Program features hit songs by The Moody Blues including "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Go Now," and "Isn't Life Strange."
Tickets on sale now at dso.org
Detroit, (January 11, 2024) – The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) will continue its PNC Pops Series at Orchestra Hall on February 3–4 with a program conducted by Michael Krajewski and featuring drummer Gordy Marshall and vocalist Mick Wilson.
The program will include hit songs by The Moody Blues, a band labeled as “the Sistine Chapel of popular music” by Rolling Stone, including "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Go Now," and "Isn't Life Strange." Artists featured on this program include drummer Gordy Marshall, who toured with The Moody Blues for 25 years, and former 10cc vocalist Mick Wilson. Their collaboration led to the development of GO NOW!, a cover band that performs music of The Moody Blues.
GO NOW! The Music of The Moody Blues will take place on Saturday, February 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m. at Orchestra Hall.
Tickets for these performances start at $35 and can be purchased at dso.org or by calling the Box Office at 313.576.5111, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The title sponsor of the DSO’s PNC Pops Series is PNC Bank.
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GO NOW! THE MUSIC OF THE MOODY BLUES
PNC Pops Series
Saturday, February 3 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 4 at 3 p.m.
Orchestra Hall
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Gordy Marshall, drums
Mick Wilson, vocals
The Moody Blues, "the Sistine Chapel of popular music" (Rolling Stone), built a career out of pristine hits. Drummer Gordy Marshall, who toured with band for 25 years, and Mick Wilson, former lead singer of fellow English band 10cc, join the DSO for a tribute to pop music perfection, including jewels such as "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Go Now," and "Isn't Life Strange."
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About Michael Krajewski
Known for his entertaining programs and engaging personality, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after pops conductor in the US, Canada, and abroad.
His 20-year relationship with the Houston Symphony included serving as their Principal Pops Conductor for 17 years. He also served as the Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach Symphony for 11 years, the Principal Pops Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony for eight years, Music Director of the Philly Pops for six years, and the Principal Pops Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony for 25 years.
Krajewski’s busy schedule as a guest conductor includes concerts with major and regional orchestras across the United States. In Canada, he has appeared with the orchestras of Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Overseas, he has performed in Ireland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Malaysia, and China.
Krajewski has conducted concerts featuring notable musicians and entertainers from many diverse styles of music. He has worked with classical luminaries such as vocalist Marilyn Horne, flutist James Galway, pianist Alicia de Larrocha, and guitarists Pepe and Angel Romero.
In the genre of popular music, he has performed with Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainright, Jason Alexander, Patti Austin, Sandi Patty, Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Doc Severinsen, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Chieftains, Chicago, Pink Martini, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Krajewski studied music education at Wayne State University and conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He was an Antal Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and subsequently served as the DSO’s Assistant Conductor for four years. Krajewski now lives in Florida with his wife Darcy. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and solving crossword puzzles.
About Gordy Marshall
Drummer Gordy Marshall toured the world with The Moody Blues for 25 years. For six of those years, he also toured with Justin Hayward on the arena tours of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds.
Marshall currently serves as CEO of Legend Of A Band Productions Ltd., a production company that produces The British Carpenters tribute show, which tours across the UK.
In 2015, Marshall created the band GO NOW!, which performs the music of The Moody Blues worldwide—including a full orchestral show—as a tribute to the band he worked with for so long. It features Mick Wilson from 10cc along with other world-class musicians and singers. In 2022, they performed 3 separate tours in the US, which included orchestral shows with the Omaha Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, and three concerts with The Philly POPS. Marshall has also performed with both Justin Hayward and John Lodge for their solo tours and albums.
As a session musician, Marshall has performed with artists including Sir Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), Joss Stone, Gary Barlow, Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), Mike Batt, Katie Melua, Chris Spedding, Herbie Flowers, Level 42’s Mike Lindup, Chris Thompson, Russell Watson, Jason Donovan, David Essex, and Asia’s John Payne.
In 2012, Splendid Books published Marshall’s first travel book, Postcards from a Rock & Roll Tour. Sections of the audio book have been serialized on BBC Radio. It is available on Audible and Amazon. In 2022, a podcast series, Postcards from a Rock & Roll Tour—From Rockstar to Uber Driver and Back was launched as a follow-up to Marshall's book. His podcast is available on most major platforms including Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Podcasts.
In addition to his pop and rock work, Marshall has been involved in many of London's West End musicals including Fame, Grease, We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia!, Rent, Whistle Down the Wind, Thriller Live!, Wicked, and Hamilton.
Marshall lives in London with his wife and two daughters.
About Mick Wilson
Mick Wilson’s love for music started at age seven when his parents bought him a guitar for Christmas in 1969. Far from being the five-minute wonder that was anticipated, it started a lifelong passion for pop music that is just as strong today as it was then. Wilson still owns his first guitar, which can be seen at the back of the CD booklet on his new album, So The Story Goes.
Turning to the bass guitar and teaming up with his elder brother Dave, the pair formed a band called Flame that played locally around their hometown of Barking in Essex. This eventually led to a meeting with Alan Blakely from The Tremeloes, who was looking for a band to produce. Wilson’s first taste of a real studio was at the age of 14 when he recorded the lead vocals to the band’s first single—a cover of Frankie Lymon’s “A Teenager in Love.”
For the next few years, the band released more Blakely-produced material, appearing live and on TV shows in the UK and across Europe, culminating in a record deal with EMI (recording the single at the famous Abbey Road Studio 2) and supporting stable-mates The Rubettes on a European stadium tour in the late ‘70s.
Education called and Wilson decided to concentrate on schoolwork until he was asked if he wanted to tour Germany playing bass. Leaving 3 A-Levels behind, he celebrated his 18th birthday in Berlin and realized that this is where his heart lay.
The ‘80s saw Wilson learning his craft and playing in various bands in and around London, eventually putting down the bass and performing and recording just as a vocalist. Wilson’s love of songwriting and producing led to him securing a publishing deal with Jobete Music (the publishing arm of Motown Records) in 1986. The following year on a writing trip to New York, he was approached to sign a deal with Virgin Music in Los Angeles.
Since then, Wilson has performed and recorded with artists including Lionel Ritchie, Alice Cooper, Kylie Minogue, Alison Moyet, Chris Rea, Donny Osmond, Robin Gibb, Westlife, Cliff Richard, Cher, Lulu, and the K.L.F. He is also a regular member of The SAS Band, which plays all over the world with guest artists including Brian May, Roger Taylor, Roger Daltrey, Paul Young, Kiki Dee, and Tony Hadley.
Wilson also serves as lead vocalist of Three Friends, playing the music of Gentle Giant and featuring two members of the original line-up—Gary Green and Malcolm Mortimore.
Alongside live performances, Wilson has had his own recording and production facility for over 20 years, which has been the base for a varied career as a producer and songwriter, as well as composing music for television and live events for companies such as Sky, BBC, ITV, Marks & Spencer, McDonalds, B.T., Levi’s, Toyota, Mercedes, Ford, Reebok, and Mitsubishi.
Since joining Graham Gouldman for an acoustic set at the Green Room in London’s Café Royal over 10 years ago, Wilson has become a regular in the latest incarnation of 10cc, taking on lead vocal duties and playing percussion, guitar, and keyboards. Wilson and Gouldman have also performed acoustic sets at numerous charity events including the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Wilson continues to be in demand as a session vocalist in and around London, where he is based. He most recently featured as one of the guest vocalists on a series of concerts across Spain with a 40-piece symphony orchestra and rock band playing the music of Queen.
About the DSO
The acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep connection to its city. Led by Music Director Jader Bignamini since 2020, the DSO makes its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, offering a performance schedule that features the PVS Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. In addition, the DSO presents the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in metro area venues, as well as eclectic multi-genre performances in its mid-size venue The Cube, constructed and curated with support from Peter D. & Julie F. Cummings. A dedication to broadcast innovation began in 1922, when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a live radio broadcast of a concert and continues today with the groundbreaking Live from Orchestra Hall series of free webcasts.
Since its first school concerts a century ago, and particularly since the founding of the Civic Youth Ensembles in 1970, the DSO has been a national leader in bringing the benefits of music education to students, teachers, and families in Detroit and surrounding communities. The DSO remains committed to expanding its participation in the growth and well-being of Detroit through programs like its Detroit Neighborhood Initiative—cultural events co-created with community partners and residents—and Detroit Harmony, a promise to provide an instrument and instruction to any student in the city who wants to learn. With unwavering support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to impact lives through the power of unforgettable musical experiences.