The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige Announces Summer Headlining Tour

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige Announces Summer Headlining Tour

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirteen years into her career Mary J. Blige is still the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. She was anointed the title even before her boundary-breaking, genre-making debut smash "What's the 411?" dropped in 1992 and now on the heels of the success of her new album, "The Breakthrough," Mary J. Blige announces a summer headlining tour featuring opening acts Jaheim and Latoya. "Mary J. Blige: The Breakthrough Experience" tour will kick off July 1st in Houston, TX (see below for complete itinerary) and hit over 30 cities nationwide.

Released on December 20th, "The Breakthrough" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album Chart. Massive first week sales of 727,163 earned it the honor of being the best opening week for a solo R&B female artist in SoundScan history. The CD also had the distinction of being the fourth-best debut of all of 2005. "The Breakthrough" has currently sold over 2.3 million copies.

The first single off The Breakthrough., "Be Without You," has been breaking records as well. It remained on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart for 15 weeks which established Mary as having the longest running No. 1 song on this chart since it was reintroduced in 1965. "Be Without You" is the sixth Mary J. Blige recording to reach No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. The other five were "You Remind Me," "Real Love," "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By," "Not Goin' Cry," and Family Affair." Mary's new single "Enough Cryin'" is poised to reach #4 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart.

Beyond commercial success, the press is unanimous in their praise of the artistry of "The Breakthrough." Vanity Fair raves, "...she's still the Queen ... " USA Today claims, "Another Blige 'Breakthrough' ... Blige still touches souls...," People Magazine calls the CD "...one of her most impassioned performances, proving a little drama can go a long way." NY Daily News says Mary, "...wins by finely delivering songs that show how complicated simple joy can be." The Boston Globe hails the CD as "...a start-to-finish triumph."

Mary's six prior platinum and multi-platinum hit albums include such classics, "No More Drama," "What's the 411," "My Life," "Share My World," "Mary and Love & Life."

Below is a complete itinerary for "Mary J Blige: The Breakthrough Experience" tour:

DAY DATE CITY VENUE

Sat 6/24 Chicago, IL Bridgeview Stadium
Thu 6/29 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park
Sat 7/01 Houston, TX Reliant Stadium
Mon 7/3 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest
Fri 7/14 St. Louis, MO UMB Bank Pavilion
Sat 7/15 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
Sun 7/16 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless
Wed 7/19 Hartford, CT Mohegun Sun Arena
Fri 7/21 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Sun 7/23 Philadelphia, PA. Tweeter
Wed 7/26 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette
Thu 7/27 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sat 7/29 Cleveland, OH Plain Dealer Pavilion
Sun 7/30 Washington, DC Nissan Pavilion
Fri 8/04 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Casino and Hotel
Sat 8/05 Raleigh, NC Altell Pavilion
Sun 8/06 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless
Wed 8/09 San Antonio, TX Verizon Wireless
Fri 8/11 Dallas, TX Smirnoff
Sat 8/12 Memphis, TN Fed Ex Forum
Sun 8/13 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theater
Fri 8/18 Columbus, OH Germain Amphitheater
Sat 8/19 Chicago, IL Charter
Sun 8/20 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music
Fri 8/25 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Bank Atlantic Center
Sat 8/26 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheater
Sun 8/27 Atlanta, GA Lakewood
Fri 9/01 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless
Sat 9/02 Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay
Sun 9/03 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheater
Wed 9/06 Phoenix, AZ Cricket Pavilion
Thu 9/07 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheater
Fri 9/08 Oakland, CA Chronical Pavilion

www.GeffenRecords.com www.mjblige.com

Source: Geffen Records

CONTACT: National Press, Jim Merlis, +1-310-865-0570,
jim.merlis@umusic.com, or Tour & Regional Press, Brenda Reynoso,
+1-310-865-8985, brenda.reynoso@umusic.com, both of Geffen Records

Web site: http://www.geffenrecords.com/
http://www.mjblige.com/

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