The weather was perfect for an evening of listening to music in the park Aug. 10, a recent event in the Emmaus Community Park Summer Concert Series.

DMC Duo of Allentown took to the stage 6-8 p.m., providing listeners with favorites from pop, rock and country hits throughout multiple decades.

Emmaus High School 1995 graduate and former Wescosville Elementary teacher Marissa (Stevens) Dawson is lead vocalist for the DMC Duo while Darrell Adams plays guitar and vocals.

The two paired up by chance in 2017 and decided to create the DMC Duo in 2021. They released their first single in 2023. This month through November, DMC Duo was nominated for numerous awards.

Popular hits such as Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield,” Robert Palmer’s “Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor),” The Shirelle’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” The Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra” and Taylor Dayne’s “Tell It To My Heart” and “Give Me One More Chance” by The Jackson 5 had the crowd singing along with the DMC Duo.

Other favorite songs included Bob Dylan’s “Rock Me Momma (Wagon Wheel)” and Laura Branigan’s “Gloria.”

Dawson’s daughter Amelia, a Parkland graduate and a freshman at University of Pittsburgh, had her grandmother Anita Stevens dancing with her to this favorite tune. Stevens, of Lower Macungie, turns 80 next week.

DMC Duo dedicated Connie Francis’ “Where The Boys Are” to Stevens who lost her husband last year. Stevens said it is her favorite song and she has not danced to it since her husband died.

However, her grandson Jack Sheldon, of Downingtown and a sophomore at University of Richmond took his grandmother’s hand and danced with her while his Aunt Marissa belted out the classic hit.

Dawson admitted seeing the two of them dancing while she sang moved her to tears.

Adams said how he and Dawson came to organize their “Duo” is an interesting story.

In 2017, his friend’s band quit and the band was set to perform the day before Thanksgiving. He asked Adams to step in but Adams had another gig with his band for the same night. The band rearranged selections to put Adams’ sets first so he could leave for his original gig. Meanwhile, the band was in need of a lead vocalist and Dawson was contacted.

Although as “fill-ins” Dawson and Adams had little time to interact outside of that performance, they agreed they had chemistry and decided later to work together.

In 2021, DMC Duo became their new name. They released their first song in 2023.

Adams said they each brought unique talents that strengthened other talents they did not recognize in themselves.

“Dawson never really saw herself as a songwriter and we started writing together,” he said.

Yet, the pair has garnered numerous awards over the years and continue to be nominated for awards, including songwriting.

This year Dawson is nominated for International Singer Songwriters Association awards for Female Vocalist and both she and Adams are nominated for Duo of the Year.

Their single “My Last First Day Without You” released in January is nominated for Song of the Year. In addition, they are also nominated for Josie Awards that will occur at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in November and “recognize exceptional talent and contributions of those who shape the independent music industry globally.”

The DMC Duo will open for The Orleans (known for their hit “Still the One”) Sept. 12 at Union Terrace in Allentown presented by ArtsQuest and Jefferson/LVHN.

The Emmaus Summer Entertainment Series concerts are free to the community and donations are appreciated.

Emmaus Borough Council member Roy Anders took to the stage to thank the many sponsors and appeal to the community to volunteer with the borough’s parks and recreation committee who works to put the summer series together annually.

More information about the committee can be found on the borough’s website. Upcoming bands include Scott Marshall and the Highway Souls Aug. 24. The SwingTime Dolls will close out the season Aug. 31.