Gloria Gaynor
Bergen PAC – Englewood, NJ – March 27, 2025
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
Every time I photograph musicians from the 70s and now even the 80s, I’m reminded how lucky we are that these artists are still with us and are continuing to perform. I’m also reminded that these decades had some of the best music…music that still resonates with fans after 40-50 years. For those who grew up in those decades, part of the feeling that “it was the best music” comes from the connection to childhood. It’s quite natural to love something when it has specific memories attached to it. However, I don’t believe this is solely the reason for the feeling that some of the best music (even to this day) came out of the 70s and 80s. Regardless of the genre, music from these eras was born from the raw talent of songwriters, musicians and vocalists. Artists wrote, recorded and performed their music without the help of computer generated tracks or auto-tuned vocals. The music was pure and real. They just had undeniable talent/skill and a passionate dedication to their craft. I believe it’s combination that has kept many of these artists still performing after a half century.
One of these artists emerging from the 1970s disco era, is the legendary Gloria Gaynor. Gaynor left an indelible mark on a generation, that’s been passed to the next generation, with her anthem of empowerment, “I Will Survive.” This song hit the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1978, reached No. 1 on the chart in March ’79 and won Best Disco Recording at the 1980 Grammy Awards. While the song is sung from the perspective of a woman scorned, the message of survival is universal. While the name Gloria Gaynor is immediately connected to this chart-topping number, Gaynor’s decades-spanning career has encompassed much more than one chart-topper. She’s released 20 albums, from her 1975 debut album, Never Can Say Goodbye, it’s title song topping Billboard magazine’s first dance chart, to her most recent release, 2019’s Testimony, which earned a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album. During the decades in between, Gaynor had hits on the disco, R&B, dance and pop charts. Now, a half-century since her album debut, Gaynor is soon to releasing her new 5-song EP. In addition to to releasing new music, Gaynor continues to perform in the US and internationally.
On March 27th fans in the NY/NJ area were lucky enough that one of these locations was at Bergen Performing Arts Center, in Englewood, NJ. As fans entered the venue I overheard a woman passionately telling a friend about her experience at a luncheon with Gaynor. “She was so wonderful! She told us the story behind “I Will Survive”,” she shared, as her friend listened with great intrigue. These women were just two of hundreds of devoted fans, men and women, younger and older, who packed the venue that evening. Palpable excitement filled the theater, as the stage’s towering backdrop became aglow in purple, emblazoned and twinkling with “Gloria Gaynor,” a perfect representation of the dazzling, larger-than-life star herself.
The crowd began to cheer as band members, keyboardist/musical director Mark Baron, guitarist Richie Nobrega, bassist Richie Goods, drummer John DiGiulio, trumpeter Kiku Collins and saxophonist Anibal Rojas, made their way onstage and began to play the opening of “Goin’ Out of My Head,” the Little Anthony & the Imperials’ number that Gaynor covered in disco version for her 1978 album Love Tracks. As the instrumental opening was coming to an end, the three background vocalists, Ana Liriano Salvemini, Melinda Doolittle, and Wil Merrell joined the band onstage and asked the audience to “put your hands together for Gloria Gaynor!” Applause rang through the crowd as Gaynor glided onstage, looking resplendent in a sparkling, royal blue, sequined pantsuit. She immediately took command with her rich, powerful vocals that belied the passage of nearly five decades. It was evident from the evening’s setlist that Gaynor has continued to expand her repertoire, as she included covers of a diverse range of artists, from different musical eras, including a cover of Sia’s 2016 “Unstoppable,” the first of several newer artists that evening. Gaynor easily moved between genres and decades, making the performance a perfect amalgamation of old and new.
Returning to her roots, Gaynor thrilled fans with the title track from her debut album, Never Can Say Goodbye, a cover of The Jacksons, with Anibal Rojas, joining Gaynor centerstage for a passionate solo tenor sax solo. Bolstering Gaynor and keeping her at peak performance throughout the evening were her band members and background singers. It does not do her vocalists justice to call them background singers, as these singers are themselves lead vocalists. Each of them had the opportunity to showcase their phenomenal abilities during various songs throughout the set, in some instances singing along with Gaynor and for several numbers taking over on lead vocals. The evening’s first duet was with Merrell, who showcased deep, warm vocals as the pair sang to one another during a beautiful performance of Barry White’s “You’re the First, The Last, My Everything.”
From that beautifully romantic connection, Gaynor segued to a spiritual connection with God and oneself, reflected in the Casting Crowns’ gospel ballad, “Who Am I.” Gaynor’s warm, impassioned voice was perfectly suited for the song’s yearning and searching. Gaynor appeared to follow up with an answer to “who am I,” singing “I am beautiful, no matter what they say,” the lyrics to an upbeat, disco-infused rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.” As the song came to a close, thunderous applause rang out as Gaynor exited the stage, allowing her singers the opportunity to display their individual vocal talents. Taking her turn at centerstage, Melinda Doolittle performed the R&B version of CCR’s “Proud Mary,” made famous by Ike & Tina Turner. Doolittle showcased incredibly powerful, rich, textured vocals, as whistles rang out in the crowd, fans danced along the sides and audience members joined in on “Rolling on a river.”
To the delight of all present, Gaynor returned to the stage and shared, “I’m releasing an EP with 5 songs. This next song is going to be about something particular for YOU. You know how when you do something and then you think, ‘If only I’d known?’ But, we are Americans, so we say… ‘Fida Known’,” said Gaynor. As Gaynor performed “Fida Known,” and the audience clapped along, it was amazing to see that Gaynor is still creating catchy, upbeat songs with the soulful energy of artists decades her junior. “We enjoy doing this but it’s hard work,” Gaynor shared. “Going through airports; hotels that aren’t what you expected. But this part is what’s fun,” she expressed with a broad smile. “We want you to join in with us. We want to do a song you know. Do you like to sing? Can you sing?” she queried the crowd. The resounding cheers were the answer Gaynor was looking for. As Gaynor began the soulful opening of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” fans held up cellphone flashlights, swaying back and forth, sharing vocal duties with Gaynor who turned over the chorus to the background singers and audience members. Joining in on the action was Kiku Collins on trumpet, who arrived centerstage to play a dynamic, attention-grabbing solo, followed by an impressive guitar solo by Richie Nobrega.
“I’m going to do a song or two from my Grammy award winning gospel album,” Gaynor proudly announced. From starting her career in the glitzy, effusive, sometimes kitschy world of 1970s disco, to earning a Grammy four decades later for a Gospel album, with emotionally spiritual messages and soulful, rich harmonies, shows Gaynor’s incredible musical diversity and devotion. “I’m going to need some help on this one,” Gaynor announced, as Ana Liriano Salvemini joined Gaynor to continue on the gospel track performing “Talkin’ About Jesus.” Salvemi’s powerfully rich tone was a perfect match for Gaynor, as they wove their vocals together to perform this upbeat gospel number.
Summoning Merrell back to centerstage, the music briefly left the realm of gospel, as the duo performed Meghan Trainer’s “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” This modern-day soul ballad, showcased the passion and depth of each vocalist, as they traded heartfelt verses throughout the beautiful duet. This departure from gospel would not be for very long as Gaynor shared another spiritual story with the crowd. “Before I started singing professionally I got up one morning and was feeling so sick. I took a “Contac” and was feeling much better, so I took it again. But, sometimes you find something that takes away your symptoms and you’ve still got the problem. That’s how grace works. It strengthens you to help you make it through,” she encouraged the crowd. “You haven’t heard this next song unless you’ve heard me do it,” she exclaimed, as she began to sing a dynamic, soulful R&B version of “Amazing Grace.” With the addition of her background singers, the energy and sound filled the room like a huge gospel choir.
Still mesmerized by the powerful gospel energy, the audience was immediately brought back to the present as Gaynor enthusiastically exclaimed, “I hope you brought your dancing shoes because we want to make you dance!” Performing “a tribute to the late great Miss Donna Summer,” Gaynor and the band began “Last Dance,” which immediately brought all attendance to their feet. The song segued to an upbeat “MacArthur Park,” with Salvemini on vocals, transitioned to “Heaven Knows,” performed as a duet by Doolittle and Merrell and culminated with all joining in to end the tribute where it began, with “Last Dance.” However, this was surely not the last dance of the evening. As Gaynor exited the stage the party continued with a Bruno Mars medley. Doolittle took lead vocals on “Locked Out of Heaven,” followed by Salvemini on the mic for “Marry You.” With an announcement to all to get on their feet, Merrell performed the Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk,” which stepped up the audience dance participation to the next level.
This level of excitement was the perfect launch pad for what was to follow, Gaynor’s return to perform her renowned anthem, “I Will Survive.” Gliding back onstage, Gaynor slowly opened with the song’s intro, “At first I was afraid, I was petrified…” building tension and excitement, before the music revved up and Gaynor burst out with “Now you’re back, From outer space…” that sent a bolt of electricity through the theater. Doolittle, Salvemini, and Merrell joined Gaynor at centerstage, encouraging the crowd to take over lead vocals during the chorus “No, not I, I will survive…” which they eagerly obliged. The crowd remained on their feet applauding as the song ended. With a smile and a “God Bless,” Gaynor again exited, leaving the band to jam in front of a towering illuminated disco ball that twirled and sparkled on the stage backdrop. As everyone waited with baited breath, Merrell shouted to the fans, “Do you want one more?” The cacophony of cheers was a resounding “yes.” As Gaynor returned for an encore, the band members and singers congregated for an electrifying performance of Chic’s “Everybody Dance,” that had those on the stage and in the crowd rocking and singing. With a bow, an endearing thank you and parting kisses to her adoring fans, Gaynor was gone.
With her new EP on the way, hopefully Gaynor won’t be gone for long and will continue to grace the stages of those fortunate enough to attend a performance. In 1978, when Gloria Gaynor first sang “I Will Survive,” little did she know how true that would actually be almost a half-century later. How lucky we are to have these legendary artists continuing to perform music from the decades with some of the best music ever!
