The mighty '80s R&B legends sure knew how to make us feel good with a concert full of soul and club classics, incredible dance moves and even a marriage proposal.
Carolyn Griffey, Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett's theme for the night was sharing the love as they raised their hands in a heart sign, thanking the crowd for over 40 years of loving their music.
The evening's festivities kicked off with two brilliant supporting acts who were also 80s favorites – soul singer Jaki Graham and Lauraine McIntosh of pop funk band The Cool Notes, famous for hits like In Your Car and Spend the Night .
Warming up the crowd before the main act, Jaki Graham proved that her powerful vocals have not diminished over time with stunning renditions of Set Me Free, Round and Around and Could it be I'm falling in Love.
The party was in full swing by the time Shalamar took the stage, opening with the title track from their top 10 Platinum album, Friends. This gem from the 80s produced four top 20 singles, which are now huge club classics and still loved by appreciative audiences, both original fans and a younger audience.
The crowd enjoyed the full album of songs, taking them back to their teenage bedrooms as they heard hits like There It Is, I Can Make You Feel Good and A Night to Remember, getting them dancing in the aisles.
Sharing notes of a different genre, the band flooded the audience with “Friends Dollars” as they performed their classic hit, Take That to the Bank, definitely friends with benefits!
Slowing down the tempo, Shalamar then treated the crowd to some soulful ballads which saw Howard serenade a grateful front row fan with I Just Stopped By Why I Had To.
The romance was further elevated with a live marriage proposal from two lovebirds in the audience during a cover of This is For the Lover in You, which celebrated the band and the crowd when they said 'I do!'
No concert at Shalamar would be complete without the flamboyant footwork of mobile legend Jeffrey Daniel, who wowed the crowd with his exploding body, moon and mesmerizing robotic dance routines. He is truly one of a kind, inspiring even Michael Jackson, who adopted Jeffrey's backswing as his trademark moonwalk.
The celebrations continued with a special tribute to Carolyn Griffey by Jeffrey and Howard, who sincerely thanked their partner for being the third longest serving member.
Mutual respect was also paid by enduring Shalamar duo Howard and Jeffrey, who reminisced about their long musical journey together, paying tribute to their loyal Friends fans who have had the pleasure of enjoying Shalamar's music for over four decades.
A night to remember; You can bet your “Friends Dollar” on it!
