So far as I can see, there can be no greater privilege than to have the opportunity to work with your heroes. In my early twenties my long-standing adoration of Stevie Wonder inevitably led me to Syreeta for whom he produced two seminal albums at Motown. I've remained a massive fan of hers ever since.
Fast forward fifteen years and a 1989 UK tour by ex-Motown artists finds me playing bass in the band that is backing the entire show. A lifelong ambition is about to be fulfilled as Syreeta's name appeared on the artist roster.
She was every inch a star, kind, generous, with an enormous grace and elegance that stole our collective hearts. I always hoped I’d have another opportunity to work with her but sadly it wasn't to be. Her untimely death to cancer twelve years ago was devastating. Fortunately, a film crew came in at the end of the tour and recorded the London show. It was subsequently released as a two-volume video and remains a wonderful memory of a great tour.
It has never made it onto DVD and a less than decent quality VHS copy is all I have. Nevertheless there are some classic performances from artists such as Kim Weston, Marv Johnson, The Elgins and Carolyn Crawford amongst others. I hope to post more from the same show in the future. Meantime, this is the incomparable Syreeta closing her set with a solo performance of one of her biggest hits.
23 авг 2024
