NSO: What's Going On NOW | A Tribute to Marvin Gaye

• Steven Reineke, conductor
• Michelle Williams, voice
• Joshua Henry, voice
• Cory Henry, voice
• Luke James, voice
• Emily King

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye's seminal album What's Going On, the NSO presents a star-studded concert featuring the Prince of Motown's greatest hits performed by some of today’s finest artists: Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and former member of Destiny's Child Michelle Williams, three-time Tony and Grammy-nominated Broadway star Joshua Henry, internationally renowned artist and former member of Snarky Puppy Cory Henry, three-time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Luke James, and Grammy-nominated pop/soul star Emily King!

The concert will also feature the talented poets and writers from Washington, D.C organizations 826DC, Shout Mouse Press, and Words, Beats & Life.

Marvin Gaye was one of the most revolutionary soul singer-songwriters of the 20th Century. He performed countless popular soul classics for Motown records and produced deeply sensitive music that still resonates today.

The D.C.-born superstar hardly ever performed What's Going On in its entirety, but one legendary exception was right here at the Kennedy Center on May 1, 1972—hailed now as a historic concert event. Across the country, May 1st is designated "Marvin Gaye Day." Relive the magic at this celebration of his unmatched music and legacy.

This program will receive 2 performances: Friday, June 16; and Saturday, June 17.

Before Saturday's performance, join us on the Millennium Stage for "What’s Going On Now: The Next Generation Speaks" featuring poets and writers from Washington, D.C organizations 826DC, Shout Mouse Press, and Words, Beats & Life.

About National Symphony Orchestra

https://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/home/

About Steven Reineke, conductor

https://houstonsymphony.org/about-us/conductor/steven-reineke/

About Michelle Williams, voice

Michelle Williams is a Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, and author. In the 2000s, she rose to fame as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling female groups of all time.

About Joshua Henry, voice

Joshua Henry is a Grammy Award-winning performer and recording artist best known for his Tony-nominated leading roles in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, and Violet, as well as for his show-stopping performance as Aaron Burr in the cultural phenomenon Hamilton. In December 2022, Joshua gave a critically acclaimed performance as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration (EP: Jon Chu) live on ABC. Joshua's debut album GROW is available worldwide on all streaming platforms, and his highly anticipated second studio album is set for release in spring 2023. He is a BMG recording artist and recently opened for Diana Ross at The Hollywood Bowl. On screen he starred as Roger Bart in the Academy Award-nominated film tick, tick…BOOM! directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. He also starred as Jerlamarel opposite Jason Momoa in two seasons of Apple TV+'s SEE. Most recently, Joshua starred in the Broadway revival of Into The Woods, for which he won a Grammy Award for his performance as a principal vocalist on the 2022 Broadway revival cast recording. His other Broadway credits include In the Heights, Waitress, Shuffle Along, American Idiot, Porgy and Bess, Bring It On: The Musical. Off-Broadway: In the Heights, The Wrong Man.

About Cory Henry, voice

Cory Henry is a Grammy Award-winning artist, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, keyboard master, and the future of music. In 2022, Cory was nominated for a Grammy as a producer on Eric Bellinger's New Light, and his album Something to Say was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album. The same year, he won the Latin Grammy for Album of the Year for his work on Rosalía's album Motomami.

About Luke James, voice

Luke James is a three-time Grammy-nominated artist who has starred in hit TV shows and critically acclaimed films, released #1 albums, and toured with major music superstars. He starred in the Showtime drama series The Chi, joining in season three and promoted to a series regular due to his captivating performance as Victor "Trig" Taylor, Jake's estranged older brother. Luke has also appeared in stage productions, including starring Keenan Scott II's Thoughts of a Colored Man, which opened at Broadway's Golden Theatre in 2021.

About Emily King

As one of the industry's most essential singer-songwriters, Emily King has a near-magical gift for digging into life's deepest sorrows and uncovering unexpected beauty and illuminating truth. Since the arrival of her Grammy Award-nominated full-length debut East Side Story, the New York City-bred artist has brought ever-evolving levels of depth and nuance to her songwriting, rooting each revelation in her mesmerizing blend of soul and R&B and forward-thinking pop.