What's Happening in Chanhassen, MN…

An upcoming performance at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres will feature music that became the soundtrack of a decade, the 1960s.

Co-MingL is returning to the venue with “Back to Soul!” their hit show. The performance features works by legendary vocalists of the Motown era including Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and more. Co-MingL will place special emphasis on the songs of Sam Cooke, who changed music forever with his passionate songs and powerful voice.

Cooke, who is often called the "King of Soul," put 29 singles in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and 20 singles in the Top 10 of the Billboard Black Singles chart. Among his biggest hits are “Chain Gang” and “Bring It on Home to Me.”

Soul music is a popular genre of music that began in the 1950s and 1960s in African-American communities all over the United States. Rooted in the R&B and gospel genres, it became popular for listening and dancing, and successfully crossed the color line to achieve recognition it still retains. Iconic labels like Stax, Atlantic, and Motown helped popularize it.

Co-MingL is based in the Twin Cities and performs gospel, R&B, Pop, and Soul, as well as covers and original works.

“Back to Soul - A Tribute to Sam Cooke and the Legends of His Era” is scheduled for April 6 in the Fireside Theatre. Organizers that schedule shows like this often use brochure printing to create programs for the event.