just drink lots and lots of fluid, and I've got a really heavy (vocal) warm-up routine that I do before I go onstage."

Vices: Fast cars, sushi and motorcycles. "I don't own one yet, but I definitely know that I'm going to own one."

Drives: Porsche. "That was a little gift I gave myself."

Down time: "I like to do things that are just kind of normal, just veg stuff like see a movie or play a video game. I'm a big computer geek."

Added to the show: "I put in the song from the (Brad Pitt) movie Troy called "Remember" that I did with (composer) James Horner. I've added some more piano playing and some drums as well."

In the crowd: "I've got some relatives who live close by (near Columbus), and they'll be there, too."

If you go

What: Josh Groban

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Riverbend Music Center

Tickets: The pavilion is sold out, but lawn seats ($30.50) are available. 562-4949, www.ticketmaster.com, or purchase at the gate.

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E-mail jgelfand@enquirer.com