The Houston Symphony welcomes world-class rock musicians from the renowned band “GO NOW!” to the Jones Hall stage October 27-29 for a night full of awe-inspiring performances of timeless Moody Blues classics. Joining the talented lineup of guest performers is drummer Gordy Marshall, who toured with the Moody Blues for 25 years. Along with Mick Wilson (known as lead singer of 10cc), the two musicians have brought together some of the very best singers and instrumentalists in the country to create the ultimate tribute to the greatest classic rock band of a generation. Guest conductor Michael Krajewski leads the Symphony to deliver spectacular renditions of classic hits such as “Night in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” and “Go Now”.
Formed in 1964, The Moody Blues have left an indelible mark on the music world, having sold over 70 million albums worldwide and amassing an impressive collection of 14 platinum and gold records. Their influence spans diverse musical styles, seamlessly blending elements of progressive and art rock with the soulful rhythms of blues. This versatile approach to music has solidified their place as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, showcasing their enduring impact on the evolving landscape of music.
Guests can look forward to enjoying “Blue Envy” specialty cocktails inspired by the Moody Blues in the Jones Hall lobby. For tickets and more information, call 713.224.7575 or visit houstonsymphony.org/moody.
HOUSTON SYMPHONY PRESENTS GO NOW! A Tribute to The Moody Blues
Friday & Saturday, October 27-28 at 8 p.m.
Livestream available Saturday October 28 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 29 at 2:30 p.m.
Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
Michael Krajewski, conductor
Mick Wilson, vocalist
Nick Kendall, guitar and vocalist
Patrick Duffin, bass and vocalist
Gordy Marshall, drums
About Michael Krajewski
Known for his entertaining programs and engaging personality, Michael Krajewski is a much sought-after pops conductor in the United States, Canada, and abroad.
His 20-year relationship with the Houston Symphony includes 17 years as Principal Pops Conductor. He also served as principal pops conductor of the Long Beach Symphony for 11 years, principal pops conductor of the Atlanta Symphony for eight years, music director of the Philly Pops for six years, and principal pops conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony for 25 years.
Michael’s busy schedule as a guest conductor includes concerts with major and regional orchestras across the United States. In Canada, he has appeared with the orchestras of Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, and Kitchener-Waterloo. Overseas, he has performed in Ireland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Malaysia, and China.
Michael has conducted concerts featuring notable musicians and entertainers from many diverse styles of music. He has worked with classical luminaries, such as vocalist Marilyn Horne, flutist James Galway, pianist Alicia de Larrocha, and guitarists Pepe and Angel Romero.
In the field of popular music, he has performed with Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Kenny Loggins, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainright, Jason Alexander, Patti Austin, Sandi Patty, Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Doc Severinsen, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Chieftains, Chicago, Pink Martini, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Born in Detroit, Michael studied music education at Wayne State University and conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music. He was an Antal Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and subsequently served as the DSO’s assistant conductor for four years. Michael now lives in Florida with his wife, Darcy. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and solving crossword puzzles.
About GO NOW!
The music of The Moody Blues is the brainchild of drummer Gordy Marshall, who toured with The Moody Blues for 25 years. Along with Mick Wilson (known as lead singer of 10cc), the two musicians have brought together some of the very best singers and instrumentalists in the country to create the ultimate tribute to the greatest classic rock band of a generation. Hit songs such as “Nights in White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Go Now,” and “Isn’t Life Strange” are beautifully recreated live for a stellar listening experience.
About Gordy Marshall
Gordy toured the world with The Moody Blues for 25 years. For six of those years, he also toured with Justin Hayward on the arena tours of Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds.
As a session musician the list of artists on his C.V. include: Sir Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), Joss Stone, Gary Barlow, Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), Mike Batt, Katie Melua, Chris Spedding, Herbie Flowers, Level 42’s Mike Lindup, Chris Thompson, Russell Watson, Jason Donovan, Asia’s John Payne.
In addition to his pop and rock work, Gordy has been involved in many West End musicals, including Fame, Grease, We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia, Rent, Whistle Down The Wind, Thriller Live!, Wicked and Hamilton.
About Patrick Duffin
As well as composing the themes for Come Dine With Me, Loose Women and Money for Nothing on television, Patrick has also written production music albums for Universal, De Wolfe and Westar.
He has performed with Natalie Imbruglia, Tony Hadley and Jamie Scott. In the West End productions of Hairspray and Jersey Boys he played guitar, drums and mandolin.
About Mick Wilson
As a vocalist and percussionist, Mick has performed with artists such as Lionel Ritchie, Kylie Minogue, Gary Barlow, Cher, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith, Chris Rea, Smokey Robinson, Jessie J, Robin Gibb, Lulu and the K.L.F. Earlier this year, Mick was honoured to be a part of the band for Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert in London’s Hyde Park.
Since joining Graham Gouldman for an acoustic set in London over 12 years ago, Mick has become a regular in the latest incarnation of 10cc, taking on Lead Vocal duties and playing percussion, guitar and keyboards. Graham and the band have performed extensively in Europe and toured Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the US.
He is also a regular member of The SAS Band, which play all over the world, with guest performers such as Brian May, Roger Daltrey, Roger Taylor, Kiki Dee and Tony Hadley.
Mick has his own recording and production facility, from where he has produced and composed music for various TV and live events for companies such as Sky, BBC, ITV, McDonalds, BT, X-Factor, Levi’s, Toyota, Mercedes and Ford, most recently providing the music for this year’s Volvo Ocean Race.
His debut solo album, “So The Story Goes” was co-produced and co-written with Graham Gouldman and he is currently in the studio working on his second, to be released early next year.
Mick continues to be much in-demand as a session vocalist in and around London and can be heard on various TV and film productions, including the recent Cilla mini – series and Sunshine On Leith motion picture.
Most recently Mick was also the ‘singing voice’ in the Academy Award-winning movie Bohemian Rhapsody for the actor who portrayed Queen’s drummer.
About Nick Kendall
Nick Kendall has spent the last eight years as one of London’s busiest session guitarists. He has performed with household names which include 10cc, Alice Cooper, Brian May, Tony Hadley, Jimmy Somerville and Gordon Giltrap to name a few. He has held two lead guitar chairs in the West End, Rock of Ages and Jersey Boys, and been a deputy on others including We Will Rock You and Sunny Afternoon. He has worked on the TV show the X Factor and in the recording studio with artists such as Peter Cox (Go West), Kerry Ellis, Rhydian and Grace Kennedy as well as recording guitar for various television and radio jingles. Nick is currently working on his own project under the band name The Kendall Connection.
About Houston Symphony
Under Music Director Juraj Valčuha, the Houston Symphony continues its second century as one of America’s leading orchestras with a full complement of concert, community, education, touring, and recording activities. One of the oldest performing arts organizations in Texas, the Symphony held its inaugural performance at The Majestic Theater in downtown Houston on June 21, 1913. Today, with an operating budget of $37.8 million, the full-time ensemble of professional musicians presents more than 130 concerts annually, making it the largest performing arts organization in Houston. Traditionally, musicians of the orchestra and the Symphony’s two Community-Embedded Musicians also offer over 1,000 community-based performances each year at various schools, community centers, hospitals, and churches reaching more than 200,000 people in Greater Houston annually.
After suspending concert activities in March 2020, the Symphony successfully completed a full 2020–21Season with in-person audiences and weekly livestreams of each performance, making it one of the only orchestras in the world to do so, while the Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement team continued to fulfill its mission through creative and virtual means throughout the COVID pandemic. The Houston Symphony remains committed to livestreaming all of its 2023–24 Season to a broad audience in over forty-five countries and all fifty states, one of few American orchestras dedicated to transmitting live performances to a size-able audience outside its home city through this technology.
The Grammy Award-winning Houston Symphony has recorded under various prestigious labels, including Koch International Classics, Naxos, RCA Red Seal, Telarc, Virgin Classics, and, most recently, Dutch recording label Pentatone. In 2017, the Houston Symphony was awarded an ECHO Klassik award for the live recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck under the direction of former Music Director Hans Graf. The orchestra earned its first Grammy nomination and Grammy Award at the 60th annual ceremony for the same recording in the Best Opera Recording category. The Symphony’s most recent recordings include a Pentatone release in January 2022 of its world premiere performances of Jimmy López Bellido’s Aurora and Ad Astra, and a Naxos release in July 2023 of its world premiere performance of Jennifer Higdon’s Duo Duel.
