Widely celebrated for their harmonious ballads, such as “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men rocked Jon Batiste’s Jazz Club on Tuesday night, delivering an electrifying finale to the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation Celebrity Invitational at Baha Mar.
The R&B group closed the event, which attracted hundreds of guests to The Bahamas, with a mix of rock and pop covers alongside several of their own hits. After showcasing their vocal abilities for 20 minutes, the group paused to prepare the audience for what group member Wayna Morris referred to as their transformation.
“What we are about to do is something very different,” Morris shared. “About 12 years ago, we started doing this because it actually made sense for us to evolve as a singing group. People consider us an R&B singing group. We tried to evolve. I think we did a pretty good job. So, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the change.”
They then performed classics “American Woman”, “Purple Rain” and “Born by the River” to the delight of their enthusiastic fans.
“We’re a band now,” Morris declared at the end of that segment.
‘’That’s the change we’re talking about. Look forward to seeing a lot more of that.”
The group continued for the next 20 minutes, taking fans on a nostalgic tour of their greatest hits. As they concluded the night with “I’ll Make Love to You”. They distributed single red roses to the women in the audience.
While Boyz II Men delivered an unforgettable performance, the evening served as a celebratory end to a weekend of philanthropy, tourism, and community collaboration for the third annual Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation Celebrity Invitational. This year’s event raised an impressive $1 million for underserved youth across the United States and made a meaningful impact locally, with the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation donating $50,000 to the Baha Mar Foundation, reinforcing its commitment to youth empowerment and community development for the next generation of Bahamians.
The weekend brought a wave of energy to the resort and local economy, with celebrities, athletes, and supporters flying in to participate in the festivities. Guests enjoyed the Celebrity-Amateur tournament at the Royal Blue Golf Course, and a spectacular closing night at Jon Batiste’s Jazz Club.
Celebrity attendees included Anthony Anderson, Brett Young, Bode Miller, Roger Clemens, Wayne Gretzky, and others, all joining Mark Wahlberg to support the cause.
Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar, emphasized the significance for The Bahamas.
“We are honored to welcome Mark, his team, and the more than 200 guests who traveled to The Bahamas specifically for this event,” he said. “The foundation’s generous $50,000 donation to the Baha Mar Foundation will have a direct and positive impact on youth and community programs locally. Partnerships like this allow us to uplift our communities while showcasing the warmth, hospitality, and beauty of our islands.”
Mark Wahlberg, founder and president of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, added: “Baha Mar continues to be an incredible partner. We’re thrilled that this year’s invitational not only raised essential funds for youth across the US, but also contributed directly to the community here in The Bahamas. We look forward to growing this impact each year.”
