Stevie Wonder cancels L.A. holiday charity show due to time crunch

Stevie Wonder canceled a benefit concert in Los Angeles in December, citing limited preparation time, but promised to donate generously.

Stevie Wonder pulled the plug on his planned four-night House Full of Toys concert series in Los Angeles when he realized there simply wasn’t enough time to complete it.

The Grammy winner had hoped to expand his long-running holiday charity event into a multi-night celebration at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood. The performances, scheduled for December 18-21, mark the 26th anniversary of his annual fundraiser, which supports children, families in need and people with disabilities.

But in a message broadcast on his Los Angeles radio station KJLH, Wonder explained why the ambitious plan had to be shelved.

“A week and a half ago, I came up with the idea of ​​doing four nights at the Fonda Theater to raise money for Dollhouse. Great idea, but not a lot of time,” he said. “Therefore, due to time constraints, I have decided to cancel all four shows.”

Despite the cancellation, the 75-year-old music legend has pledged to continue supporting the cause financially.

“Nonetheless, this year I will put my money close to my heart and make a generous donation to ‘A House Full of Toys’ for kids,” he said. “Next year, we will make A House Full of Toys again, with big ideas and plenty of time to put it together.”

The annual charity event, organized by Wonder’s nonprofit We Are You Foundation, typically requires attendees to bring “an unwrapped toy or an unwrapped gift of joy” as part of their admission.

Over the years, artists including Lionel Richie, Queen Latifah, Anderson Paak and Jon Batiste have given surprise performances at the event.

Organizers said ticket holders will receive refund information via email. Wonder’s announcement aired the week of November 27, less than a month before the concert was scheduled to begin.

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