R. Kelly to give fans 'love letter' on summer tour

R. Kelly,  the self-proclaimed king of R&B, is set to hit the road this summer in support of his acclaimed 11th album, “Love Letter,” he announced Tuesday.

The three-time Grammy winner kicks off the month-long trek June 2 in Southaven, Miss., and will hit Los Angeles on June 11 with a stop at the Nokia Theatre.

“Love Letter” won the singer raves for its throwback to the classic soul of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Donny Hathaway. The disc marked a departure from the sexual lothario role he has delivered for most of his career, and Times staff writer August Brown applauded the singer for delivering “a full record of slow-simmered, grown-man emoting.”

Kelly remains one of the biggest-selling R&B artists, having moved more than 34 million albums, landed 12 No. 1 singles and eight No. 1 albums. 

Joining Kelly on the Love Letter tour will be R&B songstresses Keyshia Cole (who previously supported the singer on his 2007 Double Up tour) and Marsha Ambrosius.  The singer is also prepping his memoir.

“Soulacoaster” may finally shed light on the laundry list of career setbacks that have  plagued his life and slowed his career down over the years, incluing legal problems, being blacklisted by many urban radio stations and a rather nasty beef with Jay-Z, which led to a cancellation of a joint tour.
 
"I'm tired of being misunderstood,” Kelly said in a statement about the book. “I will show you the tears, fears, and sweat. I will open my heart and reveal the good in my life as well as all the drama. I want to tell it like it is.”

Check out the dates for the tour after the jump:

June 2 -– Southaven, Miss., DeSoto Civic Center
June 3 -– New Orleans, UNO Lakefront Arena
June 4 -– Mobile, Ala., Civic Center
June 5 -– Houston, Toyota Centre
June 10 -- Oakland, Coliseum
June 11 –- Los Angeles, Nokia Theatre
June 16 -– Chicago, Allstate Arena
June 17 -– St. Louis, Chaifetz Arena
June 18 -– Kansas City, Sprint Center
June 19 -– Dallas, Verizon Theater
June 24 -– Raleigh, N.C., RBC Center
June 25 -– Atlanta, Philips Arena
June 26 -– Birmingham, Ala., BJCC
June 29 -– Cleveland, CSU Wolstein Center
June 30 -– Newark, N.J.,  Prudential Center
July 1 -– Baltimore, 1st Mariner Arena
July 2 -– Washington, D.C., Verizon Center
July 3 -– Philadelphia, Mann Music Center

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

twitter.com/gerrickkennedy

Photo: R. Kelly. Credit: Jeremy Rall

Comments

[Lisa]

Now you know proper name are to be capitalized. Why would you spell LOVE LETTER in lower case letters. At least use sentence case letters. This is sad a writer who doesn't know proper grammar etiquette.

[Blah]

Pathetic writer.

R. Kelly is NOT the "self-proclaimed", he's THE King of R&B.

[Leilani]

Cosign Blah, the mainstream is always trying to downplay his title (like they did with MJ saying he was self proclaimed). Real R. Kelly fans know he had that title since the 90s. I have the issue of EM Magazine where they call him the new King of R&B on the cover. It's his title, he earned it, and he's had it for a while. It's not self proclaimed, he's the King of R&B period.

[Rkellyforums]

this might not get posted since things are only posted if you agree with writer of the article.

but what urban stations out here in LA blacklisted him.

i live here in LA and hes played daily on radio stations out here

sad that you have to lie to get folks to read your article. but then again you are affiliated with the suntimes out in chicago. another rag that likes to bash R Kelly.

[michael]

he still is a pervert.

[Rkellyforums]

just like the suntimes you pick and choose what you want people to read.

cowards...

[Still Loving Me Some RRRRrrrrr!!!]

@ RKelly Forums: When the scandal first hit the news and everyone was downloading those 3 videos that came with it. Big Boy of "Big Boy's Neighborhood PLEDGED a personal vow to NOT play anymore R Kelly songs, and he didn't for a LONG time. And he had the top morning drive show in LA. Fuzzy Fantaboulous was STILL with him and Lucious Liz was either not there or brand new to the Crew. Big Boy WAS Hot!!!!. As were alot of peeps, so what the writer wrote in THIS particular instance IS true. I'm feel sorry about the things R. Kelly has gone through in his life and how they may have affected him, BUT they do not take away from his music. NOONE and I mean NOONE can NOT say, when his songs come on YOU DONT MOVE. Period. I love him AND his music. My co-workers tease me, but I stayed IN his corner though his mis-steps because HE is not the only one who has had them.