R. KELLY ANNOUNCES “THE BUFFET” TOUR - COMING TO GREENSBORO COLISEUM

Greensboro Coliseum

Friday, June 10

PRE-SALE TICKETS AVAILABLE ON WED., MAR.23

"Three-time Grammy Award winner, multi-platinum selling singer, songwriter and producer R. Kelly is set to hit the road for “The Buffet” tour, including a Friday, June 10 stop at Greensboro Coliseum.

The tour is promoted by The Commission Presents and will kick off in Cincinnati—running through Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta & New Orleans. “The Buffet” tour is set to be one of R. Kelly’s most entertaining shows to date.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000, Ticketmaster outlets and the Greensboro Coliseum box office.

“I’m extremely excited to head back on tour and see all of my amazing fans,” says R. Kelly. “'The Buffet’ tour is one you don’t want to miss, I’ve changed everything for this tour including the stage setup— plus the production is crazy!” 

Fans will have the opportunity to purchase pre-sale tickets on Wednesday, March 23 using an exclusive promo code released only through R. Kelly’s social media account and Ticketmaster’s VIP mailing list. Additional tour dates will be announced in the near future.

“He’s by far the most theatrical figure in R&B,” explains the New York Times.  “He was riveting, slicing and dicing notes into jagged shapes. Mr. Kelly is a precise and flexible singer, able to summon hurt and church and ecstasy at will.”

R. Kelly released his highly anticipated 13^th solo studio album The Buffet on December 11, 2015. The album includes his hit summer jam “Backyard Party” and his latest single “Marching Band.” With over 470 songs recorded over the course of the last 2 years, “The Buffet” positions the prolific songwriter and entertainer as the “King of R&B” yet again. The Buffet is a musical smorgasbord with sounds ranging from R&B to pop to blues and even country. R. Kelly adds his signature soulfulness to make each song uniquely his own while giving fans an eclectic taste of his musical influences. The album boast features from music heavy hitters Lil Wayne and Juicy J plus music's hottest new artists Ty Dolla $ign, Jeremih, Tinashe and Jhené Aiko.

"I have fans from numerous generations listening to my music now and I wanted to provide everyone with something they could enjoy" explains R. Kelly "With The Buffet, I wanted to showcase a variety of my musical sounds and include all the genres I love on one project."

  

Lauded as an R&B legend, R. Kelly is one of the most successful artists of all time with over 40 million albums sold worldwide, 3 Grammy Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 6 Billboard Awards, and 8 Soul Train Awards.  His chart-topping hits range from “Bump N’ Grind” and “Your Body’s Callin” to Grammy Award winning “I Believe I Can Fly” and everything in between.    In addition to recent collaborations with Lady Gaga (“Do What U Want”), Justin Bieber (“PYD”), Phoenix (“Trying To Be Cool" remix) and  Bruno Mars (“Gorilla” remix),  R. Kelly has scored hit songs for Michael Jackson (“You Are Not Alone”), Celine Dion (“I’m Your Angel”), Maxwell (“Fortunate”) and countless others. With a music career spanning over 25 years, R. Kelly has proven time and time again he's the “King of R&B.”  

“The Buffet” Tour Dates

April  21  U.S Bank Arena - Cincinnati, OH

April 22 Joe Louis Arena- Detroit, MI

April 23 Wolstein Center- Cleveland, OH

April 30 Sprint Center- Kansas City, MO

May 7 Allstate Arena- Chicago, IL

May 8 KFC YUM Center- Louisville, KY

May 11 Maverik Center- Salt Lake City, UT

May 13 Veterans Memorial Coliseum- Portland, OR

May 14 Xfinity Arena- Evertt, WA

May 26 JVM Arena- Jacksonville, FL

May 27 Amalie Arena- Tampa, FL

May 28 American Airlines Arena- Miami, FL

June 9 Time Warner Arena- Charlotte, NC

June 10 Greensboro Coliseum Complex- Greensboro, NC

June 11 Philips Arena- Atlanta, GA

           

For The Latest News on R. Kelly:

www.R-Kelly.com

Facebook.com/R.Kelly

Twitter.com/RKelly

instagram.com/rkelly

Vevo.com/artist/R. Kelly"

- A Press Release

Police Chief Wayne Scott Offers Departmental Actions Related to Racial Disparities

"GREENSBORO, NC (October 28, 2015) –  Greensboro Police Chief Wayne Scott provides the following in follow up to community concerns and questions raised regarding the recent New York Times article highlighting racial disparities in policing in Greensboro.

“I want to reassure the Greensboro community that I and the entire police department remain very concerned by the data and information shared in this week’s New York Times article about racial disparities. The police department consists of hard working men and women who are required to act within the law and abide by a code of conduct and policies that specifically prohibit racial profiling (see attached). Clearly there is information that tells us problems and discrepancies exist and my staff and I are working to better understand the causes and to make appropriate changes to improve police interactions in our community.

The data revealed by the New York Times and information released by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill paints a complex and troubling picture. Prior to the release of that information, my team was working with consultants at North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to analyze our local data. I felt it was a needed step to help us better understand the causes and to help shape and inform future departmental policy and practice enhancements.

At this time, I’m expecting to have the results of our research in January. I plan to openly share the results with our entire community and will also ask for the assistance of my faith leadership council and bias-based policing committee to help our department plan and implement improvements.

As officers, we are always mindful of the value Greensboro residents place in us to perform our duties professionally and with utmost integrity. That’s why we strive to exercise sound discretion and conduct in the daily execution of activities including traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, field interviews, and asset/forfeiture seizures. It’s also why we consistently review our code of conduct and bias-based policing directives to remind our officers of their intended purposes and application and to reinforce departmental accountability. When officers fall short in those areas, they are held accountable.

Strengthening police relationships and trust within the community remains a top priority of mine. We’re continuing to review the strategies that I launched when I became Chief in April. They are designed to help us become a better police department that is a national model for exceptional policing through our commitment to excellence, selfless public service, and effective community partnerships.  Meanwhile, in the coming weeks, I will announce a series of additional measures designed to aid the department in better connecting with the community we serve.

I again want to reassure the community that I take these matters very seriously and I will continue to openly share information in our follow-up on this and other important policing topics. We will also continue to be sensitive in our interactions, open-minded, good listeners, and focused on best meeting the needs of our community. Most importantly, we will work to build trust by acknowledging and embracing change if it means we will grow stronger together as a department and a city.”"

- A Press Release

LIVE MUSIC ALERT: BECCA STEVENS BAND PLAYS THE CROWN AT THE CAROLINA ON THURSDAY, OCT.15

"The Carolina Theatre announced today that North Carolina-bred, New York-based artist, Becca Stevens, will perform in the Crown at the Carolina on Thurs., Oct. 15. Becca Stevens is one of the most talented young artists in any genre – the New York Times says she is “a vocalist and guitarist who balances deep melody against lyrical caprice.”

For all of us in North Carolina, one of the most exciting parts of her story is her upbringing and Old North State influence. The daughter of a composer/multi-instrumentalist father and an operatically trained singer mother, she was born to the sound of her dad playing an Irish fiddle tune in the delivery room. She was just two years old when she began singing in her family’s band, the Tune Mammals. Growing up in Winston-Salem, NC, she spent much of her childhood on stage, singing, acting and dancing, including a yearlong tour in the lead role of The Secret Garden when she was ten.

In her teens, Becca studied classical guitar, and maintained an affinity for her home state’s Appalachian folk music traditions, while also developing her voice singing jazz standards with her peers and mentors in local clubs. After graduating from the high school program at the North Carolina School of the Arts with a major in classical guitar, she moved to New York to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.  It was there that she received a BFA with high honors in vocal jazz and composition, and where she met the musicians with whom she formed the Becca Stevens Band.

The new Becca Stevens Band album Perfect Animal, released in April of 2015 on Universal Music Classics, has been receiving a loud chorus of praise from critics, been featured in two national NPR segments and ended up on two Billboard charts (#24 on Heatseekers, #22 on Folk). With this album, she has sharpened her voice as a songwriter and bandleader. Stevens filters her myriad influences (indie rock, R&B, jazz, West African music, Appalachian folk) into a singular, electrifying sound on Perfect Animal. The album is produced by “recordist” Scott Solter (St. Vincent, Mountain Goats, Spoon) and mixed by Matt Pence (Midlake, Yuck, Here We Go Magic). Solter helped the band capture the energy they bring to live shows as well as a musical weight and intensity that had always bubbled under the surface.

2015 has been a monumental year for the Becca Stevens Band. The release of Perfect Animal was followed by extensive North American tour throughout the spring and summer. Late this month the band heads to Europe for eight dates, highlighted by a performance at the Barcelona Jazz Festival.

The Becca Stevens Band is Becca Stevens (vocals, guitars, ukulele, charango), Liam Robinson (keyboards, accordion, vocals), Chris Tordini (upright and electric bass, vocals) and Jordan Perlson (drums and percussion).

Watch an EPK on the making of Perfect Animal here: http://bit.ly/1n4BZB2

  

“Becca is one of the best musicians I know. She’s a great songwriter…it’s like listening to Stereolab. The vocals are straight and clean yet also have a modern vibe. I think Becca is destined for greatness.” - José James

“[‘Imperfect Animals’ is] an intimate rumination on our inability to be everything to everyone, all the time...the song’s jagged edges — low, scratchy guitars, jerky time signatures — complement the complicated ideals and realities she’s grappling with.”- Wondering Sound

“Brilliant, catchy originals.”- Downbeat

“Her songwriting, voice, and lyrics are like a cool bubbling brook freshening the brine of all the music you’ve ever heard.” - Esperanza Spalding

“She’s someone who everybody, in my generation at least, looks up to. She’s really a genius — I don’t like using that word too much, she really has tapped into something in a deep way.”- Ambrose Akinmusire

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ABOUT THE CROWN

The Crown is the Carolina Theatre’s newest performance space. For decades the room served as the Theatre’s original sign shop, churning out iconic posters and advertisements for movies, vaudeville, and early touring shows. Later the third floor room became a forgotten equipment and tool storage space, lying in wait for future generations of performing artists. In 2013 the Theatre finished the first phase of renovation, opening the beautiful, high-tech black-box style performance space as The Crown. Today the room is celebrated for its delicate acoustics, inviting ambiance, intimate setting, and accessibility to the Triad’s performing arts community. Warm, exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and huge lead-paned windows bring the room its natural, historical, “up-cycled” cool factor. The Crown at the Carolina is used for theatre, live music, spoken word, dance, weddings and private events."

- A Press Release

Media: details, details

The opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum yesterday is a story about current racial politics, great acts of yesteryear and economic development. Almost lost in the shuffle is the museum itself, and how it tells the story of a seminal period in American history. The curatorial quality of the museum will almost certainly make a difference in whether the nation notices this museum and comes to see what’s in it.

The Monday New York Times gives it a somewhat critical review (too harsh, in my opinion).

“There is an ahistorical tendency here, in which particular detail is put aside for broad impact,” writes Edward Rothstein. “To a certain extent this must be done in any commemoration, particularly one as fraught with passion and urgency as this. But more attention to the nuances of the movement wouldn’t have hurt the museum’s cause; it would have strengthened it.”

Rothstein’s review misses some of the detail itself.

He writes that “visitors sit at the long counter… and gaze into mirrors that become video screens seeming to reflect the sit-in.”

When I took the tour early in the afternoon of opening day, the counter area was chained off and the tour guide apologized that guests would not be allowed to sit in the seats — understandably. Given that Rothstein’s dateline is Feb. 1, 2010, he evidently received a pre-opening tour.

CBS News, apparently received the same treatment because reporter Michelle Miller strolls through the gallery, saying, “This counter no longer serves lunch; now it serves as a reminder of a time not so long ago people like me weren’t allowed to sit here.”

And then she does just that.