Alicia Keys gears up for North American tour

By M&C News Apr 17, 2008, 15:32 GMT

US singer Alicia Keys performs live at the Sports Palace, where she presented her latest record \'As I am\', in Madrid, Spain, 17 March 2008.

After wowing fans during her successful sold-out European tour, MBK/J Records’ global superstar Alicia Keys is just days away from bringing that same excitement on the North American leg of her “As I Am Tour” presented by Lexus. 

Joined by “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks and Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, the “As I Am Tour” presented by Lexus, kicks off April 19th in Hampton, VA. 

The tour continues on across the US and Canada, and will conclude on June 18th at Madison Square Garden in Alicia’s hometown of New York City.   Due to popular demand, new dates have been added in Memphis, Anaheim and Sacramento.
 
“I wanted to make this show unique and different from my standard style show,  so the approach of this tour is like a journey; from the beginning of my life, leading up to where we are now,” comments Keys. 

“I’m communicating a lot to the audience through the music and by talking and sharing personal stories,” she adds.  

Throughout the duration of the tour, Keys will also communicate with her fans that call her at 917-934.3319 and provide them with tour updates and other exciting news.

Keys will give millions of morning TV viewers a mere sample of her stage show when she kicks off NBC’s popular “Toyota Concert Series on Today” on April 21st.  Keys is set to perform her hit single “No One,”  as well as her new single “Teenage Love Affair” for the first time on national television.

Keys’ new single, the endearing “Teenage Love Affair,” is set to impact radio April 21st.   The Chris Robinson directed video for the single pays homage to the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee’s classic film School Daze, with cameos by the film’s original cast member Giancarlo Esposito (Julian), actors Derek Luke (Glory Road, Antwone Fisher), Tristan Wilds (The Wire), and R&B singer Anthony Hamilton.  On April 23rd, BET will conduct an all-day premiere of the video and Keys will host the popular video countdown program 106 & Park. 

Ignited by her first two hit singles “No One” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” Keys’ internationally-acclaimed third studio album ‘As I Am’ (MBK/J Records), has sold over 5 million copies worldwide since its November 2007 release. 

The disc has claimed the #1 spot for several non-consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart and the single “No One,” earned Keys two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.  

Additionally, Keys received four awards at the NAACP Image Awards and was honored at the first annual BET Honors ceremony.

Not one to rest on her laurels and accolades, Alicia continues her philanthropic outreach as the Co-Founder and Global Ambassador of Keep A Child Alive (KCA) by offering a free download of her inspirational documentary Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland.

Directed by South African filmmaker Earle Sebastian, the documentary follows Keys’ month-long trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS pandemic in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.  

The documentary can be viewed in its entirety at www.aliciainafrica.com or downloaded courtesy of the film’s exclusive web partner www.spiralfrog.com.   Additionally, Keys will screen the Alicia in Africa trailer before each concert on her North American tour.

With an impressive combination of heartfelt, award-winning music, a burgeoning acting career and noble humanitarian efforts, Keys continues to demonstrate that she’s one of the most influential persons of her generation.

Alicia Keys Tickets are now available at M&C’s Ticket Database. Tour dates include:
DATE                     CITY                            VENUE                             

Sat-Apr-19 Hampton, VA  Hampton Coliseum
Mon-Apr-21 Philadelphia, PA  Liacouras Center
Tue-Apr-22 Pittsburgh, PA Peterson Events Center
Thu-Apr-24 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center @ CSU
Sat-Apr-26 Columbus, OH Value City Arena @ Schottenstein Ctr
Sun-Apr-27 St Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Wed-Apr-30 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Thu-May-01 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Sun-May 04 Anaheim, CA Honda Center
Mon-May-05 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
Wed-May-07 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
Fri-May-09 Las Vegas, NV MGM Garden Arena
Sat-May-10 San Jose, CA  HP Pavilion at San Jose
Sun-May-11 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
Wed-May-14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
Thu-May-15 Memphis, TN Fed Ex Forum
Sun-May-18 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Thu-May-22 New Orleans New Orleans Arena
Sat-May-24 St. Petersburg, FL St. Pete Times Forum
Sun-May-25 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
Wed-May-28 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Fri-May-30 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
Sat-May-31 Atlantic City, NJ Mark Etess/Taj Arena
Tue-Jun-03 Montreal, QC Bell Centre
Thu-Jun-05 Toronto, ON  Air Canada Centre
Fri-Jun-06   Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
Sat-Jun-07   Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
Wed-Jun-11 Boston, MA TD Bank North Garden
Fri-Jun-13    Washington D.C. Verizon Center
Sun-Jun-15   Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
Tue-Jun-17   Newark, NJ  Prudential Center
Wed-Jun-18  New York, NY  Madison Square Garden