Motown Musical History Comes to Life at Union Station Benefit Concert

In a night filled with Motown melodies and musical history, MUSE/ique’s muse Rachael Worby waxed poetic about the groundbreaking record label’s origins in Detroit, the MUSE/ique singers harmonized beautifully, Ellis Hall channeled Stevie Wonder, and Allison Iraheta of American Idol fame wowed the crowd with a surprise performance.

The concert, which was staged for An Evening for the Station, a benefit for Union Station Homeless Services, brought together a diverse crowd of music lovers and friends of Union Station at Pandora on Green in Pasadena.

Rachael Worby of MUSE/ique took the crowd on a walk down musical history lane, pausing at the often-ignored milestones and detours that were American race relations in the 1960s. She also drew parallels between the work she does with MUSE/ique and the work Union Station does to help people improve their lives.

“Union Station makes this city a better place,” said Rachael Worby. “They raise up the dignity and humanity of our community as a whole. As an orchestra founded on the idea of deriving inspiration and imagination from an enlivened civic landscape, we are deeply moved and inspired by their mission. It is an honor to partner with them for this event.”

Marv Gross, CEO of Union Station, had a few thoughts on the power of music.

“It’s thrilling to witness the way powerful music can bring people together in support of a great cause,” said Gross. “We’re tremendously grateful to Rachael Worby and MUSE/ique for their support of our work to help homeless folks rebuild their lives.”

Local L.A. artist Allison Iraheta, who skyrocketed to fame after attention-getting performances on season eight of American Idol, sang a heart-wrenching rendition of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” that changed the song from celebration of love to tortured lament.

Ellis Hall, formerly of Tower of Power, channeled Stevie Wonder at his best with his own, true-to-the-original version of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”

Union Station Homeless Services, now in its 40th year, is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. The mission is to help men, women and children rebuild lives and end homelessness. Union Station provides comprehensive, community-based programs to help homeless people achieve self-sufficiency, including intake and assessment, emergency shelter, case management, career counseling, transitional housing, medical and mental health services, women’s and family services, and housing resources.

MUSE/ique is a non-profit organization creating inspired live events and innovative outreach programs. In addition to public programs, the musicians deliver season long music immersion classes for residential foster youth, and free concerts will also be delivered and free tickets throughout the community so that everyone may participate in MUSE/ique. MUSE/ique aim to remove all barriers and become the most accessible orchestra possible with the most interesting audience. Membership sustains all of the efforts.

Union Station Homeless Services, 825 E. Orange Grove Boulevard Pasadena, (626) 240.4550 or visit http://unionstationhs.org/.