Marqs DeSade @ Kat Vargas Memorial - MS Benefit 07/11/21

Kat Vargas – what a lovely lady and what a wonderful human being. I knew Kat slightly from my early years on SL as an SL singer's assistant/manager. We had a couple conversations discussing the various personalities and talents of our amazing SL singers. After returning from my leave of absence, I found Kat had grown quite a business managing some of the top talent of SL. Many of her artists, her friends and venue owners expressed their love of Kat by presenting this benefit in her honor. Kat had MS, and unfortunately, MS can create havoc on one’s body and mind. But with Kat, you would never know she experienced any illness. She was always upbeat, kind, friendly and hard working.

Marqs DeSade opened the Kat Vargas Memorial MS Benefit at the venue Love Kats 11 owned by Kat (Kat.chauveau). The organizer Rusty Seisenbacker was up bright and early making sure things ran smoothly, and he did a great job all day long. A great big shout out to all who helped this cause from the singers, hosts, advertisers, and most of all, the patrons who donated so generously. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/

Marqs DeSade gave an outstanding performance with that smoky, smooth, deep voice of his. His opening tune, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles, did just that – surrounded us all with that peaceful easy feeling. Transitioning into his next song with ease was Jim Croce’s “I Got a Name”, another light, storytelling song.

Marqs not only delighted us with his cover songs, but he also sang his creative originals. Within his lengthy song list of covers lies a series of his own masterpieces. One Marq wrote in particular that I enjoyed is entitled “It's A Wonderful Day at the Neighborhood Café”. He sang of a small-town café where one can get a coffee and cinnamon roll or piece of pie, and when you look around, you never know what people are going through in their lives… Be kind, be understanding.

Being the request hog that I am, I had to request three of my favorite songs: “Dancing on My Own” by Calum Scott, “Maggie Mae” by Rod Stewart, and “My Immortal” by Evanescence. I love hearing how artists sing these songs so differently, and Marqs sang them with the same beauty as many other SL artists.

Showcasing his guitar playing ability and his emotional heart, Marqs continued with “She's Got A Way” by Billy Joel (which was a dedication to Kat by Rads), “First Time I ever saw your face” by Roberta Flack, “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, and “With a Little Help From MY Friends” by the Beatles.

Closing the show, Marqs sang “You are so beautiful” by Joe Cocker and performed this song acapella. His tone is colorful and raw, and this incredibly gifted man will grab you and transform you into another world with his voice. Marqs final words were, “We need each other - we make each other stronger.” Isn’t that the truth…Marqs you have made Kat Vargas proud today. Thank you for a stellar performance.

Bio:

Marqs DeSade has been making music most of his life, singing, writing, and performing. A Marqs show has a mix of original songs as well as covers and reflects both his passion for life and sometimes quirky sense of humor. His voice can be powerful and commanding, but also soft and vulnerable, pulling the listener into the emotion and life of the song. Hearing Marqs is more than going to a show; it is an experience that connects the listener with the music in a unique and intimate way.