L to R) Darlene Love, Lala Brooks, Deborah Gibson – photo credit Kerry Long
For more performance photos click here

By Bobby McGuire

It was an evening of classic R&B nirvana at BB King Blues Club and Grill on Monday October 22 for the 15th Rockers on Broadway concert event, which generated a record-breaking $28,000.

Hosted by Caroline Rhea (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch), this latest edition of the popular fundraising concert paid homage to the music of the motor city and was aptly titled Rockers on Broadway Salutes Motown. Radio legends Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow and Jackie “the Joke Man” Martling assisted Rhea.

Rock and radio legends along with close to 40 Broadway veterans were out in full force singing almost every imaginable Motown classic.  From “My Girl” to “Reach Out” it seemed like no rolling stone was unturned.  Highlights of the evening included classic covers of “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Daphne Rubin Vega (Rent), “Try a little Tenderness” by Michael Lanning (The Civil War), and “Satisfaction” sung by Christian Hoff (Jersey Boys).

Real life Broadway / Rock and Roll crossovers Lala Brooks (of The Crystals / Hair), Darlene Love (The Blossoms /Hairspray), Micky Dolenz (The Monkees / Aida), and Deborah Gibson (Beauty and the Beast) added rock and roll authenticity.  Tony® winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) closed the performance, showing off her R&B pipes with a flawless rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Big Moment, Bigger Surprise
The true highpoint of the evening was when Tony Award® winning composer/singer Rupert Holmes (Curtains) introduced the legendary Motown composing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (Heat Wave, Baby Where Did Our Love Go, etc..) who then brought out the surprise guest of the night, Motown founder Berry Gordy.

 

(L to R) Christine Ebersole, Donnie Kehr – photo credit Linda Lenzi
For more backstage photos click here

Thanks to the amazing rock star talent of Rockers on Broadway’s producers Donnie Kehr and Cori Gardner, the concert was a sold-out success and set a new fundraising record for the event. The $28,000 generated will be divided between Broadway Cares and Wingspan Arts, a nonprofit providing arts education for New York Metro area school kids.

To read more about Rockers on Broadway, click here. http://www.rockersonbroadway.comand to read a profile of the dynamic producers who create this event, click herehttp://archive.broadwaycares.org/volunteers/volunteerspotlight24.cfm