He’s worked on the hit TV show “The Voice” and with stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Lenny Kravitz, Kelly Rowland and Coldplay.
Vocal coaching powerhouse Stevie Mackey is also known for hosting music- and food-filled “Taco Tuesday” events in Los Angeles, which have gone viral on social media over the years.
“It started as my version of a recital,” Stevie Mackey told WTOP.
His version of Taco Tuesday started at his home, where he invited new and experienced singers to hang out.
“When I started vocal coaching, I would do more pop and soul coaching. And I started to have those kind of clients, and then I didn’t want to have such a formal recital, so I would do more casual recital, and Taco Tuesday was kind of born from that,” Macky said. “We would all come over the house and sing background for each other and, and sing whatever songs we were working on.”
“I wanted the inexperienced to see that the experienced singers they look up to get just as scared and just as nervous to sing in front of others … And the only reason their singing is experienced is because they’re better at dealing with how scary it gets and they ‘out-love’ it. They love it more than they fear it.”
Early Taco Tuesday participants also gobbled up tacos with plant-based fillings cooked in an electric skillet.
“I didn’t have any stove; I didn’t have the fridge. I literally kind of just moved into my house here and I was starting my business,” Mackey said. “I wanted it to be cozy, I wanted people to be in my home, and to feel like they had a place that felt like home if they left theirs to fulfill their dream.”
The event has “way outgrown the little taco skillet. But I can still make some mean tacos,” he added. “I still have that little pan.”
Now, Taco Tuesday Live is hitting the road and traveling to twelve cities across the country: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, D.C., Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The D.C. event is Friday, Sept. 25. Audience participation is encouraged.
“I go to cities where I can trust that y’all are gonna join in and sing the choir parts,” Mackey said, and he’d like area musicians to be the vocal focal point.
“I’m bringing a couple of people in every city that I host, but this is all about your city,” he said. “It’s not for me to shine. I’m just learning about your city and bringing out the great singers that live there.”
Taco Tuesday Live is requesting video submissions from anyone who is interested in performing at the D.C. event, and there are separate submission forms for each city on the tour.
“I have a lot of videos to go through,” Mackey said, adding that he and his team, musician friends, and “the Taco Tuesday committee will go through everything” and will document the process on video.
For those more interested in watching or singing along, tickets are on sale here.
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