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The July 1 Stevie Wonder concert at Fiddler's Green, reviewed in this Backbeat Online blog, was going along swimmingly when the star of the show made a startling announcement: Channel 9 entertainment reporter Kirk Montgomery would be joining him onstage.
In an instant, a slew of questions could be read on the faces of confused-looking audience members. Kirk Montgomery? Here? Why? He's not going to sing, is he? His station bio lists warbling as one of his hobbies, and he's casually belted on the air a time or two -- but does that qualify him to team up with Stevie Wonder? And if they've arranged to partner on a number, what song will they sing? Please, God -- tell us it's not "Ebony and Ivory."
Fortunately, no. Montgomery, it turns out, had other duties.
After greeting the throng, he introduced a woman named Marie, who'd won a contest with KOSI radio to duet with Wonder on "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." Marie was clearly nervous as all get-out, as anyone would be in that situation, and she didn't have the greatest microphone control. But thanks to Wonder's graciousness and willingness to play along, her time in the spotlight was sweet, not sickly -- the sort of moment she'll remember for the rest of her life.
Of course, had Montgomery sung, it undoubtedly would have been memorable, too -- but in a different way. -- Michael Roberts
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