The Rapture Tour was the first headlining concert tour by American recording artist Anita Baker in support of her second studio album Rapture (1986). The tour started in mid-March 1986, visiting several cities throughout North America and Europe. In 1987, Baker kicked off a North America second leg trek, which included seven dates in Los Angeles at the Beverly Theatre in January, including two and three-night dates in Merrillville, Indiana, New York City and Miami, Florida. The outing included four sold-out shows scheduled in Washington, D.C., and three consecutive dates for the second visit in Merrillville, Indiana.
Concert synopsis The tour consisted of a selection of songs from Baker's 1983 debut, The Songstress and the majority of the Rapture album. For each performance, Baker would perform songs from both albums, and also include a song from other artists. For example, she performed "You've Changed" by Sarah Vaughan for one show, and Van Morrison's "Moondance" for another. She performed several shows throughout the week in Los Angeles, with gospel/R&B group the Perri Sisters joining as background vocals and toured with Baker for the remainder of the tour.
The Band Music Director: Bobby Lyle Guitar: Donald Griffin Keyboards: Bobby Lyle Percussions: Garry Glenn Saxophone: Gerald Albright Bass: Gerald Albright Drums: James Bradley Jr Backing vocalists (1986): Tanya Boyd, Saundra Simmons, and Natalie Jackson Backing vocalists (1987): Perri Sisters, Gina Taylor, and Freida Williams
Opening acts Perri Sisters Pieces of a Dream Durell Coleman Rhonda Hansome Nat Augustin Tease The Controllers The Rose Brothers
Setlist The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on January 2, 1987, at the Beverly Theatre in Los Angeles, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour. "Caught Up in the Rapture" "Will You Be Mine" "Angel" "Mystery" "Stop to Love" "You're the Best Thing Yet" "Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year)" "You Bring Me Joy" "Watch Your Step" "Sweet Love "No One in the World" "Been So Long" "No More Tears" "Blessed"
Notes *On July 16, 1986, in Montreux, Switzerland, "Moondance" by Van Morrison was performed.
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueNorth AmericaSource for concert held on June 25, 1986:March 16, 1986Detroit, MIUnited StatesState TheatreMarch 17, 1986Chicago, ILAuditorium TheatreMarch 19, 1986Merrillville, INHoliday Star TheatreMarch 21, 1986Cincinnati, OHTaft TheatreMarch 22, 1986Cleveland, OHState TheatreMarch 24, 1986Buffalo, NYShea's O'Connell CenterMarch 25, 1986Albany, NYPalace TheatreMarch 26, 1986Hartford, CTBushnell Memorial HallMarch 28, 1986Providence, RIProvidence Performing Arts CenterMarch 29, 1986Lowell, MALowell Memorial AuditoriumApril 7, 1986Red Bank, NJCount Basie TheatreApril 8, 1986New York, NYAlice Tully HallApril 9, 1986Devon, PAValley Forge Music FairApril 11, 1986Washington, DCWarner TheatreJune 9, 1986Milwaukee, WIRiverside TheaterJune 10, 1986Minneapolis, MNState TheatreJune 11, 1986Joliet, ILRialto Square TheatreJune 13, 1986South Bend, INMorris Civic AuditoriumJune 14, 1986Grand Rapids, MIGrand Rapids Civic AuditoriumJune 16, 1986Syracuse, NYLandmark TheatreJune 17, 1986Hyannis, MACape Cod Melody TentJune 18, 1986Cohasset, MASouth Shore Music CircusJune 19, 1986Port Chester, NYCapitol TheatreJune 20, 1986Newark, NJNewark Symphony HallJune 22, 1986Westbury, NYWestbury Music FairJune 23, 1986June 25, 1986New York, NYAvery Fisher HallJune 27, 1986Baltimore, MDMeyerhoff Symphony HallJune 28, 1986Norfolk, VAChrysler HallJune 29, 1986Raleigh, NCRaleigh Memorial AuditoriumJune 30, 1986Charlotte, NCOvens AuditoriumEuropeSources for select dates in Europe, July 1986:July 16, 1986MontreuxSwitzerlandMontreux CasinoJuly 17, 1986ParisFranceÉlysée MontmartreJuly 18, 1986BrusselsBelgiumAncienne BelgiqueJuly 19, 1986AmsterdamNetherlandsMelkwegJuly 22, 1986CardiffUnited KingdomSt David's HallJuly 23, 1986WolverhamptonWolverhampton Civic HallJuly 24, 1986ManchesterManchester ApolloJuly 26, 1986LondonHammersmith OdeonJuly 27, 1986North AmericaSources for select tour dates in North America, August–September 1986: August 1, 1986Detroit, MIUnited StatesMasonic Temple TheaterAugust 8, 1986Washington, DCDAR Constitution HallAugust 10, 1986Louisville, KYLouisville GardensAugust 11, 1986Nashville, TNWar Memorial AuditoriumAugust 12, 1986Atlanta, GAAtlanta Civic CenterAugust 13, 1986Birmingham, ALBirmingham Municipal AuditoriumAugust 16, 1986Chicago, ILArie Crown TheaterAugust 18, 1986Toledo, OHMasonic AuditoriumAugust 19, 1986Indianapolis, INMurat TheatreAugust 21, 1986St. Louis, MOFox TheatreAugust 22, 1986Kansas City, MOMidland TheatreAugust 23, 1986Tulsa, OKBrady TheaterAugust 24, 1986Little Rock, ARRobinson Municipal AuditoriumAugust 26, 1986Houston, TXHouston Music HallAugust 27, 1986August 28, 1986September 4, 1986Sunrise, FLSunrise Musical TheaterSeptember 6, 1986New York, NYRadio City Music HallSeptember 7, 1986EuropeSeptember 14, 1986DublinIrelandOlympia TheatreSeptember 15, 1986GlasgowUnited KingdomTheatre RoyalSeptember 17, 1986HamburgWest GermanyCCH Saal 3North AmericaSources for select dates in North America, September 1986-November 1987:September 23, 1986Chicago, ILUnited StatesArie Crown TheaterSeptember 24, 1986Fort Wayne, INEmbassy TheatreSeptember 25, 1986Detroit, MIState TheatreSeptember 26, 1986Pittsburgh, PASyria MosqueSeptember 28, 1986Lexington, KYSingletary Center for the ArtsSeptember 30, 1986Chicago, ILArie Crown TheaterOctober 2, 1986Peoria, ILCivic Center TheaterOctober 4, 1986Memphis, TNOrpheum TheatreOctober 5, 1986October 6, 1986October 8, 1986Chattanooga, TNSoldiers and Sailors Memorial AuditoriumOctober 10, 1986Washington, DCDAR Constitution HallOctober 11, 1986October 21, 1986Norfolk, VAChrysler HallOctober 22, 1986Richmond, VAMosque TheaterOctober 23, 1986Greensboro, NCWar Memorial AuditoriumOctober 24, 1986Columbia, SCTownship AuditoriumOctober 25, 1986Macon, GAMacon City AuditoriumOctober 28, 1986Jacksonville, FLCivic AuditoriumOctober 29, 1986Orlando, FLBob Carr Performing Arts CentreOctober 30, 1986St. Petersburg, FLMahaffey TheaterNovember 19, 1986Highland Heights, OHFront Row TheaterNovember 20, 1986November 21, 1986Chicago, ILArie Crown TheaterNovember 22, 1986 November 23, 1986November 25, 1986St. Louis, MOFox TheatreNovember 26, 1986November 28, 1986Detroit, MIMasonic Temple TheaterNovember 29, 1986November 30, 1986December 3, 1986Cincinnati, OHCincinnati Music HallDecember 4, 1986Detroit, MIMasonic Temple TheaterDecember 5, 1986December 27, 1986Los Angeles, CABeverly TheatreDecember 28, 1986December 30, 1986December 31, 1986January 2, 1987January 4, 1987January 5, 1987February 4, 1987Oakland, CAParamount TheatreFebruary 5, 1987February 6, 1987San Carlos, CACircle Star TheatreFebruary 7, 1987February 8, 1987February 14, 1987Sunrise, FLSunrise Musical TheaterFebruary 15, 1987February 18, 1987New Orleans, LASaenger TheatreFebruary 20, 1987February 21, 1987February 22, 1987Dallas, TXDallas Convention Center ArenaMarch 3, 1987Toronto, ONCanadaO'Keefe CentreMarch 5, 1987Highland Heights, OHUnited StatesFront Row TheaterMarch 6, 1987March 7, 1987March 8, 1987March 19, 1987Merrillville, INHoliday Star TheaterMarch 20, 1987March 21, 1987March 22, 1987July 17, 1987Philadelphia, PAMann Music CenterJuly 18, 1987Columbia, MDMerriweather Post PavilionJuly 19, 1987Atlanta, GAChastain Park AmphitheaterJuly 20, 1987July 22, 1987Nashville, TNStarwood AmphitheatreJuly 25, 1987Clarkston, MIPine Knob Music TheatreJuly 26, 1987July 28, 1987Saratoga Springs, NYSaratoga Performing Arts CenterJuly 31, 1987Holmdel, NJGarden State Arts CenterAugust 1, 1987Wantagh, NYJones Beach Marine TheaterAugust 4, 1987Cuyahoga Falls, OHBlossom Music CenterAugust 5, 1987August 7, 1987Hoffman Estates, ILPoplar Creek Music TheaterAugust 8, 1987August 10, 1987Mansfield, MAGreat Woods Center for the Performing ArtsAugust 11, 1987August 15, 1987Columbia, MDMerriweather Post PavilionAugust 16, 1987August 18, 1987Mobile, ALMobile Municipal AuditoriumAugust 19, 1987Huntsville, ALVon Braun Civic CenterAugust 21, 1987Bonner Springs, KSSandstone AmphitheaterAugust 23, 1987Tempe, AZASU Activity CenterAugust 25, 1987Morrison, CORed Rocks AmphitheatreAugust 27, 1987Seattle, WAMercer ArenaAugust 28, 1987Portland, ORCivic AuditoriumAugust 29, 1987August 31, 1987San Carlos, CACircle Star TheatreSeptember 1, 1987September 3, 1987Los Angeles, CAGreek TheatreSeptember 4, 1987September 5, 1987September 6, 1987September 9, 1987Mountain View, CAShoreline AmphitheatreSeptember 11, 1987San Diego, CASDSU Open Air TheatreSeptember 12, 1987September 13, 1987Irvine, CAIrvine Meadows Amphitheatre September 17, 1987Concord, CAConcord PavilionSeptember 18, 1987Sacramento, CAARCO Arena September 19, 1987Las Vegas, NVAladdin Theatre for the Performing ArtsOctober 14, 1987New York, NYRadio City Music HallOctober 15, 1987October 16, 1987October 18, 1987October 22, 1987Boston, MAWang TheatreOctober 23, 1987October 24, 1987October 25, 1987October 29, 1987Atlanta, GAFox TheatreOctober 30, 1987October 31, 1987Winston-Salem, NCLJVM Coliseum AnnexNovember 12, 1987Detroit, MIMasonic Temple TheaterNovember 13, 1987November 14, 1987Pittsburgh, PASyria MosqueNovember 15, 1987November 17, 1987St. Louis, MOFox TheatreNovember 18, 1987November 21, 1987Washington, DCDAR Constitution HallNovember 22, 1987November 24, 1987November 25, 1987November 27, 1987Merrillville, INHoliday Star TheatreNovember 28, 1987November 29, 1987
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances This concert was a part of the "JVC Jazz Festival" This concert was a part of the "Montreux Jazz Festival" This concert was a part of the "Miller Genuine Draft Concerts at Jones Beach"
Cancellations and rescheduled shows July 14, 1986Hamburg, West GermanyCCH Saal 3Rescheduled to September 17, 1986July 29, 1986Glasgow, ScotlandTheatre RoyalRescheduled to September 15, 1986July 30, 1986Dublin, IrelandOlympia TheatreRescheduled to September 14, 1986February 22, 1987Dallas, TexasMusic Hall at Fair ParkMoved to the Dallas Convention Center Arena
Box office score data VenueCityTickets sold / AvailableGross revenueMeyerhoff Symphony HallBaltimore5,000 / 7,500 (67%)$104,000Fox TheatreSt. Louis23,304 / 23,325 (100%)$432,128Front Row TheatreHighland Heights18,785 / 18,984 (99%)$361,553Arie Crown TheaterChicago12,957 / 12,957 (100%)$255,580Masonic Temple TheaterDetroit30,029 / 30,029 (100%)$586,103Cincinnati Music HallCincinnati3,630 / 3,630 (100%)$61,233Paramount TheatreOakland5,600 / 5,600 (100%)$129,000Circle Star TheatreSan Carlos11,100 / 11,100 (100%)$238,000Saenger TheatreNew Orleans8,400 / 8,400 (100%)$181,000Dallas Convention Center ArenaDallas7,600 / 9,816 (77%)$119,000O'Keefe CentreToronto3,059 / 3,059 (100%)$59,848Holiday Star TheaterMerrillville13,344 / 13,344 (100%)$250,460Pine Knob Music TheatreClarkston17,071 / 28,000 (61%)$313,685Garden State Arts CenterHolmdel Township8,663 / 10,802 (80%)$146,943Jones Beach Marine TheaterWantagh10,226 / 10,226 (100%)$201,460Poplar Creek Music TheaterHoffman Estates13,659 / 33,878 (40%)$236,215Merriweather Post PavilionColumbia18,754 / 26,344 (71%)$356,723Greek TheatreLos Angeles24,748 / 24,748 (100%)$611,750Shoreline AmphitheatreMountain View7,974 / 15,000 (53%)$154,787SDSU Open Air TheatreSan Diego8,331 / 8,331 (100%)$173,055Irvine Meadows AmphitheatreIrvine10,418 / 10,418 (100%)$199,556Concord PavilionConcord7,269 / 8,110 (90%)$126,270ARCO ArenaSacramento4,888 / 5,000 (98%)$85,557Aladdin Theatre for the Performing ArtsLas Vegas7,000 / 7,000 (100%)$142,156Wang TheatreBoston16,254 / 16,254 (100%)$394,672Fox TheatreAtlanta8,638 / 8,638 (100%)$216,573Syria Mosque TheaterPittsburgh7,200 / 7,200 (100%)$162,000DAR Constitution HallWashington, D.C.14,541 / 14,984 (97%)$353,750TOTAL328,442 / 382,677 (86%)$6,653,057
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