LAS VEGAS, NV. (Circus Reno) - The
Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J Blige, will showcase her powerful voice, raw emotion and commanding presence at the Reno Events Center on Saturday,
September 9. Sponsored by Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino, Harrah's Reno and the
Silver Legacy Resort Casino, Mary J Blige: The Breakthrough
Experience stops in Reno for one night only during a 30 city nation-wide tour.
When the debut album from Mary J Blige, What's the 411?, hit the street in 1992, critics and fans alike were floored by its powerful combination of modern R&B with an edgy rap sound that glanced off of the pain and grit of her Yonkers, NY, childhood. Called alternately the new Chaka Khan or Aretha Franklin, Blige had little in common stylistically with either of those artists, but like them helped adorn soul music with new textures and flavors that inspired a whole generation of musicians. With her blonde hair, self-preserving slouch, and combat boots, Blige was street-tough and beautiful all at once, and the record company execs who profited off of her early releases did little to dispel the bad-girl image that she earned as she stumbled through the dizzying first days of her career.
As she exorcised her personal demons and softened her style, she remained a hero to thousands of girls growing up in the same kinds of rough places she came from. Blige reinvented her career again and again by shedding the bad habits and bad influences that kept her down; by the time her fourth album, Mary, was released in 1999, she had matured into an expressive singer able to put the full power of her voice behind her music, while still reflecting a strong urban style. With her fifth album, No More Drama, it wasn't just Blige's style that shone through the structures set up for her by songwriters and producers; it was her own vision - spiritual, emotional, personal and full of wisdom. The album reflected an artist who was comfortable with who she was and how far she had come. The Mary J. Blige on No More Drama seemed miles away from the flashy kid on What's the 411?, yet it was still possible to see the path through her music that produced an older, wiser, but still expressive artist. In 2003 she was reunited with Sean 'Puffy' Combs, who produced the majority of that year's Love and Life album.
In December 2005 Blige released The Breakthrough, which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 album Chart. The Breakthrough has currently sold over 2.2 million copies, fueled by the hit single, 'Be Without You.' The sixth Mary J Blige recording to reach No. 1 on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, 'Be Without You' shares that honor with 'You Remind Me,' 'Real Love,' 'I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By,' 'Not Gonna Cry,' and 'Family Affair.' At the 2006 BET Awards on June 27, Blige took the award for Best Female R&B and tied for Video of the Year with Kanye West for 'Be Without You.'
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.'
Tickets for Mary J Blige at the Reno Events Center September 9 at 8 pm go on sale on August 3 and will be available for $80.50, $70.50 and $60.50. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 888-288-1833, online at downtownreno.com and at Circus Circus' Main Cage, the Eldorado Showroom Box Office and Silver Legacy's Box Office.
In a unique collaboration called Downtown Reno, Circus Circus Reno www.circusreno.com , Eldorado Hotel Casino www.eldoradoreno.com , Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel www.harrahs.com , and Silver Legacy Resort Casino www.silverlegacy.com are working together to bring an unparalleled lineup of concerts, events and gaming promotions to Reno. With a common goal of positioning downtown Reno as the center of tourism in northern Nevada, the group is pleased to build on the success of recent concerts and events including performances by The Black Eyed Peas, Dave Chappelle, Melissa Etheridge, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Destiny's Child, live boxing events with ESPN2 and Showtime and the thrilling Reno Supermoto Classic.
For additional information on this release Kimberly Newman, Circus Circus, 775-328-9291; Julia Peaua, Eldorado, 775-789-0490;Jamie Agee, Harrah's, 775-788-3028; Sue Putnam, Silver Legacy, 775-325-7396. The Casino Review www.casino49.com is a website that features listing for all of Nevada's Casinos. The listing for each Casino and Card Club includes phone numbers, address, a direct link to their website, and of course detailed reviews. https://www.pokeroi.com/nevada-poker.htm is part of the larger www.pokeroi.com . After visiting any of the wonderful places in Reno, please write a review of your good time.
