Pageant of the Masters Celebrity Benefit Concert with Al Jarreau

Every year, Pageant of the Masters/Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach holds a celebrity benefit concert. The event kicks off with red carpet arrivals, followed by the concert. This year’s concert on August 23rd featured Al Jarreau and a line of celebs on the red carpet from the Criminal Minds cast like Joe Montegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook and Matthew Gray Gubler.

Other celebs that supported the event were Milena Govich (Law and Order), Robert David Hall (CSI), John Huertas (Castle), Richard Karn (Home Improvement), Joshua Malina (The West Wing), Jerry Mathers (Leave it to Beaver), Dallas Raines (ABC7- Weather Segment), Charles Shaughnessy (The Nanny and Mad Men); Mia St. John (WBC Super Welter Weight Champ), Larry Wilcox (CHIPS), Kathleen Bradley (The Price is Right) and a lot more.

The red carpet event was followed by seven-time Grammy winner Al Jarreau who headlined an amazing concert. At 74, Jarreau still shines on stage and brought people on the dance floor to Jarreau’s scattin. One of my favorites Jarreau performed was the classic “I Will Be Here For You” which I recorded and you can watch it below.

I was lucky enough to squeeze in questions with some of the celebs such as Matthew Gray Gubler, Richard Karn, Jerry Mathers and Larry Wilcox.

Matthew Gray Gubler

POPBUFF: Is this your first time at Pageant of the Masters?
MGG: This is my 7th or 6th or 12th time. I have a bad memory. I’ve been here quite a few times.

POPBUFF: What is your favorite part of Pageant of the Masters?
MGG: Seeing art come to life. Every year is such a unique experience. Truly unexpected. So my favorite thing is actually bringing new people. I brought my mom and step dad this year. Every time becomes more magical.

Richard Karn

POPBUFF: Is this your second time at Pageant of the Masters?
RK: This is my third.

POPBUFF: What is your favorite part of the Pageant?
RK: All of it. You know, I love after watching the show…coming down and just looking through the art…you know… because the last couple times I didn’t come here early enough to look at the art at the beginning like I am now. But there’s that ..there’s what are they gonna come up..how they are going to present each year and they get better and better at it.

Jerry Mathers

POPBUFF: Is this your second or third time at the POM?
JM: I think it’s about 4th but I could be wrong. Plus I came here as a child too. I used to vacation down here when I was actually doing “Leave it to Beaver” in the ’50s. We didn’t come here but we used to come to Laguna.

POPBUFF: So what’s your favorite part of the Pageant?
JM: You know it’s so different every year. I know you’ll say it’s the same thing but every year it is totally awesome that you can look at something and really believe in something you see in oils and then you look and at the end they move and then you go it’s just incredible.

POPBUFF: Would you like to volunteer to be part of the cast? (Laughs)
JM: I would like to volunteer but I heard how much work it is (laughs). I am quite away from here..about 2-3-hour drive from. It will be a little difficult but otherwise I’d love to.

Larry Wilcox

POPBUFF: Have you been to Pageant of the Masters?
LW: I haven’t been to Pageant before so this is the first time.

POPBUFF: What is your expectation?
LW: My expectation is if I can be philanthropic can help a little bit raising capital for a charity and building the new buildings and stuff….great and I want to do it in a humble way and I’m grateful of being here.

Special thanks to Meghan P. and Barbara