NEW YORK, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Three of the biggest superstars in
contemporary Pop and R&B music are joining forces in what promises to be one
of the most exciting and historic tours of 2004: The Verizon Ladies First Tour
starring Beyonce (co-sponsored on the tour by Steve Madden and L'Oreal),
Alicia Keys, and Missy Elliott, with special guest Tamia.
One of the most highly-anticipated tours ever, the cross-country
extravaganza is scheduled to begin March 12 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and
winds up April 18 at the Oakland Coliseum (see itinerary following).
"Verizon is extremely pleased to be the title sponsor of The Verizon
Ladies First Tour starring Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Missy Elliott," said Bob
Ingalls, Verizon Retail Markets president. "These three phenomenal artists
transcend audience expectations and are sure to provide a truly exciting
series of performances. Verizon's title sponsorship of the tour enhances our
long and distinctive history of providing quality entertainment for our
customers."
Beyonce is touring the U.S. for the first time in support of her #1 multi-
platinum debut solo album, Dangerously In Love, which earned her five 2004
Grammy Awards including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song for
"Crazy In Love," her smash single featuring Jay-Z. With her recent win of
five Grammys, Beyonce tied the record set by Lauryn Hill in 1999 -- and later
tied by Alicia Keys (2001) and Norah Jones (2002) -- for the most Grammys to
be won in a single year by a female artist.
As a founding member of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling female
groups of all time, Beyonce is one of the most widely-recognized and highly-
respected women in pop music. With many of the group's hit recordings co-
written and co-produced by Beyonce, Destiny's Child has sold more than 40
million albums and singles worldwide and earned an astounding 22 gold,
platinum, and multi-platinum RIAA certifications since the group's recorded
debut in November 1997.
Beyonce's burgeoning career as an actress began in 2001 with the lead role
in the MTV film "Carmen: A Hip Hopera." She displayed her comedic prowess as
"Foxxy Cleopatra" in 2002's "Austin Powers In Goldmember," starring Mike
Myers. She starred opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr., in 2003's "The Fighting
Temptations."
Beyonce has earned numerous accolades including Grammy Awards, American
Music Awards, World Music Awards, and the prestigious NAACP Image Award. When
Beyonce won the 2001 ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award, she became the
first African-American woman -- and the second woman ever -- to receive that
honor.
Alicia Keys had one of the most auspicious debut albums in history with
the phenomenal Songs In A Minor. Released in 2001, the album earned Keys an
incredible five Grammy Awards, including the coveted Best New Artist.
Her much-anticipated follow-up album, The Diary Of Alicia Keys, debuted at
# 1 with more than 618,000 albums scanned, giving Keys the largest first
week's sales of any female artist in 2003. Within a month of its release, the
album was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
Alicia has been hailed a critic's choice from the very beginning of her
career. As stated by USA Today, "With The Diary of Alicia Keys (**** out of
four), Alicia Keys takes a creative leap forward. The gorgeous 'You Don't
Know My Name' is the album's centerpiece. Alicia Keys has made a superb
album." Roger Friedman of "Fox News" had this to say, "Alicia Keys' 'Diary'
is a knockout with exquisite production, vocals and instrumentals. Keys is
the future of real R&B. Bravo!" According to People, who chose Alicia as one
of the magazine's "Picks," "Keys lives up to the staggeringly high
expectations set by Songs In A Minor. Like 'The Godfather Part II,' this is
the rare sequel that doesn't disappoint. It's that good. (**** out of
four)."
A rare artist among her own generation, Keys is a singer, songwriter and
extraordinary pianist. She combines classical training with an old school
sensibility and has a direct relationship with today's mix of hip-hop and R&B.
The Verizon Ladies First Tour marks Keys' first major tour in the United
States since the release of Songs In A Minor.
Missy Elliott is widely regarded as hip-hop's premiere female artist.
Within the male-dominated field of hip-hop, her sales and debuts have rivaled
the biggest boys. She has created an empire on her own terms, earning the rep
of a daring innovator who won't take "no" for an answer. Missy Elliott is not
merely a visionary recording artist and performer. She is one of the few
women, if not the only, who enjoys an equal amount of success behind the
scenes, as a prolific songwriter and producer, and as the head of her own
record label.
Missy initially scored hits for other artists, including Aaliyah, before
breaking into the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart with 1997's Supa
Dupa Fly. Last year Missy signed on as the National Spokesperson for "Break
The Cycle," an organization that speaks out against domestic violence.
She won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2001 for her
irresistible anthem, "Get Ur Freak On," and another the following year for
Best Female Rap Solo Performance. "Work It," from her best-selling 2002 album,
Under Construction, earned the 2004 Grammy for Best Female Rap Solo
Performance. Missy recently won her first American Music Award, and took
home the biggest honor of the night, Video of the Year, at the 2003 MTV Video
Music Awards. Missy joins the tour in support of her latest release, the
critically-acclaimed This Is Not A Test.
Special guest and gold-selling Elektra artist Tamia joins the tour on the
heels of her #1 Urban A/C hit, "Officially Missing You," and the smash R&B hit
single, "Into You" (with Fabolous). The Grammy-nominated sultry singer is
currently promoting her new single, "Questions," produced by R. Kelly. Her
latest album, More, will be released on April 6th.
The 2000 release of A Nu Day, Tamia's debut album on Elektra, firmly
established the singer's status as one of R&B and Pop's most talented,
exciting and beautiful new stars. On the strength of the smash ballad,
"Stranger In My House," which reached #6 on the Billboard Urban Mainstream
chart, Top Ten on the Hot 100 and Crossover charts, and #1 on the Billboard
Dance chart, A Nu Day went Gold, selling over 600,000 copies. The album also
featured the #2 Dance chart hit, "Tell Me."
Tamia had begun making a name for herself even earlier in her young
career. She has received four Grammy Award nominations, including Best Female
R&B Vocal Performance for "You've Put A Move On My Heart," Best R&B
Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Slow Jams," with Babyface, Best Pop
Collaboration with Vocals for her work with Brandy, Gladys Knight and Chaka
Khan on "Missing You" from the "Set It Off" soundtrack, and for her #1 duet
with Eric Benet, "Spend My Life With You." Tamia has received nominations
from the Soul Train Music Awards and the NAACP Image Awards as well.
THE VERIZON LADIES FIRST TOUR ITINERARY
3/12 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ National Car Rental Center
3/14 New Orleans, LA @ Arena
3/17 San Antonio, TX @ SBC Center
3/18 Houston - Reliant Stadium (Beyonce Only)
3/21 Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
3/23 Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
3/24 Boston, MA @ Fleet Center
3/36 Hampton, VA @ The Coliseum
3/27 Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Coliseum
3/28 Atlanta, GA @ Phillips Arena
3/30 Cleveland, OH @ Gund Arena
4/1 Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
4/2 Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
4/3 Detroit, MI @ Palace at Auburn Hills
4/4 St. Louis, MO @ Savvis Center
4/6 Pittsburgh, PA @ University of Pittsburgh Arena
4/9 Hartford, CT @ Civic Center
4/10 Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
4/11 Washington, DC @ MCI Center
4/12 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
4/15 Phoenix, AZ @ America West Arena
4/16 Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay
4/17 Anaheim, CA @ The Pond
4/18 Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
SOURCE Columbia Records; J Records; Elektra Records
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Related links:
http://www.columbiarecords.com
CONTACT:
Beyonce - Yvette Noel-Schure of Columbia
Records, +1-212-833-4483, Yvette_Noel-Schure@sonymusic.com;
Alicia Keys - Biff Warren of J Records, +1-646-840-5673,
Biff.Warren@bmg.com, or Thomas Martin of NC Connect,
+1-212-320-3636, Thomasm@nc-connect.com; Missy Elliott - Anne
Kristoff, +1-212-707-3063, Anne.Kristoff@elektra.com, or Lisa
Jefferson, +1-818-238-2230, Lisa.Jefferson@elektra.com, both of
Elektra Records; or Tamia - Theola Borden, +1-212-707-3060,
Theola.borden@elektra.com, or Lisa Jefferson, +1-818-238-2230,
Lisa.Jefferson@elektra.com, both of Elektra Records
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