“I’m going to be singing this complete time, so prepare,” one attendee laughingly declared to her neighboring seatmates at Stevie Marvel’s annual Home Stuffed with Toys Profit Live performance. However to not fear.
Marvel and his company — together with Gregory Porter, Trombone Shorty and Jody Watley — had everybody inside Los Angeles’ sold-out Microsoft Theater singing and dancing alongside to every be aware Saturday night (Dec. 17). Simply Marvel taking part in a number of notes on his harmonica within the wings earlier than strolling onstage with the night’s musical director/longtime pal Rickey Minor was sufficient to ship the viewers right into a cheering frenzy even earlier than the live performance acquired underway.
Home Stuffed with Toys, offered by Marvel’s nonprofit We Are You Basis, advantages youngsters, individuals with disabilities and households in want with concertgoers donating an unwrapped toy. Now in its 24th yr, the performer lineup featured Trombone Shorty who had attendees second-lining a la his native New Orleans when he joined Marvel onstage for an exuberant romp by “Sir Duke.” Previous to that, Jody Watley took followers on her personal nostalgia tour, performing her 1989 R&B/pop hit “Actual Love” earlier than segueing right into a traditional from the normal vacation particular A Charlie Brown Christmas, “Christmas Time Is Right here.”
Trombone Shorty performs on the twenty fourth Home Stuffed with Toys Profit Live performance on Dec. 17, 2022.
Lester Cohen for Marvel Productions Inc.
In the meantime, Gregory Porter’s sonorous voiced blanketed the venue with “Take Me to the Alley,” the title observe to his 2016 album. “That’s what we’re right here for,” added Porter afterwards, referencing the hungry, homeless and others going by life struggles. “That’s why I needed to sing that tune.”
Rounding out the lineup of performers have been Tina and Teddy Campbell, the John Paul McGee Trio with Amber Bullock, Kimberly Brewer and Marvel’s daughters Zaiah and Nyah. The pair danced collectively on a vacation tune that Marvel recorded within the late ‘60s, “One Little Christmas Tree,” and returned later to sing together with their dad on the usual “The Christmas Track.” Fortunate Daye was additionally scheduled to carry out however canceled owing to not feeling effectively.
As at all times in years previous for this vacation live performance — and with no offense to the visitor stars who’ve appeared — the evening belonged to Marvel. The legend gave pretty much as good as he acquired from an already enthusiastic viewers that grew to become extra ecstatic every time he sat down on the keyboards or piano and easily sang. Early within the present, Marvel boosted the festive spirit already resonating across the venue when he carried out “What Christmas Means to Me,” singing to the unique instrumental observe recorded again within the ‘60s.
Shifting from a raucous sing-along to “I Want,” one among his many classics, Marvel celebrated the 50th anniversary of his 1972 album Speaking E book. Starting with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” he then saluted his late ex-wife and co-writer Syreeta Wright (“Such a beautiful spirit”) with the transferring “Blame It on the Solar” earlier than closing the E book suite with an emotional activate “You and I (We Can Conquer the World).”
Mentioned a tearful Marvel after an ensuing standing ovation, “I like all of you a lot. I give all reward to God for all of the songs I’ve written or co-written. Should you perceive love, you’ll be able to’t spend one second entertaining the spirit of hate … Let’s present the world methods to love once more.”
With the clock ticking right down to after 11 p.m., Marvel gifted the viewers with a mini-concert. The set checklist included “Do I Do,” “I Love You Extra” with the aforementioned Brewer, “As,” “Ribbon within the Sky,” “I Simply Known as to Say I Love You,” “Dwelling for the Metropolis” and “Increased Floor.” Closing with one other Speaking E book choice, the crowd-pleaser “Superstition,” Marvel introduced his youngsters and the live performance’s whole workers onstage.
Earlier than strolling offstage to “One other Star,” a smiling Marvel mentioned, “I wished to offer you all all the pieces I may offer you … I like you; God bless you — and we’re executed!”
