{"id":72728,"date":"2025-11-28T00:12:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T00:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/72728\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T00:12:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T00:12:08","slug":"iconic-voices-of-change-in-the-long-beach-symphony-pops-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/72728\/","title":{"rendered":"Iconic Voices of Change in the Long Beach Symphony POPS Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Long Beach Symphony POPS Series Iconic Voices of Change conductor Lucas Waldin with singers (L-R) Calli Graver, Ryan Shaw, Capathia Jenkins and Rajdulari. (Photo courtesy of Long Beach Symphony.)<\/p>\n

What makes a singer iconic in the world of music? Is it their unique sound, stage presence, signature phrasing, or riffs that immediately identify their voice? Perhaps it\u2019s a little bit of each one, and the fact their voice inspired change in the world of music.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Saturday, November 15, several Iconic Voices of Change were celebrated in the Long Beach Symphony POPS Series at the Long Beach Arena, conducted by Lucas Waldin with lead vocals by world-renowned singers Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw, with backup singers Calli Graver and Rajdulari. Their four outstanding voices along with the exquisite symphony orchestra turned the evening into a dance party featuring songs that brought back happy memories of more innocent times.<\/p>\n

The concert began with the symphony orchestra playing the \u201cIcon Overture\u201d which included songs \u201cAll Shook Up,\u201d \u201cRiver Deep-Mountain High,\u201d \u201cHey Jude,\u201d \u201cMan in the Mirror,\u201d and \u201cThen Came You\u201d sung by the evening\u2019s four incredible singers. And throughout the evening, videos of moments in history during which the songs were sung were shared on the large screens surrounding the stage.<\/p>\n

In the order presented, the evening\u2019s numbers included \u201cI Wanna Dance With Somebody\u201d recorded by American singer Whitney Houston, the leading single from her second album, Whitney (1987). With Jenkins\u2019 strong belting vocals and backup singers\u2019 perfect harmonies, the two dance floors at the sides of the stage were soon packed with audience members doing just that!<\/p>\n

Billy Joel\u2019s \u201cI\u2019m Moving Out (Anthony\u2019s Song)\u201d was written as\u00a0a critique of the American dream as pursued by the working and lower-middle class.\u00a0The song questions the worth of working long, hard hours just to gain material possessions to achieve the American Dream of owning your own home, which seems out of reach to many young people these days. Singer Ryan Shaw was featured with the backup vocalists.<\/p>\n

\u201cI Got You Babe\u201d was written by Sonny Bono and performed by Sonny & Cher who started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backup singers for record producer Phil Spector in their hometown of Los Angeles. The pair first achieved fame with this hit song in 1965. Performed by Jenkins and Shaw as the iconic duo.<\/p>\n

Conductor Waldin then spoke about the influence of The Beatles on not only the world of music but worldwide society in general, with the songs of Lennon & McCartney still being performed by many artists around the world. He encouraged the audience to sing along, which many did, as the orchestra played \u201cHey Jude.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The singers returned to the stage after changing costumes to perform \u201cYour Song\u201d written by British musician Elton John with lyricist Bernie Taupin, featuring Ryan Shaw with the backup singers. It was Elton\u2019s first international Top 10 hit which has been recorded by over 4,000 singers, qualifying it as iconic! Jenkins then launched into\u00a0the 1974 Patti LaBelle\u2019s classic \u201cLady Marmalade\u201d which really got the audience up on their feet dancing thanks to her incredible belting and backup singers\u2019 perfect harmonies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Next was Michael Jackson\u2019s \u201cMan in the Mirror\u201d which he produced with Quincy Jones, both iconic contributors in the music world. Ryan Shaw channeled the singer\u2019s energy and movements to perfection. Act 1 then ended with the iconic Aretha Franklin\u2019s classic \u201cRESPECT\u201d performed with great skill and enthusiasm by Jenkins, who I have seen previously performing an entire show as this singer \u2013 which she announced was the first time she met the night\u2019s other featured singer, Ryan Shaw, who accompanied her on the song along with the backup singers.<\/p>\n

Act 2 included \u201cI\u2019m Coming Out\u201d by Diana Ross, sung by Jenkins as authentically as the original. \u201cYou\u2019re All I Need to Get By\u201d was Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell\u2019s 1968 hit, performed by all 4 singers, as was \u201cThis Will Be (An Everlasting Love)\u201d by Natalie Cole. \u201cAll Shook Up\u201d by Elvis, which Shaw launched into as the King of Rock \u2018n Roll with hip swinging gusto! \u201cThe Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me\u201d by Gladys Knight and the Pips, was performed with great reverence by Jenkins. Next was \u201cSigned, Sealed, Delivered I\u2019m Yours\u201d by Stevie Wonder from 1970, sung by Shaw who admitted he has admired the iconic singer his entire life.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew York, New York\u201d was originally performed by Liza Minnelli as the title song from the 1977 film, which was just as popular when sung two years later by Frank Sinatra. It was played instrumentally by the outstanding orchestra, especially the horn section, to allow singers to change into purple costumes to perform \u201cI\u2019ll Never Love This Way Again\u201d by Dionne Warwick and \u201cPurple Rain\u201d by Prince, which inspired many audience members to sway with their cell phone flashlights on, a tradition whenever this song is performed in concert.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRiver Deep, Mountain High\u201d by Tina Turner featured belting performances and iconic dance moves performed by Jenkins and the backup singers. And \u201cAin\u2019t No Mountain High Enough\u201d by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell was performed as an encore, which included the full orchestra and four singers, to \u201cget everyone partying out of here!\u201d And it certainly did that!<\/p>\n

A great way to enjoy the unique vibe of Long Beach Symphony\u2019s Pops concerts is to book floor table seats and bring your own food and libations, or pre-order from pre-approved vendors for delivery to your table. Many even decorate tables to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and companies can hold staff parties, as the Long Beach Rotary did on the night I attended. Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking and you are encouraged to bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes. And two dance floors surround the stage so don\u2019t forget those dancing shoes!<\/p>\n

The Long Beach Symphony\u2019s POP Series continues with Endless Love: A Valentine\u2019s Concert on 2\/14\/26; Sounds of Laurel Canyon: 60s & 70s Rock Legends on 3\/21\/26; and the season-ending Earth, Wing & Fire Dance Party on 5\/9\/26. The Symphony\u2019s Classical series continues with Tchaikovsky & Strauss on 1\/31\/26; Pepe Romero Returns on 2\/28\/26; and Magnificent Mozart & Mahler on 6\/6\/26.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Long Beach Symphony tickets and more show information, or to purchase a series subscription which includes tickets to all performances in a series, visit https:\/\/longbeachsymphony.org<\/a> where you can also find a list of local restaurants from which you can order meals in advance to be delivered right to your table for POPS series concerts at the Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach. Enter the cost-per-car parking lot via Seaside Way. For special arrangements or questions, call the Box Office at (562) 436-3203 ext. 1. And remember, it\u2019s never too early to introduce your entire family to the glory of attending live music performances! Check the website for family-friendly events and concerts throughout the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Long Beach Symphony POPS Series Iconic Voices of Change conductor Lucas Waldin with singers (L-R) Calli Graver, Ryan…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":72729,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[131,133,132],"class_list":["post-72728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}