I wasn’t sure what to expect walking into the Handlery Hotel ballroom in Mission Valley on Friday, March 7th, 2025. “Reimagine The Beatles,” the flyer read, led by keyboardist/pianist and Earth, Wind & Fire musical director Myron McKinley. As someone who’s always loved Beatles music, I approached it all with equal parts excitement and skepticism.
But from the moment the lights dimmed and the first chords of “Something” rang out—played with aching beauty and sung by Kenton Chen—I was hooked. This wasn’t a cover show. This was a full-blown transformation.
McKinley, a force behind the keys and a clear architect of the evening’s vision, assembled a powerhouse band: Ian Martin on bass, Stacey Lamont Sydnor on drums, and Tony Pulizzi on guitar—each of them seasoned, sharp, and bursting with joy. They played not just with precision, but with imagination. Myron didn’t just play notes—he painted emotions.
The singers, too, were extraordinary. Courtney Lemmon gave “Yesterday” a new sense of quiet heartbreak, and Sarah Day’s “Let It Be” was pure gospel soul. When all three lead vocalists—Courtney, Kenton, and Sarah—joined together on “All You Need Is Love,” it wasn’t nostalgia. It was rebirth.
The background singers—Zachary Moore, Ashley Nichol, and Leilah Goins—wrapped each song in harmony like soft silk. Together, the ensemble reinterpreted songs we all thought we knew: “Because,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “The Long and Winding Road” took on new textures, stretching the emotional range of the originals while honoring their spirit.
Adding an unexpected (and welcome) layer was MC, Kenneth Brown. More than a host, he was a storyteller—funny, thoughtful, and endlessly engaging. He tied each song together with reflections, personal anecdotes, and crowd laughter, keeping the night flowing like a good conversation.
By the time the encore rolled around—an explosive, all-instrumental “Come Together” followed by a tender, solo “Blackbird” from Kenton—the audience was completely entranced.
People left the room glowing. “That was epic,” one person said. Another called it “elevating of the spirit.” One woman summed it up best: “This made my whole night vibrate on a new level.”
Myron McKinley didn’t just reimagine The Beatles. He reminded us why music matters—why it connects, transforms, and keeps evolving. Even after all these years, these songs can still surprise us.
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