THE WHISPERS – 60th Anniversary!
The Whispers celebrate six decades of R&B with a Birchmere performance built around their signature blend of smooth romantic ballads and energetic dance songs. Their sound draws from soul, jazz, pop, disco, and blues, with a catalog that includes “And the Beat Goes On,” “Rock Steady,” “It’s a Love Thing,” “A Song for Donny,” and “It Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong.”
Formed in 1964 at Jordan High School in Watts, California, The Whispers have had 33 Top 10 hits, 20 Billboard-charted albums, and 46 Billboard hits across more than five decades. The group was originally signed to Soul Train Records and achieved many of its best-known successes with Solar Records. Its music has appeared in films including *Waiting to Exhale*, *Madea’s Family Reunion*, and *Diary of a Mad Black Woman*, and has been sampled hundreds of times and included on more than 600 compilations.
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $95 in the event listing; $119.70 through Ticketmaster or $102 at the Birchmere Box Office
Lineup: Wallace “Scotty” Scott and Leaveil Degree continue The Whispers following the deaths of Nicholas Caldwell in 2016 and Walter Scott on June 26, 2025. Degree joined the group in 1973, replacing Gordy Harmon after Harmon suffered a larynx injury.
Background: The Whispers were among the first artists signed to Soul Train Records and have been recognized by the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame, the San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards, and the NAACP. Their honors also include the Sammy Davis Jr. “Living Legends” Award, a City of Los Angeles “Living Legends” Award, the 2022 Black Music Honors “Legends” award, Soul Track Magazine’s People’s Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, and a 2022 Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for community service.
Community Work: The group has promoted social change and human kindness through songs including “Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong,” “Help Them See the Light,” “Olivia,” and “How Long.” Its community efforts have addressed children’s education, cancer early detection, domestic violence, human trafficking, and social justice.
Recent Music: The Whispers began re-recording their catalog in 2022 in an effort to own their master recordings. The project has included new versions of “And the Beat Goes On” and “Rock Steady,” followed by “Keep On Loving Me,” “OLIVIA,” “This Christmas,” and “Maybe the Fire Isn’t Out.”
Venue: The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305
Box Office: Tickets are also available at the Birchmere Box Office on show nights from 5 to 9 p.m.
Contact: 703-549-7500
Run time: Not specified.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: Not specified.
Artist Website: https://thelegendarywhispers.com/