If there were one word to sum up the performances at the Bakewell Media “Sounds of the Soul” Stage, it would be, “legendary.” To be able to perform in front of thousands of people nearly fifty yeara after the release of your first single is nothing short of iconic. The Bakewell Media Stage presented by Chevrolet and hosted by 94.7 The Wave was the place where timeless talent resides as seen through exhilarating performances by Klymaxx, Troop, and Tony! Toni! Toné!
Originally founded in 1979, Klymaxx’s set seamlessly intertwined their hits including, “Meeting in the Ladies Room,” “Girls Will Be Girls,” and “Love Me,” with other empowering anthems including Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” and Teena Marie’s “Square Biz.”
Lead vocalist Christie “Mirraje” Malone captivated the crowd when she left the stage and performed while walking through the crowd. When asked about the importance of having such interactive experiences with their fans, Mirraje said, “It’s about being authentic and genuine with everything that we do. Every lyric that we sing, every piece of music that we play, is all genuine. It comes from the heart, and we want everyone else to love it as much as we do.”
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Echoing similar sentiments about their unwavering love for music was the group Troop. Renowned for their songs, “Spread My Wings,” and “All I Do Is Think of You,” the Pasedena natives shared their advice for aspiring artists. Member Rodney Benford said, “Not only is it a lot of work, there are a lot of things to understand. You can’t just say, ‘I want to be a star’ without learning your craft, learning the business, and being humble.”
Member Jon Jon Harreld added that in order to find continuous success in this industry, “It has to be the will of God for your life, any and everybody can’t do what we do. It’s not just that you have to be chosen, we all feel called to be able to do what we do.”
For 38 years, Tony! Toni! Toné! has entertained audiences and as headliners, they closed out the evening in a powerful way. This was the second time the group performed at Taste of Soul. Founding member Dwayne Wiggins remarked how the festival has grown since their last appearance and he also mentioned that being in L.A. reminds him of his hometown.
“As I was walking down Crenshaw Blvd. with the band I was like, ‘Man I feel like I’m in Oakland right now,’” Wiggins said.
“We heard how much the festival had expanded and we’re honored to be here. With all of this movement that our folks are making together, we’re always glad to be able to come out and be a part of something historic.”
Wiggins alongside Dyson “The Singer” Tate and Frank Stickemz wore white to honor the legacy of the late Frankie Beverly, who Wiggins cited as his inspiration to continue to perform for the rest of his life.
The group blessed the stage with many of their timeless hits including “Me & You,” “Anniversary,” “It Never Rains,” “Pillow,” “Let’s Get Down,” “Whatever You Want,” and concluded with “Feels Good” mixed with the Sly & The Family Stone “Dance to the Music” along with Dr. Dre and 2Pac’s “California Love.”
