Lamaria Purchase is bringing folks together with a ‘reason to celebrate’

The inspiration for Lamaria Purchase's Christmas show occurred while she was performing at a holiday concert.

While keeping time as the drummer at Alisabeth Von Presley's 2024 holiday concert “Christmas in the Key of A” at the Paramount Theatre, Purchase decided to assemble a seasonal event that brings everyone together regardless of belief or denomination.

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"Alisabeth is the reason I wanted to do a Christmas show," Purchase said. "I love being part of her shows. Her Christmas concerts are so much fun. When I performed this year with her I laughed, I cried. She just had a baby and she's so amazing. When I told her I decided to put together a show like hers, she was so excited."

"The Reason We Celebrate," slated for Saturday at CSPS Hall, is Purchase's baby. The show will be as eclectic as the crowd Purchase hopes to draw. The music menu is a mix of Gospel, R&B and spoken word. The choir from Greater Works Church will sing. Purchase will play drums and perform with the house band and deliver a surprising performance

"The music will be varied," Purchase said. "It's about embracing different genres, as well as cultures and beliefs. We're weaving them into this tapestry. It's a very inclusive event for those who believe and for those who don't believe."

Purchase, 27, has been moved to host such an event due to division and the impact of the pandemic when folks were forced to retreat to a fortress of solitude a half-decade ago.

"What happened in 2020 took a big toll on me," Purchase said. "It was a very hard time for everyone. It was very hard to stay together as a family. COVID separated the world. We lost people, and the world has been kind of crazy since then. I feel like we all need something in which we can join together. I've been thinking about this for awhile."

Christmas was always what reconnected Purchase's family while she was growing up in Joliet, Illinois.

"That's what we came together for and what we still connect over," Purchase said. "So we have this Christmas event. My goal is to bring love back, and unity. We can do this for one night in Cedar Rapids. I love it here."

Purchase, who resides in Cedar Rapids, moved to Marion when she was 14 when her father became the minister of music at Mount Zion Baptist.

"It was such a different world going from Joliet to Marion," Purchase said. "I had never heard of Iowa. We moved to Marion and I was scared at first. I was the only Black kid at my school. But I adapted and learned how to speak well, and I just grew so much as a person. I love where I live and the people here. Iowa is home and I want to give back with this show. ‘The Reason We Celebrate’ is a reminder that the season is not about what separates us but what brings us together."

Purchase is all about giving back to the community. She is launching her latest endeavor, "Back to The Basixxs Youth Foundation" at her Christmas show.

"It's because of my love for music and the community that I started the Back to The Basixxs Youth Foundation," Purchase said. "Back to the Basixxs Youth Foundation exists to guide young people back to the roots of respect, learning and creativity. We believe that every child and young adult deserves a chance to explore their gifts in education, art, music and life while being supported by a community that believes in them. Our purpose is to mentor the next generation to rediscover the joy of learning the power of kindness and the value of being involved."

Purchase hopes those who attend "The Reason We Celebrate" will be moved to donate their time and resources for the greater good.

"We want people to leave this event knowing that this community cares about them," Purchase said.

Purchase hopes folks will go out on a limb and help others since she will be taking a chance at her concert by making her debut as a vocalist.

"I'm going to sing," Purchase said. "I'm going to do a solo. No one has ever heard me sing before. I've done karaoke, but I've never doing anything like this."