USA-STEVIE WONDER Stevie Wonder gives free pop-up concert in Washington

Record ID: 143227

  • Title: USA-STEVIE WONDER Stevie Wonder gives free pop-up concert in Washington
  • Date: 17th August 2015
  • Summary: GUITARIST
  • Embargoed: 1st September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9MMOLO9342I94T95R04HVASVC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Legendary musician Stevie Wonder gave fans a thrill on Monday (August 17) with a free pop-up concert in Washington, D.C..
    Singing hit songs, such as "Sir Duke" and "I wish", Wonder launched the event to promote the fall leg of his "Songs in the Key of Life" performance tour.
    "I've decided that I'm going to do twenty more dates in the United States," he told the enthusiastic crowd, after thanking them for their support.
    Hundreds of people showed up for the outdoor performance, held at the city's Armory Mall.
    "I was on my way to work, and I was listening to 102.3 (a radio station) and they said that Stevie Wonder was going to be here, free concert starting 10 o'clock. I called in late and here I am," said local resident, Nathan Spruill.
    Another concert-goer brought along her young daughter to the show, saying they both shared a love for his music.
    "He's cross-generational. I mean, my seven-year-old knows who Stevie Wonder is. She likes singing his songs," said Denise Krepp.
    "He's a wonderful man and he's a role model."
    Local resident Charlene Brown, also among the attendees, added that the diverse crowd could be attributed to the fact that Stevie Wonder's music has a "message for old, young, all ages, all nationalities."
    One of the organizers with Events DC, which threw the concert, joked "it was magic" that helped them pull it off.
    "We got a call from the promoter and said, 'yeah, if there's a will there's a way and we have a will and let's get it done'. So we basically put this together in 48 hours," said Erik Moses, senior vice president and managing director of the organization.
    Concert-goers grooved to Stevie Wonder's music for about an hour before the celebrated singer took a final bow.
    He is reportedly slated to give similar pop-up performances later in the day in Philadelphia and New York.
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