Soul Man: R. Kelly Covers Catalog In Concert Tour

There are three things R. Kelly can do for sure – sing, write songs and tell a joke!

During his 'Ladies Make Some Noise!' tour stop at Washington, DC's DAR Constitution Hall, the Chicago-bred crooner did them all.

He hit the stage with a medley of his hits and a few hip-hop anthems mixed in for good measure.

Sporting blue jeans, a black t-shirt, a white blazer, red scarf and red Gucci aviator shades, Kelly seamlessly flowed through songs like 'So Sexy,' 'Hotel' and 'Thoia Thoing.'

The 42-year-old singer not only worked the crowd, but he occasionally stopped to pose for pictures being taken by the female fans bunched up onstage, on a red carpet and behind a velvet rope in a paparazzi-style set-up.

(I spotted a friend from college and a producer from 'Bobby Jones Gospel' dancing and grinding in the group.)

After the 42-year-old singer finished 'I'm a Flirt,' he looked to the production crew and beckoned: "Move this rug. I almost tripped three g---m times."

His plea was a set-up for an extemporized song about the rug, as Kelly continued to sing: "Three G---m times/Three G---m times."

"Y'all laughing now, but when you hear this s--t on the radio, you gonna be loving it," he laughed.

A quick set change to a movie theater and Kelly switched jackets and swapped his scarf – this time a black leather jacket and black and white scarf – before the he continued what seemed like an endless collection of hits.

His latest, 'Number One,' led a medley that included 'Bump 'n Grind' and 'You Remind Me of Something;' before he performed an acoustic arrangement of songs like 'Sex In The Kitchen' and 'I Wish.'

After Kelly rendered his song 'Strip For You,' a woman in the crowd threw a pair of red lace panties onto the stage.

Surprisingly, Kelly picked up the undergarment, smelled them and then stuffed them into his back pocket.

To reciprocate on the gesture, Kelly went behind a wardrobe changer, took off his pants and removed his own white Calvin Klein boxer briefs and gave them to the woman.

Paying homage to his friend and musical mentor, the incarcerated Ron Isley of The Isley Brothers, Kelly sang two songs he penned for Isley including 'Contagious' and 'Down Low (Nobody Has To Know).'

A few hits later, the former Public Announcement front man then addressed the child pornography charges that he went to court and was acquitted of in 2008.

"This is my first tour since my court case. They told me don't be coming out here talking about the trial and stuff, but while I went through that y'all went through that with me," he said, nearly sermonic, before adding: "And I'm still here! Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!"

Kelly used his preachy monologue to shift into his anthem 'I Believe I Can Fly.'

Midway through the song, Kelly transitioned into a song he said he "heard in the car after he was acquitted" and broke into a rousing rendition of Marvin Sapp's 'Never Would Have Made It.'

It wasn't long before Kelly returned to the sexual selections, with songs like 'Sex Me,' 'Your Body's Calling,' and '12 Play' serving as a prelude to his tribute to Michael Jackson.

To recognize MJ, a video aired on the jumbo screen with the 'Chocolate Factory' singer talking about the King of Pop. Jackson is later seen riding in a car with movie producer Brett Ratner and dancing to Kelly's song 'Ignition.'

(Kelly penned Jackson's 1995 song 'You Are Not Alone' and the song appeared on his CD, 'HIStory.' MJ appeared nude in the video with then wife Lisa Marie Presley.)

Reemerging in a black suit, white shirt , red bow-tie and red pocket square, Kelly told the crowd how his late mother loved Sam Cooke and the next tribute was dedicated to her.

He then performed two Cooke classics, 'Bring it on Home to Me' and 'A Change Is Gonna Come.'

'Step in the Name of Love' into 'Happy People' closed the show, as Kelly took several bows to a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

The 'Ladies Make Some Noise!' tour lacked the intricate production elements of most of Kelly's previous outings – he doesn't perform dance routines; there are no sensual bedroom scenes or jungle-like animal acts in a cage; nor are there any pyrotechnics or elaborate light shows.

Nonetheless, Kelly's catalog of music is the star of this tour and fans are so looked into a "oh, that's my song" moment that they don't appear to miss the bells and whistles.

R&B star Pleasure P and newcomer K. Michelle are the opening acts.

Kelly's newest CD, 'Untitled' is out via Jive Records on Dec. 1.

*****

For more information on R. Kelly, read: 'R. Kelly: Singer Talks Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston & New Music.'

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Black Music Notes Mar. 19

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3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'

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3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.

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3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'

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3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.

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3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.

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3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.

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3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.

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3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'

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