Yamaha ‘All-Star Concert on the Grand’ Extravaganza at 2020 NAMM Show
Thousands of music dealers, industry officials and media representatives gathered on Friday evening to experience the third annual “Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand,” the marquee music event held this week during the 2020 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Produced by Yamaha Entertainment Group, the blockbuster concert put on display all the legendary multimedia and multi-artist production expertise for which the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer is known and brought memorable performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny Loggins, Avery*Sunshine, Mr. Talkbox, Sheléa and Verbal Ase to the Yamaha Grand Plaza stage.
Sinbad brought his wonderful brand of humor to the stage as emcee for the event. Yamaha Artist and bassist Nathan East once again served as Musical Director for the concert, leading an unparalleled rhythm section that included Greg Phillinganes (keys), Dave Delhomme (keys and guitar) Teddy Campbell (drums), Kevin Ricard (percussion), Tariqh Akoni (guitar); and Nita Whitaker, Kenya Hathaway and Amy Keys (background vocals). Also featured were the Yamaha All-Star Horn Section, including Wayne Bergeron, Dan Fornero and Sean Billings (trumpets), Scott Mayo, George Shelby and Justin Klunk (saxes), and Andy Martin and Christopher Johnson (trombones).
“We promised a jaw dropping, wall-to-wall visual and multimedia extravaganza that none of us would soon forget,” said Chris Gero, the seven-time Emmy Award winning producer of the concert and the founder and vice president of Yamaha Entertainment Group. “The evening’s extraordinary caliber of artists underscores the high regard and appreciation Yamaha has for its dealers.”
Kicking off the night’s entertainment was a powerful Yamaha video, followed by vocal FX phenom and beatbox entertainer Verbal Ase, who warmed up the massive crowd.
Next up was Grammy winner Mr. Talkbox, who performed his number one charting tune, “Funkadelic Sound.”
Soul, R&B and gospel singer Avery*Sunshine had the audience mesmerized with “I Just Don’t Know” and “Won’t You Try Love.”
Mr. Talkbox pleased the crowd with “24K Magic,” “Daft Funk” (with Nathan East) and “Working Day & Night.”
Singer, Songwriter and Keyboardist Sheléa performed a medley of favorite Aretha Franklin songs, including “Until You Come Back to Me,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “Natural Woman,” and “RESPECT.”
Kenny Loggins is the voice of some of the world’s biggest songs. He dazzled the crowd with the infectious rhythm of his hits, including “This is It,” “Heart to Heart” and “Footloose.”
The All-Star Concert on the Grand hit the high note when legendary R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire took the stage, performing their hits “In the Stone,” “Sing a Song,” “After the Love Has Gone,” “Let’s Groove” and “September.” EWF’s Philip Bailey and Sheléa performed “Easy Lover” before the entire group came back on stage for a convention-rocking, grand-finale performance of the classic hit, “Living in America.”
Yamaha commercial audio systems powered every aspect of the All-Star Concert on the Grand. NEXO loudspeaker systems delivered a 360-degree audio experience through its flagship, high-output modular STM system, with dozens of speakers used in the main arrays, as downfills and in front of and behind the stage. Sending signals from the front-of-house and monitor positions was the Yamaha RIVAGE PM10 digital mixing consoles, the same systems used worldwide on national and regional concert tours, at festivals, in houses of worship and other diverse live and installed sound system applications.
For more information about the Yamaha Entertainment Group, visit http://www.yamahaentertainmentgroup.com
