Entertainment

The Whispers Will Be Home for the Holidays at the Paramount

Published

10 years ago

November 4, 2015

The smooth velvety voices of The Whispers will come back to the Bay Area Nov. 28 at Oakland’s Paramount Theater.

Presented by Bay Area Productions, The Whispers’ “Home for the Holidays” concert will feature one of the most chart-topping R & B vocal groups of all time.

The legendary group, composed of twin brothers Walter and Wallace Scott, began singing with their friends 50 years ago. The group currently includes Nicholas Caldwell and Leaveil Degree. As balladeers of the 60s and 70s, The Whispers sang, “I’m Gonna Make You My Wife,” “Chocolate Girl,” and “Olivia.”

“It’s been an incredible feeling after five decades – we’ve gone from (being) daydreaming teens from the projects to our daydream coming true for the past 50 years,” said Walter Scott. “Our popularity, longevity and loyal fans are a true blessing.”

Scott also says the group considers Oakland home and that the city put them on the map. “The stations in L.A. wouldn’t play our record, but Sly Stone, the musical director of KDIA, played our regional hit, “The Dip,” on the radio, and the rest is history.”

With hits like “It’s a Love Thang,” “Lady” “And the Beat Goes On,” they emerged as leading romantic singers of their generation with gold albums charting numerous R&B favorites throughout the seventies and eighties.

The Whispers signed to Solar and Capitol Records and were the first artists featured on Soul Train, hosted by Don Cornelius. They gained national attention with albums, “One For The Money,” “Open Up Your Love,” and “Headlights” producing two singles, “All the Way” and “Olivia,” that made Billboard’s Top 20 R&B Charts.

Their first platinum album, “The Whispers,” featured “A Song For Donny,” in tribute to the late Donny Hathaway. “Just Gets Better With Time” and “Rock Steady” are other successful favorites along with “Lady,” written by group member Nicholas Caldwell.

“We were known as balladeers for two decades until the 80s with our R&B hit “And the Beat Goes On,” which went double platinum,” said Scott. A collaboration with Babyface produced “Rock Steady” landing at #1 for R&B and the US Top 10 pop charts.

“Toast to the Ladies” was released in 1995, a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Babyface once again on the album “Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface.”

In 2006, The Whispers formed “Satin Tie Productions” and released “For Your Ears Only.” In 2009, they produced their first gospel album, “Thankful.”

Prior to coming to Oakland, the Whispers will spend seven days in Europe, performing in London, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam. As for the future, Scott says fans can expect another album in mid-2016.

“We look forward to coming to Oakland – Oakland has been there from the beginning,” he said.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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January 2, 2026

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Alameda County

Bling It On: Holiday Lights Brighten Dark Nights All Around the Bay

On the block where I grew up in the 1960s, it was an unwritten agreement among the owners of those row homes to put up holiday lights: around the front window and door, along the porch banister, etc. Some put the Christmas tree in the window, and you could see it through the open slats of the blinds.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 21, 2025

Oakland Post

Christmas lights on a house near the writer’s residence in Oakland. Photo by Joseph Shangosola.

By Wanda Ravernell

I have always liked Christmas lights.

From my desk at my front window, I feel a quiet joy when the lights on the house across the street come on just as night falls.

My father, the renegade of the block, made no effort with lights, so my mother hung a wreath with two bells in the window. Just enough to let you know someone was at home.

Two doors down was a different story. Mr. King, the overachiever of the block, went all out for Christmas: The tree in the window, the lights along the roof and a Santa on his sleigh on the porch roof.

There are a few ‘Mr. Kings’ in my neighborhood.

In particular is the gentleman down the street. For Halloween, they erected a 10-foot skeleton in the yard, placed ‘shrunken heads’ on fence poles, pumpkins on steps and swooping bat wings from the porch roof. They have not held back for Christmas.

The skeleton stayed up this year, this time swathed in lights, as is every other inch of the house front. It is a light show that rivals the one in the old Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia.

I would hate to see their light bill…

As the shortest day of the year approaches, make Mr. King’s spirit happy and get out and see the lights in your own neighborhood, shopping plazas and merchant areas.

Here are some places recommended by 510 Families and Johnny FunCheap.

Oakland

Oakland’s Temple Hill Holiday Lights and Gardens is the place to go for a drive-by or a leisurely stroll for a religious holiday experience. Wear a jacket, because it’s chilly outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 4220 Lincoln Ave., particularly after dark. The gardens are open all day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the lights on from dusk until closing.

Alameda

Just across the High Street Bridge from Oakland, you’ll find Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda.

On Thompson Avenue between High Street and Fernside drive, displays range from classic trees and blow-ups to a comedic response to the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Lights turn on at dusk and can be seen through the first week in January.

Berkeley

The Fourth Street business district from University Avenue to Virginia Street in Berkeley comes alive with lights beginning at 5 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2026.

There’s also a display at one house at 928 Arlington St., and, for children, the Tilden Park Carousel Winter Wonderland runs through Jan. 4, 2026. Closed Christmas Day. For more information and tickets, call (510) 559-1004.

Richmond

The Sundar Shadi Holiday Display, featuring a recreation of the town of Bethlehem with life-size figures, is open through Dec. 26 at 7501 Moeser Lane in El Cerrito.

Marin County

In Marin, the go-to spot for ‘oohs and ahhs’ is the Holiday Light Spectacular from 4-9 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2026, at Marin Center Fairgrounds at 10 Ave of the Flags in San Rafael through Jan. 4. Displays dazzle, with lighted walkways and activities almost daily. For more info, go to: www.marincounty.gov/departments/cultural-services/department-sponsored-events/holiday-light-spectacular

The arches at Marin County Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Dr. will also be illuminated nightly.

San Francisco

Look for light installations in Golden Gate Park, chocolate and cheer at Ghirardelli Square, and downtown, the ice rink in Union Square and the holiday tree in Civic Center Plaza are enchanting spots day and night. For neighborhoods, you can’t beat the streets in Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, and Bernal Heights. For glee and over-the-top glitz there’s the Castro, particularly at 68 Castro Street.

Livermore

The winner of the 2024 Great Light Flight award, Deacon Dave has set up his display with a group of creative volunteers at 352 Hillcrest Avenue since 1982. See it through Jan. 1, 2026. For more info, go to https://www.casadelpomba.com

Fremont

Crippsmas Place is a community of over 90 decorated homes with candy canes passed out nightly through Dec. 31. A tradition since 1967, the event features visits by Mr. and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 18 and Dec. 23 and entertainment by the Tri-M Honor Society at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22. Chrippsmas Place is located on: Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, Perkins Street, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue between Gibraltar Drive and Perkins Street.