Babyface Takes "Playlist" On the Road

Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds has announced a new 13-city U.S. tour beginning Feb. 15 in Minneapolis. The trek supports “Playlist,” the singer/producer/songwriter’s 11th album, released Sept. 18 on t

Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds has announced a new 13-city U.S. tour beginning Feb. 15 in Minneapolis. The trek supports "Playlist," the singer/producer/songwriter’s 11th album, released Sept. 18 on the re-launched Mercury Records label distributed by Island Def Jam.

"Playlist" is Edmonds' first covers album, reaching out of his R&B; background to include versions of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," Bob Dylan’'s "Knocking on Heaven's Door," Dan Fogelberg's "Longer”" and Edmonds' take on James Taylor's "Fire & Rain," which hit No. 10 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The album also includes two originals by Edmonds: "The Soldier Song" and "Not Going Nowhere."

"Playlist”" peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard 200 and No. 7 on Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums. Edmonds' previous album, "Grown & Sexy," reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 in August 2005.

A 10-time Grammy winner, Edmonds rose to fame as a songwriter and producer in the late 1980s and 1990s, creating hits with artists including Bobby Brown, Sheena Easton, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Boyz II Men, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, En Vogue, and Mary J. Blige.

Here are the dates for Babyface's tour:

Feb. 15: Minneapolis, Minn. (Trocadero's)
Feb. 16: Merrillville, Ind. (Star Plaza)
Feb. 17: Covington, Kentucky (Madison Theater)
Feb. 18: Youngstown, Ohio (Chevrolet Center)
Feb. 21: Orlando, Fla. (House of Blues)
Feb. 22: Miami, Fla. (Carnival Ctr. for the Perf. Arts)
Feb. 23: Phoenix, Ariz. (Fort McDowell Casino)
Feb. 24: Tucson, Ariz. (Tucson Convention Ctr.)
Feb. 26: Alexandria, Virginia (Birchmere)
Feb. 28: Richmond, Virginia (The National)
Feb. 29: Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata)
Mar. 1: Atlantic City, NJ (Borgata)
Mar. 3: Nashville, Tenn. (Ryman Auditorium)
Mar. 5: Long Beach, Calif. (The Vault)