By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — The innovative art and music organization MUSE/IQUE recently announced its 2024 season themed Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope, and is set to kick off with a three-day opener called Magic Hour in Los Angeles: America’s Cultural Renaissance of 1974.
It takes place March 15 at 7:30 p.m., March 16 at 2:30 p.m. and March 17 at 7:30 p.m., at the Mark Taper Forum at the Music Center, a first-time association with Center Theatre Group.
The latest offering from MUSE/IQUE, a yearlong concert series, is a new program that highlights 1974, the year that the City of Angels reportedly emerged as the epicenter of cultural innovation, igniting a renaissance in music, theater and film. Merging music, storytelling and performance, MUSE/IQUE will pay tribute to the ground-breaking works of American artists who dared conventions and reshaped societal norms.
The program for this concert series is inspired by the book “Rock Me on the Water,” by Ronald Brownstein, which examines how Los Angeles transformed movies, music, television, theatre and American life in the 1970s.
The book suggests that Los Angeles was at the forefront of a major cultural upheaval and social change driven by a younger generation demanding civil rights.
“We called this season ‘Make Some Noise’ because we want to make noise about the potential to return to a country full of hope and unity,” said Rachael Worby, MUSE/IQUE artistic and music director. “Every single concert this season focuses on moments when people came together and caused our country to move forward in ways we couldn’t imagine before.”
The Make Some Noise season reflects on these tumultuous times in American history through the music of Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Eagles, Bill Withers, Jerry Goldsmith, Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt and Marvin Gaye, as well as the movie themes from “The Godfather Part II,” “Chinatown,” “The Way We Were,” and more.
“When artists and thinkers make loud choices and take bold stances, they teach us that nothing is impossible,” Worby said. “Here in Los Angeles in 1974 there was remarkable creativity in film, television, and popular music that changed our country — and our program is a celebration of the people, the stories and the music that changed the culture.”
The lineup for “Magic Hour in Los Angeles” features vocalists LaVance Colley, Javier Almaráz, Rachel Gonzalez and the DC6 Singers Collective.
LaVance Colley, 40, a featured soloist in the show, has worked with many music A-listers including Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Pharrell and many more during his impressive music career.
Colley is set to sing several classics including Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” and a duet with Rachel Gonzalez on Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City.”
“I grew up listening to some of these songs,” said Colley, who was getting ready for rehearsals. “I love it when music is inspiring. This is going to be great.”
Colley is also singing “Movin’ On Up” from “The Jeffersons,” and another duet for the “All in the Family” theme song, “Those Were The Days.”
“I’m also going to sing the theme song from ‘Maude,’ but I’m not real familiar with that one,” said Colley, who tours internationally with the group Postmodern Jukebox.
Colley, whose entire family sings, began singing in the church as a little boy. His nickname was “Screamer,” because he was always hitting high notes around the house. It wasn’t long before the music industry took notice of his talent and his career quickly skyrocketed.
“I like it when music doesn’t feel like work,” said Colley, who studied music and communications at the Cal State San Bernardino. “I love music because I feel free. I feel joy. It’s a new challenge to inspire myself and others. With MUSE/IQUE, I get to do music I haven’t done before.”
Colley, who has written songs for TV and original films, said he is looking forward to the event.
“I’ve been involved with MUSE/IQUE since my friend, Sy Smith, asked me to get involved,” said Colley, who is working on an album set for release in October. “It’s a great program. I encourage everyone to check it out. It’s not just a concert. It’s a history lesson. That’s what makes the music stand out. You leave inspired and with knowledge. The stories Worby shares are inspiring.”
MUSE/IQUE aims to spotlight visionary artists who have shaped the cultural landscape of Los Angeles.
This season, the other concerts highlight the Las Vegas hotel The Moulin Rouge and how it broke the color line in 1955; how Ed Sullivan changed America every Sunday night; Bob Dylan going electric; “Oklahoma!” and the making of the modern musical; and about how Abraham Lincoln turned to music for hope.
MUSE/IQUE said the choice of the Mark Taper Forum as the venue for “Magic Hour in Los Angeles” is in recognition of its historical significance as a bastion of theatrical excellence. By celebrating the transformative power of the performing arts, MUSE/IQUE and Center Theatre Group, in partnership with the S. Mark Taper Foundation, aim to inspire audiences and foster a deeper appreciation for the cultural fabric of Los Angeles.
The Mark Taper Forum, is located at 135 N. Grand Ave., in downtown Los Angeles. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.muse-ique.com/magichourinla.
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
