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Anyone having fond memories of the disco era will recall Thelma Houston’s classic anthem “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” which became a massive international hit. Winning the Best Female R&B Performance Grammy in 1977, she had the distinction of becoming the first female solo artist at Motown to win the coveted award.
“I knew it would be a great song to dance to,” Houston says. “I would go to clubs and I knew how DJs would be able to work with it. But I had no idea it would be a great commercial success, nor any idea that I would get a Grammy.”
Over the years, the song has appeared in numerous dance compilations. As a queen of disco, she sang the opening “Last Dance” last year on the “Disco Tribute to Donna Summer” CD.
Houston is coming to Maui to perform a “Seasonal Celebration Concert” at the Maui Theater in Lahaina on Dec. 13.
“It will be my regular show with a Motown medley of hits and a Christmas song or two,” she says.
Born in Mississippi, Houston started out in the 1960s performing gospel music with the Art Reynolds Singers. Pioneers in the development of gospel rock, they recorded “Jesus is Just Alright,” which later became a hit for the Doobie Brothers.
As a solo artist, in 1969, Houston released her critically acclaimed debut album “Sunshower.” Arranged and produced by music legend Jimmy Webb, it included a fiery version of the Rolling Stones’ “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”
“I get a lot of comments about it,” she says. “Jimmy Webb loved that song and wanted me to do it. I loved the Rolling Stones, but I didn’t connect myself to rock ‘n’ roll. I always get requests for it in my shows.”
Later signed to Motown Records, she recorded a third album for the label, which featured the hit that topped the pop, R&B and dance charts in 1977. A year later, she scored further success with the inclusion of her track “Love Masterpiece” on the double-platinum-selling “Thank God It’s Friday” soundtrack album.
In the ’80s, she began to appear in several TV shows, sang Bill Withers’ classic “Lean on Me” in the hit movie of the same name, and performed a great version of Question Mark & the Mysterians’ ’60s hit “96 Tears” on her album “Never Gonna Be Another One.”
In 1994, Houston participated in an AIDS benefit in New York, performing her gospel music with Mavis Staples, Phoebe Snow, Chaka Khan and CeCe Peniston as the group Sisters of Glory.
A version of the Sisters later performed at Woodstock ’94 and for the pope in Rome, and released an acclaimed album of which Entertainment Weekly hailed as a “funky, inspiring tour de force of classic black gospel.”
Going into the 21st century, Houston joined Aretha Franklin and Mary Wilson on the PBS special “Love, Rhythm and Soul.” She sang with Cher on her Living Proof tour, and headlined an inauguration dinner for President Barack Obama.
In 2007, she released the terrific CD “A Woman’s Touch.” Her first album in 17 years, it included inspired covers of such gems as Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” Sting’s “Brand New Day,” and Al Green’s “Love and Happiness.” Houston doesn’t just cover these favorites, she makes them her own.
“I started picking out songs I liked,” she explains. “People asked why did I just do all male artists? Any song by females that l love, to me they’ve done it, it would have been redundant to redo a song that was a hit for Aretha Franklin. It was easier to have a different interpretation of male singers.”
A Pop Matters review of a “A Woman’s Touch” praised, “Her voice is truly a heaven sent force that’s been missing for far too long. Make no mistake, Thelma Houston can out-sing the majority of singers who were born during her 17-year respite.”
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It’s almost Christmas, which means it’s time to see Willie K celebrate the season, joined by comedian Rodney Villanueva performing at the King Kamehameha Golf Club’s Waikapu Ballroom on Dec. 11.
“I’m going to be doing an ‘Oh Holy Night’ special with Rodney Villanueva doing stand-up comedy at the Marilyn Monroe room,” says Willie. “It’s going to be fun. No props, we’re just going to let the talent take over.”
* Willie K’s early show is at 11 a.m. and includes a lunch buffet. Tickets start at $65, with VIP seating available. The evening show at 6:30 includes a dinner buffet. Tickets start at $75, with VIP seats available. Contact Lyn at: MauiTribeEvents@gmail.com, or call 244-0799.
The Maui Pops Orchestra will present a “Holiday Pops!” concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in Castle Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, featuring the Maui Pops Chorus and guest singer Doug LaBrecque, who has been a a soloist with some of the world’s finest symphony orchestras and has had leading roles in many Broadway shows.
* Tickets are $15, $30, $40 and $50, and half-price for students 18 and younger for the $30- $50 seats (plus fees). Call 242-7469.
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The Reggae on the Rock Festival on Friday at Mulligans on the Blue and Saturday at Lulu’s Lahaina Surf Club & Grill features West Coast reggae band Fortunate Youth, New York’s New Kingston and the Big island’s The Steppas joining Maui’s Inna Vision.
Fortunate Youth comprises six musicians from various reggae bands playing Los Angeles’ South Bay. Last year, their album “It’s All a Jam” reached No. 1 on both Billboard’s and iTunes reggae charts. They’ve opened for Toots & The Maytals, The Wailers and Groundation.
Based in Brooklyn, N.Y., New Kingston is comprised of three brothers, who create what they call “Reggae Crossover,” blending reggae, R&B, pop, jazz and hip-hop. In January they will release the album “Kingston City,” featuring guests The Wailing Souls, Sugar Minott and Hawaii’s Kimie.
*Reggae on the Rock on Friday at Mulligans on the Blue also features special guests Kanoa from Gomega and MC DJ Irie Dole. Saturday at Lulu’s Lahaina MC Kamikaze and DJ Big Mike will be featured. Doors for both shows open at 6 p.m. Presale tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. Tickets are available at Aloha Discount Liquor in Kihei, YNVU Clothing in the Maui Mall, Westside Vibes in Lahaina, and Mulligans and Lulus Lahaina.
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The First Sunday music series continues at Hula Grill Kaanapali with Grammy winner Sonny Lim performing for free from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The acclaimed Hawaiian musician contributed to the Grammy Award-winning anthology “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2,” and his solo debut album, “Slack Key Guitar: The Artistry of Sonny Lim,” was nominated for a Grammy.
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At the Four Seasons Resort Maui’s third annual Vintage Wine Weekend in Wailea, you may listen to performances by innovative Hawaiian musician Makana Friday at the Ocean Front Gala, and violin virtuoso Elizabeth Pitcairn at the epic Red Violin winemaker dinner on Sunday.
Earlier this year, Makana made his Australia and New Zealand debut at the WOMAD world music festivals. He just completed a new double CD, “25,” recorded live in the studio with no overdubs, featuring Hawaiian and contemporary songs (including the powerful, original blues “Sexy Lady” which he might release as a single).
“It’s a double album of 25 songs,” Makana reports. “The first disc, subtitled ‘Raw,’ is my singer songwriter material, and the second disc, ‘Root,’ is a collection of slack key and Hawaiian songs, and a Robert Johnson classic. All root guitar styles.” It’s currently only available at his live performances.
Celebrated American violinist Pitcairn will perform on the famed Red Violin, crafted by Antonio Stradivarius. Pitcairn’s grandfather purchased the instrument at auction in 1990 and the piece inspired the award-winning 1998 movie “The Red Violin.”
* For tickets, call Four Seasons at 874-2201.
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Makana will also perform at the Andaz Maui in Wailea at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Tickets are $25 per person. Call 1-888-WORTHSHOP.