*The Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood was the place to be on Wednesday, July 24. Thanks to TMKMusicLive, we went old school, turned back the clock and rocked the house with good pure singing and music, courtesy of Margo Thunder and her entourage.
Talent was spilling out from the very beginning of the evening, which kicked off with Kijafa, one of Margo’s backup vocalists, warming up the crowd, performing “What’s Going On” as well as two of her own songs, “They Don’t Know” and “Watch Out.” She also performed Mary J. Blige’s “Be Happy” and the Debarge’s, “All This Love” and “A Dream.” Although the band was a tad loud for her voice, she did an admirable job. Speaking of talent, the MC did a rendition of Bobby Caldwell’s, “What You Won’t Do for Love,” that I REALLY enjoyed. What a powerful voice. Former KACE FM radio DJ Kevin Fleming introduced Margo and that is when the party officially began.
Margo started with The Gap Band’s, “Outstanding” and then moved on to Jill Scott’s, “Is it the Way You Love Me” as she asked the women in the audience what it was about their man they loved. Is it the way he loves you? Let us just say that was a hot and sensuous moment. She moved on to Diana Ross’, “Love Hangover” and then Marvin Gaye’s, “Let’s Get it On,” which was very interactive, as she walked through the audience. Speaking of audience, Margo knows how to work an audience. She has a very good connection and not only knows how to draw them in and engage them, but also keep them engaged. She did a very good cover of her mentor, Betty Wright’s, “Clean Up Woman.” I have never attended a show that primarily consisted of cover songs, but I enjoyed Margo’s performance. She can cover a song like no other.
Margo mentioned there were five women who inspired her in life: her mother, the late Aretha Franklin, Betty Wright, her manager, Belinda Wilson and herself. Being self-inspired is never a bad thing and sometimes it is all you will have and need.
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True to what Margo promised during our recent phone interview, she took us through a journey of her music through the 70s, 80s and 90s. What?! You didn’t realize she has been around since the 70s? Yep. She has been around for a minute and had hits in each of the three decades (70s, 80s and 90s.). She performed her first hit, from the 70s, “Expressway to Your Heart” and then moved into the 80s, when she was a member of the female trio, 9.9 and had the hit, “All of Me for All of You.” She finished her musical journey with a song from the 90s Sister Act movie soundtrack, “If My Sister’s in Trouble.” I was impressed, to say the least.
We were also treated to songs from Margo’s most recent album, “R&B 101.” Although my favorite song from the album is, “Mistreated,” there was a song about sleeping with someone’s man that included a skit between Margo and one of her background singers, that was pretty entertaining. You know, one of those, “I may have to take off my earrings” moments. LOL!
Margo performed a song she wrote on Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday earlier this year called, “Peace, Love and Hair Grease,” which was a tribute song to several R&B artists, many of whom are no longer with us. In the song, I heard mention of late greats like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross, as well as artists who are still with us, like Gladys Knight, Al Green, the O’Jays and Jill Scott.
Margo finished her set with “Feel the Fire” and it was HOT! So hot, in fact, the audience wanted more and more we got, with “Lady Marmalade,” with a rap component. The entire set was high impact, high energy, audience connection and strong vocals. You can tell she loves what she is doing and she is good at it. She said, as long as she has music and an audience, she would be okay, even though she mentioned a possible health challenge. Like Margo said, “God didn’t bring her this far…” If you have a chance, treat yourself to a Margo Thunder performance. I think you will enjoy it; I sure did.
Follow Margo via her Facebook page.
Marilyn Smith is a Los Angeles based writer/reviewer. Contact her via [email protected]
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