Closing Concert 2018 Worldwide Convention

EVI Official Booking Agency David Foster.

Rehearsals are completed…the arena stands quiet. A who’s who of industry giants put the finishing touches on a magnificent environment of concert lighting, scenic imagery and sound. The Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida has been transformed from a cavernous hangar into a glorious theatrical setting. Tonight, it’s a magical stage for one of the world’s top corporate events…the Closing Concert for the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention. 

With doors set to open, 16,000 owners and operators from 120 countries have gathered in anticipation. David Foster and EVI are at the producing controls, and the group realizes from past experience that something special is about to happen.

On the other side of the curtain, another group waits in the wings…an assembly of performing artists representing the best in the world from a variety of musical genres. 

Smiling as always, Steven Tyler, fresh off of a nearby theme park coaster ride, is relaxed and ready to go. Katy Perry enjoys a Chicken McNugget and improvises her own McDonald’s jingle and story that she’ll soon share with the audience. Foster makes his backstage rounds, wrapping the troupe into his world of charismatic energy and passion that have helped make him a legendary force in music. 

Out front, the house quickly fills, and Executive Producer Michael Marto orchestrates the team to positions.  And then…it’s show time! Out of the quiet, two beautiful musicians take the stage, violinist Caroline Campbell and cellist Tina Guo, setting the arena ablaze with a virtuoso performance of Hans Zimmer’s “Wonder Woman”. The night is off and rolling in a big way.

As the smoke clears, it’s a grand entrance for the maestro himself. David Foster, a longtime McDonald’s friend of 30 years, enters the stage to an enthusiastic and heartfelt reception. For the first part of the show, Foster has arranged a custom mix of his greatest hits, spanning four decades as an iconic hit maker. From his Yamaha concert grand at center stage, he directs a medley of his acclaimed work with Celine Dion, performed tonight by the richly-voiced Pia Tuscano. Tuscano was pronounced by Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as one of the greatest voices ever to appear on American Idol. Foster is in complete accord, and has recruited her as a fulltime collaborator on his own concert tour.

Another mainstay in the Foster ensemble is the vocalist, songwriter, producer Shelea. With a dynamic vocal range and sparkling personality, Shelea delivers a beautifully exquisite and soulful set of Foster’s Grammy-winning work from “The Bodyguard” with Whitney Houston. These are songs the audience knows by heart, and they voluntarily join-in to the delight of the performers.

One of Foster’s favorite moments as an artist is his work with the group Chicago. He and Chicago front man Peter Cetera composed some of the best-selling records of all time, including “You’re the Inspiration” from “Chicago 17” and “Glory of Love” from “The Karate Kid”. To the joyous delight of the crowd, Foster and Cetera reunite for a rare and highly polished performance of their pop classics.  

Seguing from a legend like Cetera to an up and coming artist ignites a passion in Foster. He always has a surprise performer in the works and tonight is no exception. Adding to the eclectic mix, he’s arranged for the 2017 winner of “The Voice”, Chloe, to take the stage for a rousing rendition of “Call Me”, the hit rocker from Blondie. 

Always up for some fun and mischievous audience interaction, Foster goes into the crowd between performers and gives several members of the McDonald’s team their chance to sing in the spotlight. This is a huge hit and stamps the evening in a highly personal way. 

The impromptu moment serves as the perfect bridge to the next part of the show, as a collective breath paves the way for the emotional explosion to these words…“Ladies and Gentlemen…Katy Perry!!!” As the Platinum selling and Grammy Winning artist strides onstage in a stunning blue-sequined body suit, the crowd surges forward, drawn-in by her magnetic presence.  A major gear shift has occurred as Perry launches into an hour-long performance of her top hits, her blue eyes piercing the night, the crowd hanging on every note. Ms. Perry is the full package as an artist, having written and produced all of her music as well. This is a woman at the pinnacle of the contemporary pop world, made even more relevant by her current role as a judge on American Idol. 

As the set unfolds, the energy that she and Foster have put into the arrangements and rehearsals is not lost on the perceptive audience.  This is a one-off performance of blockbuster songs that only they will experience. As a finishing touch, Perry engages even more deeply with personal and inspiring narratives that tie the music to their own lives, even creating a song on the fly with Foster’s band about her McDonald's experiences.

With Perry taking her bows and the crowd at a fever pitch, EVI and Foster could have called it a night…game, set and match. But this is a producing team famous for having more up their collective sleeves, and tonight is no exception. Time to pull the trigger on one of rock and roll’s greatest legends, and without delay, the creative juggernaut that is Steven Tyler literally takes over the arena. “Commanding” only begins to describe the effect Tyler has on an audience. His presence is otherworldly, and of course, his inventive brand of music has landed him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

There are many reasons that Steven Tyler is an EVI favorite, but, here is perhaps the most rewarding.  An artist of Tyler’s status could easily get away with a mail-in performance. But, spend five minutes with the man, and one quickly realizes that is not what Steven Tyler is about. This is a human being that puts every fiber of his being into every show. He loves being on stage…he loves the music. One senses that he appreciates the place of his music in history and insists on it being delivered to perfection. During rehearsals, he brings a level of passion, detail and a gentlemanly demeanor that are highly revealing of his success. His interaction with David and the David Foster band (the best studio musicians in the world), is a pleasure to observe. Tyler is a musician’s musician, and takes great satisfaction in tapping the talent on deck to arrange the great music of Aerosmith in a highly custom way for this show. 

Every facet of Tyler’s performance is in fine tune...the iconic vocals, the famous stage movement, the interaction with the audience and his fellow musicians. "Cryin’"..."Don’t Want to Miss a Thing"..."Sweet Emotion". It’s a super-size dose of Rock and Roll Nirvana that grows with every note. Tyler even takes over the piano for a unique version of "Dream On", calling on Caroline Campbell to play some wicked lead violin.

As If there were room to raise the show any higher, Tyler and Foster then hit the pocket with the closer of closers, "Walk This Way". Tyler jams the song with extended guitar and drum solos before belting the final verse. As the song crescendos...one by one...the entire cast joins the finale...Katy Perry, Peter Cetera, Pia Tuscano, Shelea and Chloe...surrounded by 16,000 of McDonald’s finest pressing the stage.

After two and a half hours, the full arc of a David Foster masterpiece comes to an end. Once again, the arena goes quiet, save the buzz of the lingering crowd...depleted, but eager to share their experiences with one another. Backstage...the artists and musicians gather and exchange greetings. They, too, thrive on this rare type of collaboration and revel with observations about the night’s performance.

For McDonald’s, David Foster and EVI, it’s another celebrated accomplishment in a thirty- year span of history-making performances together.

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