Yolanda Adams Blends Mainstream & Gospel On Upcoming Tour
Nearly 20 years after her 1988 debut ''Just As I Am,'' legendary singer Yolanda Adams continues to inspire and transform the gospel music scene, with her upcoming ''Yolanda Today'' tour
Nearly 20 years after her 1988 debut “Just As I Am,” legendary singer Yolanda Adams continues to inspire and transform the gospel music scene, with her upcoming “Yolanda Today” tour featuring a host of special musical guests including Eddie Levert, Chaka Khan, and Kirk Whalum, and others.
Adams hopes that using mainstream artists on her tour will show that not all pop and R&B singers are “non-churched people.”
“We’ve been trying for years to bridge the gap between what people think are churched and non-churched people. You’d be so surprised how many folks came from the church that are singing pop and R&B,” explains Adams. “The people that we are having on our tour all came from the church. Most people of faith don’t realize that these are also people of faith.”
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The tour’s promoter Al Wash (ALW Entertainment) says that including mainstream artists on “Yolanda Today” will allow Adams ministry to reach a broader audience.
“Why do we keep preaching to the choir? Yolanda has played in every church and played to every gospel audience out there,” says Wash. “One day I was in church and I saw a group of ten homeless people join. That day, I said there’s a wider range of people that we need to touch and it takes someone like Yolanda Adams to go out and touch them.”
One unique guest slated for “Yolanda Today” is the duo Nuttin But Stringz. The group is composed of two brothers, Damien and Tourie Escobar, who fuse classical and urban music with violins.
“When I saw these guys on ‘Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ and ‘Good Morning America,’ I said, they are the ones!” shares Wash. “Knowing what Yolanda stands for, it was the perfect match and the vibe was there.”
Also onboard for the tour will be chart-toppers Mary Mary and Soul Train and Stellar-award winning artist Israel & New Breed, who’s “Live From Another Level,” release was recently certificated gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“He is one of the premiere writers and praise & worship leaders of the world,” says Adams of the group’s leader, Israel Houghton. “Not just in America, but he’s known for numerous hits that people are singing in churches all over the world.”
While "Yolanda Today" is Adams seventh national tour with ALW Entertainment, Wash says this tour is innovative and full of excitement.
"They're going to see Yolanda like you've never, ever seen Yolanda before," he exclaims.
The tour comes in promotion of Adams’ new album, Day By Day, which releases August 30 on Atlantic Records. The singer’s first album in four years, Day By Day features production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Kirk Franklin, Shep Crawford, “Big” Jim Wright and Gordon Chambers & Barry Eastmond. The disk will also feature guest appearances by Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, and Franklin.
Adams hopes that Day By Day will be able to communicate the newfound peace and focus she has found in her life.
“It’s hard to explain when you have this kind of awakening that I have right now,” says Adams. “It’s like, wow, life is cool and life is wonderful. Today I am spiritually, mentally and totally focused on what I have to do; let me help somebody go through the madness that they have to get through, ‘Day By Day.’”
For more information about Yolanda Adams, go to www.yolandaadams.org.
