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View Winners → Archive Dec 27, 2019
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Us the Duo, folk pop musical couple brought the spirit of giving to Los Angelenos with a late Christmas benefit show on December 21.
All proceeds were donated to “Music Gives for St. Jude Kids,” which go to the research to end childhood cancer.
The holiday evening was filled with reminders of the true meaning of Christmas: love, family and the spirit of giving.
The show opened with a harp player setting up the mood for a blissful evening before Santa took stage on his chair sharing a merry tale that would carry the show through the night.
The couple performed songs from their recent Christmas album, “Our Favorite Time of the Year” that featured their arrangements for holiday classics and holiday originals. The night’s performance was accompanied by talented musicians manning real instruments and intimate theatre acoustics.
There were even a couple of throwback tracks in the set such as “Just Love,” “Missing You Like Crazy,” and cover of Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” taking the audience back to some of their earlier music.
A major highlight from the show was when they asked the audience to close their eyes and picture their best Christmas memory or memories as they sang the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” There was something special about taking the time to breathe, reflect and appreciate past Christmases/holiday memories and memories to come.
As the show was coming to an end, the duo asked the audience to stand and performed their hit, “No Matter Where You Are,” as bubbles floated down the balcony.
From their obvious chemistry to their engagement with the audience, Us the Duo brings magic and heart on stage and off.
The couple hit it off on the set of an AJ Rafael music video in LA back in 2011 and married the following year.
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Before signing with Universal Republic Records, the two became internet sensations from their famed half faced singing on the platform Vine – the first group to be signed to a major label from Vine!
They’ve left Republic after some time, but have continued to inspire others with their love and innovative work.
Projects like Public Record, which featured songs inspired by fan stories show, not tell, just how serious they are about keeping music real.
They’ve released five original albums, toured with big names such as Oprah Winfrey for her book tour, Pentatonix and Tori Kelly, were featured on the major picture film “The Book of Life” with their song “No Matter Where You Are” and took on competition in season 13 of America’s Got Talent just before the birth of their daughter Xyla Alvarado.
In addition to their music, they’ve also done campaign work with Michelle Obama for the launch of Better Make Room in 2015 and participated in A Capella Campaign and #BeAMaker Campaign.
Partnering up with St. Jude is only the tip of the iceberg of what Us the Duo influences in the community.
