“It is going to be phenomenal,” Vivian Scott Chew said about the eclectic, one-night concert slated for Carnegie Hall on Dec. 14.
Featuring rhythm & blues siren Regina Belle, hip-hop rapper Doug E. Fresh, gospel queen Shirley Caesar, singer/actor Rahsaan Patterson, and a long list of accomplished musical stalwarts, “A Night of Inspiration” pairs the business partner and former record company executive with her husband Ray for their fifth annual musical collaboration at the famed showplace.
Ray is more than a spouse; he is a revered composer, producer, musician, and cultural ambassador; he is the musical director of television’s hit weekly “Dancing With The Stars” and the perennial musical genius behind the staging of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Humble and frontman of The Crew, Ray decided the musical repertoire for Ashford & Simpson for 25 years.
Vivian too has pathed a course to success by inviting the diverse stellar lineup mentioned.
No wonder she added Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Cory Henry, Juan Winans, Hezekiah Walker, Olen Cesari, Melvin Crispell, Erica Campbell, Isaac Carree, Krista Brian Courtney Wilson, Dave Hollister, Tina Campbell, and a 64-piece orchestra with the voices of a 150-voice multicultural choir for a recipe of pure delight.
“We are beyond excited to be producing our fifth Night of Inspiration,” the couple said in unison.
“It has been our honor to be given the opportunity to present unique programming at the Carnegie Hall for the past 15 years.”
In 2009, Ray first staged a whopper of a concert at the acoustically perfect showplace.
Honor!, a two-night festival of eye and ear treats, celebrated the African-American cultural legacy in America that encompassed jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, and genres beyond.
He presented a marriage, honeymoon, and dedicated loyalty to the showplace, which spawned A Tribute to Motown, a sing-along saluting The Music of Stevie Wonder, and numerous outdoor festivals.
Since then, the power couple now boasts sold-out performances and guaranteed enticements.
On this go-round, the feast of inspiration oozes past expectations for a tribute to the Winans, the pioneering gospel quartet.
All this is slated for a two-and-a-half-hour bonanza inside the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.
While each Chew is reputed for accomplished presentations together, the Chews have emerged as a power production team.
Vivian’s legacy dates back to Radio City Music Hall, ASCAP, and two record labels where she signed Shabba Ranks, Third World, Patra, Shaggy, Damian Marley, and George Clinton to Grammy gaining status.
Next February, she is in the running for her own miniature golden gramophone for producing the audible version of Clinton’s nominated title. She will compete with Barbra Streisand’s and those of former President Jimmy Carter, Guy Oldfield, and Dolly Parton in the Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling category.
But let’s not digress. Many platitudes could overwhelm the storied legacy of the creative entrepreneur Ray Chew Live!, which reigns as a lively outdoor celebration.
His name has been affiliated with Showtime At The Apollo, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting, the official inaugural ball celebrating the election of Barack Obama, the first Black president, along with helming concerts with Rihanna, Beyonce, Aretha Franklin, Justin Bieber, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keyes and a galaxy of stars.
His imprint on productions associated with the names of celebrated achievers only scratches the surface of a career spanning six decades.
Talk about inspiration; the Chews epitomize the definition. They also promise an acclaimed human boom box, a Jewish cantor, and pop music.
According to the power couple, further inspiration promises limited discounted seats on the concert day.
Let There Be Lights —At Rockefeller Center
Temperatures are predicted to dip 7 to 10 degrees below normal on Wednesday. However, nothing will prevent die-hard holiday revelers from bracing the cold to see the Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Hudson, Little Big Town, the Rockettes, and the 74-foot-high, 43-foot-wide Norway Spruce due for lighting. Hosted by Kelly Clarkson, Christmas in Rockefeller Center” presents the spectacle and beauty of a tree decorated by 50,000 multicolored LED lights in all its regalia. There’s also ice skating and plenty of hot chocolate to warm the lively revelers.
Perhaps chestnuts will be roasting on open fires.
For sure, decorated, music-blasting, pedal-motored taxis will be plentiful for tourists.
The tree will remain lit until Jan. 6, 2025.
Catch You On The Inside!
