In 1968, Motown R&B recording artist Marvin Gaye and singer, songwriter, and arranger Bobby Scott met at a recording studio in New York City to record a group of ballads that Marvin had previously asked Bobby Scott to arrange for him. The story goes that halfway through, Marvin abruptly stopped the recording session. According to David Ritz, the author of Marvin’s autobiography, Marvin himself said he stopped the session because although he felt the arrangements were beautiful, he also thought his vocals were not measuring up, and he froze, thinking the ballads would flop. However, later on, Marvin realized that at that time, he had more suffering to do before he could truly feel the emotions required to sing those songs.
Ten years later, after the divorce of his wife Anna and his blossoming love affair with his soon-to-be wife Janis, Marvin sang those Bobby Scott arrangements and packaged them in an album called “Ballads.” However, the record company rejected the album and didn’t release the songs until after his death. Marvin never performed the songs he and Bobby Scott collaborated on. That is, until now!
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Steward Family Foundation presents the “Jazz in My Soul-Marvin Gaye-Bobby Scott Collaboration,” a 9-piece band consisting of St. Louis’s most gifted musicians and singer Brian Owens as Marvin Gaye.
All proceeds go to “The Haven of Grace,” an organization serving pregnant and homeless women. Enjoy the concert and thank you for coming. The “Jazz in My Soul-Marvin Gaye-Bobby Scott Collaboration” is derived from the stage play “Jazz in My Soul-A Marvin Gaye Fantasy” by St. Louis playwright Edie Anderson (aka Your Lady Edie B.).

BRIAN OWENS as MARVIN GAYE

• Piano – Adaron “Pops” Jackson
• Trombone – Brett Stamps
• Drums – Demarius Hicks
• Trumpet – Danny Campbell
• Guitar – Eric Slaughter
• Tenor Sax-Harvey Lockhart
• Alto Sax – Jason Swagler
• Bass – Jeffrey Anderson
• Baritone Sax – Kwanae Johnson

Actor A.J.S.R  as Mickey Stevenson