Michael Jackson tribute act comes to St. Petersburg
They're said to be the longest-lived Michael Jackson tribute band around, and the only one that's been around since Jackson was still alive. They're almost certainly the only act that features two credible Michael Jackson impersonators.
They're called Who's Bad, and they'll be at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg on Friday.
Who's Bad re-creates Michael Jackson music from all phases of his career, from his hits with the Jackson 5 through "Thriller" and beyond.
The band started as a jazz-funk act, made up of music students from the University of North Carolina. The band played a lot of Michael Jackson covers. When Jackson-obsessed singer Taalib York joined in 2005, the band morphed into a tribute act. York left the band for a spell and Joseph Bell took over as the lead singer. York returned, and now he and Bell take turns fronting the band as MJ, with one performing while the other changes costumes.
It's not just about the music, though. York and Bell both impeccably replicate Jackson's distinctive moves. Now, Who's Bad plays all over the world, thrilling Jackson's legions of fans with studious attention to Michael's every original groove and gravity-defying dance step.
Details: 8 p.m. Jan. 8, Mahaffey Theater, 401 First St. S., St. Petersburg. Tickets: $39.50-$54.50. Information: 727-892-5767, themahaffey.com.
--Marty Clear
This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Michael Jackson tribute act comes to St. Petersburg ."