Some of the women in the audience may have been a little disappointed when they
found out that Marvin Gaye tribute artist Brian Owens is a happily married man with six children
and one on the way, nonetheless, Brian didn’t disappoint the people who came to
the Thrasher-Horne Center to hear and see him in concert.
In the almost three hour show, Owens sang many songs from the Marvin Gaye repertoire,
including songs that were sung with the late Tammi Terrell that were
accompanied by the audience harmonizing the female parts. The man also moves around stage like Marvin
and can play the piano
like no body’s business. His four-piece
band played the best accompanying music that any enthusiast would enjoy. It’s welcoming to hear musicians who can play
in-the-pocket yet have their own individuality.
At the end of the show, Brian was summoned back to the stage by his
attendees. He then did a tribute to the late Sam
Cooke and Brian told the story of how Berry Gordy wanted Marvin to play the
role of Sam Cooke in a movie, but Marvin refused because he thought the idea
was morbid. Marvin didn’t realize that
he would die at the hand of his own father.
If you ever get a chance to see and hear Brian Owens in concert - take
advantage of “What’s Goin On: The Marvin Gaye Experience”.
The Thrasher-Horne honors soul legend Marvin Gaye with an intimate
performance of What’s Going On: The
Marvin Gaye Experience by renowned vocalist Brian Owens. As one of the
pioneers of Motown, singer-songwriter and producer Marvin Gaye helped shape the
sound of R&B music and is considered one of the greatest artists of all
time. Soul man Brian Owens is often referred to as the "second coming of
Marvin Gaye.” Owens, who has performed at the White House for First Lady
Michelle Obama, dazzles audiences with performances full of soul and love. His refined style combining classic soul with
a slight modern touch is why audiences everywhere are calling him the new voice
of American soul.
What’s Going On: The Marvin Gaye Experience, now in its third year, invites
audiences to partake in a show which combines both the beloved and lesser-known
hits of the legendary Marvin Gaye. Brian performs selections that span Gaye’s
music-making career, from early solo hits like “Can I Get a Witness” and “I
Heard It Through the Grapevine” to classic duets including “You’re All I Need to Get By” and the crowd-pleasers
“Let’s Get It On” and “Got To Give It Up.”
At its heart, Brian feels the show is “a
matter of upholding the tradition of true soul music that is so desperately
needed in our culture today.” The show prominently features a suite of
pieces from Gaye’s “What’s Going On”
album, which Brian counts as “one of the
most socially important artistic works in the history of American music.” Take a listen HERE and
experience a taste; then get your tickets before they RUN OUT!
‟What’s
Going On
The Marvin Gaye Experience”
DATE: Sunday, March 11, 2018
TIME: 7 p.m.
LOCATION: The Thasher-Horne Ctr.
St. Johns River State College
283 College Drive
Orange Park, FL 32065
TICKETS: range from $19 - $69 with all fees included, and may
be purchased in person, online at THcenter,
or by calling (904) 276-6815 between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday – Friday. VIP tickets are available for this show. The Thrasher-Horne Center is a performing
arts venue and conference center owned and operated by St. Johns River State College.
It is located on the Orange Park campus at 283 College Drive in Orange Park,
Florida.
