National 'Motown Christmas' tour stops at CoMMA on Nov. 30

Holiday music fans across Burke, Caldwell and surrounding counties planning their seasonal entertainment will have a chance to experience classic soul this winter as the 2026 national tour of “A Motown Christmas” visits Morganton, one of 27 stops across the United States this November and December.

The Morganton concert at the CoMMA Performing Arts Center is Monday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.

The production features the Motortown All-Stars, a vocal ensemble drawn from former members of Motown groups such as The Miracles and The Contours. Musical director Glen Raby, a Detroit native who spent 15 years as pianist and music director for The Contours, formed the group to present the music with original personnel rather than as a tribute act.

“There are many acts touring the country, playing the music of Motown, but none that were formed from the ranks of the real artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Raby said. “A Motown Christmas is an authentic Motown experience that captures all of the excitement of a real Motown concert: the flashy uniforms, the precision choreography, the soaring falsettos and booming bass vocals of the original recordings, performed live. It’s an old-school reboot, not an impersonation. It’s the real deal.”

The show blends traditional carols and holiday standards with Motown arrangements and horn accompaniment. The 2026 set list features seasonal selections such as Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me,” alongside traditional favorites like “Deck the Halls,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Let It Snow,” and “The Christmas Song.”

In addition to holiday music, the concert includes classic Motown hits originally recorded by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and The Spinners.

The 2026 touring cast includes:

• Charles Franklin, formerly of Ali Woodson’s Emperors of Soul, bringing ties to The Temptations’ vocal style.
• Leon Franklin, a current member of The Dramatics who previously performed with both The Miracles and The Contours.
• Antonio Dandridge, a Detroit recording artist and godson of Martha Reeves.
• Danny Friendly, formerly of the 1950s vocal group The Edsels.

The vocalists are accompanied by the All-Star Band, a backing group of musicians who have toured and recorded with national acts over the past three decades.

“This show represents a craftsmanship that belongs to a generation that knew the prowess of Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tony Bennett,” Raby said. “Entertainers who made sure every note was right and every tux or suit was perfectly pressed. Excellence was of paramount importance then, and we bring that back to the stage with every move and every note.”

Buy tickets to the Morganton performance at commaonline.org or at the CoMMA box office, 401 S. College St. Adult tickets range from $22-$72.

— AKC