THE WHISPERS – 60th Anniversary!
The Whispers celebrate their 60th anniversary with an evening of classic soul, R&B, jazz, pop, disco, and blues. The long-running vocal group is known for smooth romantic ballads and energetic dance songs, including “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 by students at Jordan High School in Watts, California, The Whispers have recorded 33 Top 10 hits and 20 Billboard-charted albums across five decades. Their 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. The group was originally signed to Soul Train Records and achieved many of its biggest successes with Solar Records.
When: October 17
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $95 in advance; $119.70 through Ticketmaster; or $102 at the Birchmere Box Office.
Lineup: Following the deaths of Nicholas Caldwell in 2016 and Walter Scott in 2025, Wallace “Scotty” Scott and Leaveil Degree continue The Whispers’ legacy. Degree joined the group in 1973 after Gordy Harmon suffered a larynx injury.
Music: The Whispers’ repertoire blends soul, jazz, pop, disco, blues, romantic ballads, and upbeat dance music.
Career: The group has earned 46 Billboard hits, numerous gold albums, and recognition from the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame, and the San Francisco chapter of the Grammys. Their honors also include an NAACP Image Award, the Sammy Davis Jr. “Living Legends” Award, the City of Los Angeles “Living Legends” Award, the 2022 Black Music Honors “Legends” award, and Soul Track Magazine’s 2022 People’s Choice Lifetime Achievement Award.
Community work: The Whispers have supported children’s education, cancer early detection, domestic-violence prevention, human-trafficking awareness, and social justice. Their service earned them the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award in 2022 and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Christian Bible Institute of Houston.
Recent recordings: Since 2022, the group has been re-recording its catalog to retain ownership of its master recordings. The project has included new versions of “And the Beat Goes On,” “Rock Steady,” “Keep On Loving Me,” “Olivia,” and “This Christmas,” as well as the single “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.
Phone: 703-549-7500
Website: https://thelegendarywhispers.com/