Music legends celebrate 'The Queens of R&B Tour' in Las Vegas
The Queens of R&B Tour is more than a celebration of legendary groups and women in music, it's also an ode to sisterhood and triumph, says renowned television producer and CEO of Monami Productions Mona Scott-Young, who is spearheading the string of concerts.
Scott-Young hosted a celebration dinner for the upcoming tour May 3 in Las Vegas at Fuhu restaurant, bringing out some of '90s R&B's greatest names and trailblazers. The event included the women of Xscape Total, SWV and 702, who are all set to hit the stage along with singer Mya starting in June.
"It's my absolute honor," Scott-Young says. "It's my absolute pleasure (and) privilege to have the opportunity to create platforms for these cultural moments. And I firmly believe we're going to be making herstory."
The Queens of R&B Tour recognizes and pays homage to R&B girl groups and musicians of the '90s who continue to have an impact. Of course, the genre has seen the likes of many successful units like those featured and others like TLC and Destiny's Child.
Some members of Xscape including Kandi Burruss, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle and Tamika Scott are set to headline along with the original women of SWV — Cheryl "Coko" Gamble, Leanne "Lelee" Lyons and Tamara "Taj" Johnson.
"This tour promises women empowerment; it promises great music; it promises sisterhood; and this is just an opportunity to celebrate all that," Scott-Young says.
She added, "I think when you think about all these ladies and the music they gave us and what it represented, it was the soundtrack to many moments of our lives."
Burruss, who wears many hats in music and television, says, "I think it's amazing that we have this longevity amongst all the queens of R&B that will be on the tour."
The ladies of Total — Kima Raynor and Keisha Epps — echoed these sentiments saying it was simply "nostalgic" to be performing on tour with all the other women.
The tour is set to begin June 27 in Concord, California, and wrap up Aug. 18 in Los Angeles.
"This is going to be a celebration of sisterhood, womanhood, of resilience, of triumph over adversity, of perseverance against all odds," Scott-Young says. "That's what this tour represents. It represents women, Black women and who we are."