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In the court of R&B royalty with Chaka, Patti, Gladys and Stephanie

BBG News

Near the end of an evening ruled by queens, a king was keeping Chaka Khan waiting.

Khan declared on Sunday night at Inglewood’s Kia Forum that Stevie Wonder was present, but she wasn’t sure where exactly,” she said, standing in the limelight. “I can’t seem to find him though.” The seasoned soul-music artist made her way towards the stage edge, the black fringes of her sequined cape moving with each stride, and scanned the crowd. “Steve, are you hiding among them?

Khan was performing as the closing act on Sunday of “The Queens,” a traveling R&B show that kicked off last week in Las Vegas and runs through the fall with Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills. It must have been fascinating to witness the discussion about who would perform last. Khan started off with an energetic rendition of “I Feel for You,” followed by smooth performances of “Do You Love What You Feel” and “What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me.” However, her expected guest was nowhere in sight.

She repeated, “Stevie Wonder!” in an effort to bring him onto the stage. “We’ve known each other for quite some time,” she reminisced. “I recall we embarked on a tour together, that must have been in the ’70s or ’80s, it’s been such a long time. We were on tour for almost two years straight.” Khan continued to share a story about an old record deal before seemingly deciding it was best not to continue. “Call him,” she urged the audience, who began chanting “Stevie, Stevie!

The voice finally resonated through the speakers, asking, “What’s going on?” It was none other than Wonder, stepping out from behind the curtains, sporting his classic sunglasses and beret. But it seemed like he wasn’t quite sure about the purpose of his appearance here. Khan had arranged for a repeat performance of “I Feel for You,” given that Wonder played harmonica on the 1984 recording. However, it appeared that Wonder hadn’t received that message yet: Instead, after exchanging a friendly handshake with Khan, he began sharing the tale of composing “Tell Me Something Good” a decade prior, which led Khan to signal her backup band for that song instead.

Wow, such an impressive figure it was. That smooth, undulating melody line, even now, remains a testament to rhythmic creativity, prompting Khan and Wonder to improvise with their skilled finesse, much like true masters.

Attending concerts like “The Queens” is particularly appealing due to the rich expertise of the performers. For instance, Mills was the youngest at 68, while LaBelle was the oldest at 80. Instead of shielding them from surprises, their extensive experience ensures that any unforeseen events can be handled effortlessly and gracefully.

On Sunday, Mills ascended the stage and encountered an unpleasant chill – “I wish they would turn off that draft,” she remarked, “it’s freezing me” – but persevered and belted out an amazing rendition of “Home” from “The Wiz.” Labelle requested volunteers from the audience, specifying that all were welcome regardless of race or sexual orientation. She then oversaw an unscheduled variety show as each man performed a segment of “Lady Marmalade.” Lastly, Knight’s assistant appeared to step in slightly prematurely to escort her offstage following “Midnight Train to Georgia.” It wasn’t a problem: He could simply stand nearby holding her arm tenderly for a moment while she exchanged “I have to go” remarks with her backup singers.

One more reason to visit “The Queens” on Mother’s Day is to witness the elegant attire both onstage and among the audience. Knight donned a sharp red pantsuit adorned with glittering, figure-eight earrings, while Mills chose an off-the-shoulder mermaid gown. Patti LaBelle switched between two outfits, initially appearing in a silky blue suit before transitioning into a long tunic-style dress. During “On My Own,” she tossed off her heels, sending them flying across the stage; later, she misted herself with perfume and generously shared it with the front row as well.

7 p.m. sharp on Sunday, the three-hour program titled ‘Knight’ kicked off. The show was brisk, with a revolving stage that sparked into action after each artist’s performance. Needless to say, the audience didn’t linger, only demanding popular tunes. The musical experience lay in the intricate details of these well-known songs: Knight’s humorous “ha-ha-ha” added to “That’s What Friends Are For”, Patti LaBelle’s playful vocal runs in “When You Talk About Love”, and Sheila Khan’s unique phrasing in “Through the Fire”, where she slowed down when you expected speed, and vice versa. (It’s important to note that Khan was undoubtedly the standout singer of the night.)

Following the emotional peak of “I’m Every Woman” that left the Mother’s Day audience standing, it was Khan’s 91-year-old mother who was somewhere in the crowd. As she prepared to leave, her band unexpectedly played the pulsating synthesizer riff from “Ain’t Nobody.

“Oh, one more?” she said to no one in particular. “S—. One more!”

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2025-05-13 01:01

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