*Alton McClain & Destiny earned their way to a top ten spot on the R&B charts in 1979 with the hit “It Must Be Love” from the girl group’s self-titled debut album. So, it is no surprise that Alton is throwing a concert in Baltimore, the city she calls home, on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2019) at the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium (buy tickets here).
“I am truly blessed to be able to still sing,” Alton told Lee Bailey in a recent phone interview. “I don’t move as much,” she laughed, “but I can still sing. It’s going to be a great concert. I’m excited. It’s a nice intimate venue. It’s my party.”
While romance will be in the house at her Valentine’s Day event, Alton added that her backing band will be a special treat.
“These guys are an incredible group of musicians,” said Alton. “Most of them are part of a group called ‘In Gratitude’ and they are an Earth Wind, and Fire tribute band.”
Alton’s Earth, Wind, and Fire connection is no fluke. Later in her 30-plus year career, Alton married Grammy-winning songwriter, Skip Scarborough, who wrote some of the legendary group’s hits like “Can’t Hide Love” and “Love’s Holiday.” But there was one EWF song that Skip wrote that has a special meaning to Alton.
“’I’d Rather Have You,’ I did not know he had written,” Alton said. “But it was my favorite Earth, Wind, & Fire song and I used to practice to it all the time.”
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Skip went on to write or co-write additional hits such as Anita Baker’s “Giving You The Best That I Got,” Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” LTD’s “Love Ballad” (later recorded by George Benson), and the Emotions’ “Don’t Ask My Neighbor.” And, yes, Alton is set to belt out some of her late husband’s music at her Valentine’s Day performance.
“It was amazing how many songs he’s written,” Alton, who now officially uses the last name McClain Scarborough, said. “I had no idea when we were first dating. For this concert, I was typing out the lyrics for ‘Love Ballad’ for the background singers and I teared up because it just hit me that it’s a beautiful song. The lyrics are really beautiful and just, you know.”
To see Alton McClain Scarborough in concert at BMA Meyerhoff Auditorium on February 14, 2019, tickets can be purchased here.
On Friday, stay tuned for part two of Lee Bailey’s interview with Alton as she discusses more about her music, Skip Scarborough’s legacy, and girl groups.
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