Marvin Gaye Experience
To celebrate the 30th year anniversary since the passing of one of Motown’s greats, The Marvin Gaye Experience is coming to Sydney’s State Theatre this September 19th.
For the first time ever in Sydney, The Marvin Gaye Experience brings together Australia’s most prominent soul, percussion and jazz artists on a single stage to guarantee a two-hour extravaganza of rich performances. The 15-piece American and Australian all-star lineup will take us on a journey through the smooth and unforgettable soul of Marvin Gaye, paying tribute to the one of the most incredible talents in musical history.
As one of the pioneers of Motown, singer-songwriter and producer Marvin Gaye helped shape the sound of soul music and is considered one of the greatest artists of all time.
Marvin Gaye was one of the most consistent and enigmatic of the Motown hitmakers, with a career that exemplified the maturation of black pop and soul into a sophisticated form spanning social and sexual politics. Blessed with a mellifluous tenor and a three-octave vocal range, Gaye was among the most gifted composers and singers of his era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7dGdrP3pms
Gaye’s moodiness contributed to his legend. He regularly avoided TV, rarely performing live, and sometimes not showing up for the few concerts he did schedule. But from “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” to “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “What’s Going On” to “Sexual Healing,” Gaye sang some of the most memorable pop and soul of all time. He was nominated for eight Grammys before winning one in 1983.
Moving from lean, powerful R&B to stylish, sophisticated soul to finally arrive at an intensely political and personal form of artistic self-expression, his work not only redefined soul music as a creative force but also expanded its impact as an agent for social change.
Who: The Marvin Gaye Experience
Where: Sydney’s State Theatre
When: Friday, 19th September 2014
Click here to book tickets.
For more information, click here.
The Artists
Growing up in the “Southside Chicago Flock”, singing gospel with his family, Doug’s early influences were gospel groups: The Staple Singers, The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, The Caravans, The Gospelaires and The Hutchison Sunbeams (who later became The Emotions with Earth Wind and Fire). Doug remembers the era when the “Flock” worked together, sang together and hung out together – all the influences later leading to Doug’s amazing showmanship and talent. It did not end here, Ray Charles taught Doug to play left handed swing bass and he played bass for Ray in recording sessions.
Armondo Hurley
The cool and sophisticated voice of Armondo is unforgettable. Armondo is an amazing performer, armed with a wonderful sense of humour and blessed with world class talent. Armondo Hurley’s showstopper performance as Big Daddy performing “The Rhythm of Life” in Sweet Charity at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney reminded audiences of his captivating persona, as seen in the hit musical Hair and The Caribbean Tempest. A singer, actor, songwriter and producer, Armondo has toured with Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker and Jimmy Barnes to name a few.
Victor Rounds
A multi-instrumentalist of the highest calibre, Darryl has lent his talents to an extensive array of Australian and international talent. He has recorded with multi Grammy award winning artist Kanye West and ARIA award winner Katie Noonan (George). Before venturing out as an artist, Darryl was the Musical Director for artists such as Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Stan Walker and MiG (Rockstar INXS) and has played with a vast array of greats such as Harry Connick Jnr, KC & JoJo, Jewel, Sneaky Sound System and Thelma Houston to name a few. Equally at home in the studio as producer, Darryl has numerous production credits including tracks for Mariah Carey, Deni Hines and Tina Arena.
Noel Elmowy
At the age of seven began classical piano studies for 10 years then turned to contemporary jazz fusion and has playing on the Sydney scene since 1974. Performed and worked in London from 1980 – 1982 with musicians Dave Bitelli (Elton John, David Bowie & Joe Jackson), Martin Ditchum (Sade), Gordon Hunte (Sade), Ray Carless (Elvin Jones) and Chris Scott-Francis (London Jazz Composers Orchestra). On return from London formed “Espirito”(Latin Jazz) in 1982 – an innovative first on the Sydney jazz scene. Highlights include longstanding residency at Sydney’s “The Basement” Jazz Club, support for Dizzy Gillespie’s Australian Tour and the Manly and Bondi Jazz Festivals.
Pat Powell has vocally supported many of Australia’s top recording artists over the years including Kylie Minogue, James Freud, Jenny Morris, Toni Pearen, Tina Arena, Margaret Urlich, Max Q and Paul Mac to name a few.
Inspired at church at a young age by the Morrison brothers, Ross soon found himself running his own successful Jazz band at age 9 which appeared on the Mike Walsh Midday Show and Simon Townsends Wonderworld. They performed many gigs around Sydney and toured to Melbourne. Ross went on to win several local talent quests and continued to learn music.
Calvin Welch
Franchesca Appolis
Sunil de Silva