*Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan brought the house down celebrating Prince Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, leading a lineup of talent that turned out to be not exactly as advertised.
The long-awaited “Official Prince Tribute: A Celebration of Life and Music” concert finally took place before thousands of fans, nearly six months after the artist’s death.
According to Page Six, Khan brought Wonder onstage to duet on Prince’s “I Feel for You,” a 1984 hit for Khan. Wonder, wearing a suit and purple shirt, got the sold-out audience cheering with his signature harmonica riffs before the two performed Prince’s hit “1999.”
Tori Kelly and Doug E. Fresh also were included in the lineup, along with Prince’s ex-wife Mayte Garcia, Morris Day & The Time, Judith Hill, Liv Warfield and Mint Condition.
Christina Aguilera and Anita Baker were supposed to perform as well, but both pulled out of the concert at the last minute.
Just before show time, a concert publicist announced that Aguilera “has been advised by her doctors not to perform due to a vocal illness she has been trying to shake all week.” Jessie J replaced Xtina in the lineup.
Baker didn’t give a reason for canceling her appearance, the publicist stated.
As previously reported, singer-musician John Mayer bowed out of the concert earlier, citing a “change of schedule.”
On the outdoor plaza before the concert, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman read a proclamation declaring Thursday Prince Day in Minnesota’s capital.
Also, President Obama delivered a taped message as the concert opened. “Thank you, Prince, for all the great works you have done. You will be in our hearts forever,” POTUS said, according to The AFP.
Former White House adviser Van Jones, who revealed after Prince’s death that the pop star had turned to him for advice on how to make anonymous charitable contributions to various causes, said that fans would be surprised how much Prince funded.
“I don’t think Prince wanted to save the world. I think what Prince wanted to do is make sure that people’s gifts… had a chance to sing,” Jones said in a video.
Below, watch footage of Wonder and Khan singing “1999” together along with Wonder’s rendition of “Raspberry Beret” and Morris Day’s performance.
‘Raspberry Beret’ pic.twitter.com/Z2ytuig4D5
— Kyle Matteson (@solace) October 14, 2016
Watch a report about the concert from WCCO CBS Minnesota:
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