Avant Opening For Mary J. Blige, Jagged Edge

By MTV News Staff

July 20, 2000 / 9:52 PM

MTV News Online

R&B singer Avant will head out on the road to open 15 dates in August for Mary J. Blige and Jagged Edge, beginning Aug. 8 in Kansas City, Mo.

The singer said he's looking forward to the immediate gratification of performing live.

"The response from the crowd, there's nothing like that," Avant said. "You're writing your own material, and someone's appreciating what you do. You know, a lot of people say, 'Don't you get tired of playing show after show?' Yes, you're tired, but once you hear that roar of the crowd, because they love what you put on paper and what came out of your mind, it's a booster, baby. You'll be ready to go."

The Cleveland singer has been lighting up the urban charts with his single "Separated" (RealAudio excerpt) — which, after 10 weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart, is at #3 this week, up a notch from last week's position.

The success of "Separated" has helped sell more than 230,000 copies of Avant's album, My Thoughts; the LP is at #16 on this week's Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart.

Some friendly competition may emerge between the tour's supporting acts, as Jagged Edge's current single, "Let's Get Married" (RealAudio excerpt), has displaced "Separated" from the top of the urban radio chart, according to Radio & Records. The Jagged Edge song also is at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop singles chart.

Avant's opening dates on the Mary J. Blige tour:

Aug. 8; Kansas City, Mo.; Municipal Auditorium

Aug. 9; Minneapolis, Minn.; Orpheum Theater

Aug. 11; Baltimore, Md.; Pier Six Pavilion

Aug. 12; Washington, D.C.; DAR Constitution Hall

Aug. 13; Indianapolis, Ind.; Murat Center

Aug. 15; Jackson, Miss.; Mississippi Coliseum

Aug. 16; Lafayette, La.; Cajun Dome

Aug. 18; Austin, Texas; Frank Erwin Center

Aug. 19; Dallas, Texas; Coca-Cola Starplex

Aug. 20; Houston, Texas; Cynthia Wood

Aug. 23–24; Oakland, Calif.; Paramount Theater