When R&B & soul make a perfect combination

MANILA, Philippines - Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs are two musical stars who have left a deep and lasting impact on contemporary popular music with their awesome string of achievements as R&B, rock and soul singers, artists, performers and songwriters.

With their distinctively unique voices and extraordinary styles, they were credited for creating some of the most acclaimed and enduring hits in the R&B, rock and soul genres in the past 40 years.

It is not often that these two icons perform together in one act that watching them share the same stage will definitely make for a dream concert, a perfect combination every avid music lover will be raving about.

The rare musical event will happen when R&B/soul singer and songwriter Michael perform back-to-back with rock and soul star Boz during a major concert on March 9 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

To be presented by Ovation Productions, Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs Live In Manila! will treat the audience to a whole new musical experience through an unforgettable array of the finest R&B and soul sounds that only the two music legends can provide.

Michael emerged as one of the most recognizable artists of the past 25 years — and, perhaps, the greatest “blue-eyed soul” singer — whose ability to bridge rock, adult contemporary and soul through his uniquely recognizable voice made him a leading solo singer and backing vocalist during the California pop/rock era in the late ‘70s.

With his signature style, he ushered in the most successful period of the boogie rock band Doobie Brothers with such hits as What A Fool Believes (which won three Grammys), Minute By Minute and Taking It To The Streets.

After embarking as a solo artist following the 1982 break-up of the Doobie Brothers, he released his solo debut album, If That’s What It Takes, which climbed to No. 6 with the No. 4 single, I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near), which also crossed over into the R&B Top 10.

He scored another Top 20 pop hit (and a Top 10 R&B hit) in 1983 with his duet with James Ingram, Yah Mo B There, which won a Grammy. His 1986 duet with Patti LaBelle, On My Own, shot to No. 1, while Sweet Freedom, his theme for the Billy Crystal/Gregory Hines comedy, Running Scared, climbed into the Top 10.

In 1996, he rejoined the Doobie Brothers and toured the oldies circuit with the group. The following year, he released Blue Obsession, his first album of new material in three years, followed by In the Spirit: A Christmas Album in 2001.

Michael achieved new heights of popularity with the 2002 release of Motown, his first major album in nearly a decade, which was followed two years later by a sequel, Motown 2.

Boz, on the other hand, was a slick, smooth pop/soul singer of the mid-‘70s who became a sensation after scoring a major triumph in 1976 with Silk Degrees, considered as his most successful commercial effort to date.

Anchored by the jazzy lead cut, Lowdown, Silk Degrees was a virtual greatest hits album, staying near the top of the charts for over a year on the strength of the hits Lido Shuffle, What Can I Say? and It’s Over, as well as terrific album cuts like Georgia, We’re All Alone (later remade in lesser fashion by Rita Coolidge) and Harbor Lights.

Boz’s1980 album, Middle Man, scored big with two singles, the rock-oriented Breakdown Dead Ahead and the smooth Jojo.

In 2004, he became the one-millionth ’70s rock star to record an album of jazz standards, But Beautiful, which topped the jazz charts and included a beautiful recording of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady.

Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs Live In Manila! is sponsored by etc, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Mercedes-Benz, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, RJ 100.3 FM, ABS-CBN and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

It is also supported by The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Magic 89.9, 96.3 Easy Rock, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Wave 89.1, Jam 88.3, 90.7 Love Radio, 97.9 Home Radio, 105.1 FM Crossover, 99.3 FT, OptimaSignsolution and Focalcast Network.

Tickets are priced at P6,500, P5,500, P4,500, P2,500, P1,000 and P600 and are available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores.

For details, call Ticketnet at 911-5555.