by Michael P. Coleman, Associate Editor

7 time Grammy Award winners Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.have earned 15 gold and 3 platinum records over the last 40+ years, enjoyed starring roles on television and stage, and achieved the level of success that most artists only dream about.  They’re celebrating their careers with a musical tribute to the hits and productions that have made up their multifaceted careers, and bring that show to Napa’s Uptown Theatre Saturday, March 22nd at 9pm.


As lead vocalists of one of the top singing groups of the late 60’s and early 70’s, The 5th Dimension, Marilyn & Billy recorded a number of classics including “Up, Up & Away”, “Stone Should Picnic”, “Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In”, “Wedding Bell Blues”, and “One Less Bell To Answer”.  After a decade with the group, McCoo & Davis left the group to establish themselves as a duo.  They achieved that feat with their first album which included the #1 hit “You Don’t Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)”, earning them a Grammy for Best R & B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1976.

That success led to CBS-TV’s The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. Show, a prime time summer series in 1977.  The duo went on to international success, playing to standing room only crowds all over the world and winning the prestigious Grand Prize at Tokyo Music Festival.  In addition to their success as a duo, Marilyn & Billy have enjoyed solo pursuits.  McCoo hosted the popular 1980s television music series “Solid Gold” for five years, and recorded a very successful contemporary Christian album, The Me Nobody Knows.  Davis also recorded a religious album, Let Me Have A Dream, with gospel legend the Rev. James Cleveland.  They also began to explore theatrical opportunities, with Davis starring as James “Thunder” Early in a regional production of Dreamgirls and McCoo appearing on Broadway in the revival of Rogers & Hammerstein’s Show Boat, starring in the role of Julie.

Marilyn & Billy have just released their first-ever “live” album, which gives you a hint of what to expect from them on stage.  But don’t miss an opportunity to experience the legends themselves.   Of the show in Napa on March 22, the duo promise to perform all of the hits that their fans want to hear, since “…those are the songs that got us here”, Davis exclusively told The Hub.  McCoo added “We also like to sing songs that come from our individual musical backgrounds, so Billy sings the blues and I like torch songs.  We try to put on a show that will be a fun musical experience.  People will have a good time.”

Tickets for “An Evening with Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.” are available at www.uptowntheatrenapa.com.  Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. LIVE is available at Amazon.  And Michael P. Coleman is always available on Twitter @ColemanMichaelP or www.michaelpcoleman.com

Look for The Hub’s EXCLUSIVE interview with Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. in the Spring issue of The Hub magazine, which will be on newsstands in early April, and at sacculturalhub.com.

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