Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr. add Beatles hits to Sunday show at St. Charles' Arcada
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. have performed many shows in Chicago over the years - both as a duo and with The Fifth Dimension - at places such as the now-defunct Mill Run theater in Niles, The College Inn in Chicago's Sherman Hotel and the auditorium theater during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
"We go way, way back," Davis said, laughing.
When they return to the area Sunday, May 15, for an afternoon show at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, they'll do a concert that's different from anything they've done in the past.
Of course, the Grammy-winning husband-and-wife duo will sing their hits from the 1960s and '70s, including "You Don't Have to Be A Star," "Up, Up and Away" and "Wedding Bell Blues." But in this show, they will weave their songs into a story about their lives, their careers and their 46-year marriage (they'll celebrate number 47 in July). They'll also add an extensive medley of music from a band they love - The Beatles. The set list includes "Get Back," "Ticket to Ride" and others.
Why The Beatles?
"It just seemed like a good thing to do and a natural thing to do. The Beatles are part of our history, really ... their music and lyrics are so profound," McCoo said. "They used to compare us to The Beatles, as we were both coming up the charts at the same time together."
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," one of McCoo's favorite albums, came out in 1967, just as McCoo and Davis earned their first of seven Grammy Awards, that one for the hit "Up, Up and Away" with The Fifth Dimension.
After several more hits, including "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and "One Less Bell to Answer," McCoo and Davis left the band in 1975 and branched out on their own. They scored a No. 1 hit with "You Don't Have to Be a Star," which led to more hits and albums, their own TV show, McCoo's hosting gig on "Solid Gold" through much of the 1980s, theater and movie roles, and their 2004 book, "Up, Up and Away: How We Found Love, Faith, and Lasting Marriage in the Entertainment World." Billboard magazine dubbed them "The First Couple of Pop and Soul."
They've performed for dignitaries ranging from President Richard Nixon to Pope John Paul II, the latter of which is one of their most memorable shows. Afterward, they knelt before the pope, who blessed them and gave them beautiful rosaries, which they still have today.
"We didn't sing 'Up, Up and Away' for the pope, though," McCoo said.
"And we didn't sing no blues either," Davis added, laughing. "We were as spiritual as we could be."
Both in their 70s now, McCoo and Davis continue to tour the U.S. and have no plans to retire anytime soon.
"You retire when you're tired of what you do. But we love doing what we do. Billy and I love to perform together. God has blessed us with voices that can still be strong, and we can still hit the notes. When we start having teleprompters and things, we might reconsider," McCoo said.
The couple lives in Los Angeles and listens to many new artists, including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, John Legend and Adele, saying they're in awe of their talent. While their St. Charles show will feature oldies, it will incorporate modern-day messages, McCoo said.
"It's a wonderful show of our music and the music from our era," McCoo said. "But we watch what's going on in our world today. If younger people decide to come and see what we're doing, they'll be able to relate. The things we're talking about, and the concerns we share, they're going to find there's a connection there."
"And we're not singing for the pope this time," Davis said, "so they will be hearing some blues."
“Up, Up and Away”
What: A musical fable, starring legends Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., including their hits, and a tribute to The Beatles
When: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15
Where: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles,
arcadalive.com or (630) 962-7000
Tickets: $39-$89