R&B powerhouse Anita Baker has announced the dates for her 2023 headlining tour. It’ll mark the legendary singer’s first full tour since 1995.
The highly anticipated tour will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Baker’s debut solo album, The Songstress, which was released May 31, 1983.
The 15-city tour kicks off Feb. 11, 2023, in Hollywood, Florida, at Hard Rock Live. From there, Baker will travel across the U.S., playing in cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Baltimore, Memphis and Los Angeles.
The tour will conclude Dec. 23, 2023, at Oakland Arena in Oakland, California.
Babyface will join Baker on the road as a special guest.
Baker is expected to perform music from her iconic catalog and introduce new music.
“Looking forward to some crazy, lovely, hang time with my fans, on tour in 2023!! Gonna, bring some new music and some special guests, too,” says Baker.
Baker released The Songstress on May 31, 1983 via Beverly Glen Music. It peaked at No. 12 on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart.
The album’s lead single “Angel,” which Baker co-wrote, peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart (now known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs).
In 1986, Baker returned with her sophomore album, Rapture, via Elektra Records. “Sweet Love,” the lead single, reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It marked Baker’s first top 10 hit on Billboard.
“Sweet Love” won a Grammy for Best R&B Song at the 29th Grammy Awards in 1987. Baker also took home a trophy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Rapture.
Rapture was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August 1986, selling 500,000 copies. It went on reach 5x multi-platinum in January 1994 for selling over five million copies. It marks Baker’s highest-certified album to date.
Baker kept the momentum going. After concluding her first headlining tour, The Rapture Tour, she returned with Giving You the Best That I Got in 1988.
“Giving You The Best That I Got,” the title track, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the 31st Grammy Awards, it won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. The album was certified 3x multi-platinum in March 1989.
In 1990, Baker dropped her fourth album, Compositions, which scored Baker yet another Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Baker went on to release three more albums: Rhythm of Love in 1994, My Everything in 2004 and Christmas Fantasy in 2005.
In 2012, Baker released her cover of Tyrese’s 1999 song “Lately.”
“[‘Lately’ is] one of the first songs we cut, analog, in Nashville,” Baker told The Boombox in 2012.
“I brought in a live rhythm section. I brought it to L.A., and I called [Tyrese] into the studio and I played it for him; he had no idea. And he lost it, of course. He was like, ‘I know who has got to produce this!’ I’m like, ‘I already know, I got Harvey Mason, Jr., on tap.’”
“Lately” was supposed to appear on Baker’s comeback album, Only Forever. However, the album was not released. Still, Baker scored a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards.
As noted above, Baker has teased her plans to release new music. Last year, she gained ownership of her masters thanks to rapper Chance the Rapper.
At this time, it’s unclear if the new music will include a new album or project.
Anita Baker 2023 Tour Dates
Feb 11, 2023 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live*
Feb 14, 2023 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Feb 17, 2023 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
May 10, 2023 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
May 12, 2023 – Belmont, NY @ UBS Arena
May 14, 2023 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
Jun 30, 2023 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
Jul 2, 2023 – Detroit, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
Nov 18, 2023 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Nov 22, 2023 – Memphis, TN @ FedExForum
Nov 24, 2023 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena*
Dec 15, 2023 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Dec 17, 2023 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
Dec 22, 2023 – Los Angeles, CA @ Crypto.com Arena
Dec 23, 2023 – Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
Tickets go on sale Thursday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. local time on livenation.com.
*Not a Live Nation date
