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,[ 1] including two and three-night dates in Merrillville, Indiana, New York City[ 2] 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.
Rapture Tour Associated album Rapture Start date March 16, 1986 End date November 29, 1987 Legs 8 No. of shows174 in North America 12 in Europe 186 total
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.[ 3]
Music Director: Bobby Lyle
Guitar: Donald Griffin
Keyboards: Bobby Lyle
Percussions: Garry Glenn
Saxophone: Gerald Albright
Bass: Nathan East
Drums: James Bradley, Jr
Backing vocalists (1986): Tanya Boyd, Saundra Simmons, and Natalie Jackson
Backing vocalists (1987): Perri Sisters, Gina Taylor, and Freida Williams
Perri Sisters (North America, selet dates)
Pieces of a Dream (North America, November–December 1986, select dates)
Durell Coleman (North America, February 1987)
Rhonda Hansome (North America, July–September 1987, select dates)
Nat Augustin (London)
Tease (Baltimore)
The Controllers (New York City, September 1986)
The Rose Brothers (St. Louis, August 1986)
Date
City
Country
Venue
North America[ 4]
March 16, 1986
Detroit
United States
State Theatre
March 17, 1986
Chicago
Auditorium Theatre
March 19, 1986
Merrillville
Holiday Star Theatre
March 21, 1986
Cincinnati
Taft Theatre
March 22, 1986
Cleveland
State Theatre
March 24, 1986
Buffalo
Shea's O'Connell Center
March 25, 1986
Albany
Palace Theatre
March 26, 1986
Hartford
Bushnell Memorial Hall
March 28, 1986
Providence
Providence Performing Arts Center
March 29, 1986
Lowell
Lowell Memorial Auditorium
April 7, 1986
Red Bank
Count Basie Theatre
April 8, 1986
New York City
Alice Tully Hall
April 9, 1986
Devon
Valley Forge Music Fair
April 11, 1986
Washington, D.C.
Warner Theatre
June 9, 1986
Milwaukee
Riverside Theater
June 10, 1986
Minneapolis
State Theatre
June 11, 1986
Joliet
Rialto Square Theatre
June 13, 1986
South Bend
Morris Civic Auditorium
June 14, 1986
Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Civic Auditorium
June 16, 1986
Syracuse
Landmark Theatre
June 17, 1986
Hyannis
Cape Cod Melody Tent
June 18, 1986
Cohasset
South Shore Music Circus
June 19, 1986
Port Chester
Capitol Theatre
June 20, 1986
Newark
Newark Symphony Hall
June 22, 1986
Westbury
Westbury Music Fair
June 23, 1986
June 25, 1986[A]
New York City
Avery Fisher Hall
June 27, 1986
Baltimore
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
June 28, 1986
Norfolk
Chrysler Hall
June 29, 1986
Raleigh
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
June 30, 1986
Charlotte
Ovens Auditorium
Europe[ 5]
July 16, 1986[B]
Montreux
Switzerland
Montreux Casino
July 17, 1986
Paris
France
Élysée Montmartre
July 18, 1986
Brussels
Belgium
Ancienne Belgique
July 19, 1986
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Melkweg
July 22, 1986
Cardiff
Wales
St David's Hall
July 23, 1986
Wolverhampton
England
Wolverhampton Civic Hall
July 24, 1986
Manchester
Manchester Apollo
July 26, 1986
London
Hammersmith Odeon
July 27, 1986
North America[ 6]
August 1, 1986
Detroit
United States
Masonic Temple Theater
August 8, 1986
Washington, D.C.
DAR Constitution Hall
August 10, 1986
Louisville
Louisville Gardens
August 11, 1986
Nashville
War Memorial Auditorium
August 12, 1986
Atlanta
Atlanta Civic Center
August 13, 1986
Birmingham
Birmingham Municipal Auditorium
August 16, 1986
Chicago
Arie Crown Theater
August 18, 1986
Toledo
Masonic Auditorium
August 19, 1986
Indianapolis
Murat Theatre
August 21, 1986
St. Louis
Fox Theatre
August 22, 1986
Kansas City
Midland Theatre
August 23, 1986
Tulsa
Brady Theater
August 24, 1986
Little Rock
Robinson Municipal Auditorium
August 26, 1986
Houston
Houston Music Hall
August 27, 1986
August 28, 1986
September 4, 1986
Sunrise
Sunrise Musical Theater
September 6, 1986
New York City
Radio City Music Hall
September 7, 1986
Europe
September 14, 1986
Dublin
Ireland
Olympia Theatre
September 15, 1986
Glasgow
Scotland
Theatre Royal
September 17, 1986
Hamburg
West Germany
CCH Saal 3
North America[ 7]
September 23, 1986
Chicago
United States
Arie Crown Theater
September 24, 1986
Fort Wayne
Embassy Theatre
September 25, 1986
Detroit
State Theatre
September 26, 1986
Pittsburgh
Syria Mosque
September 28, 1986
Lexington
Singletary Center for the Arts
September 30, 1986
Chicago
Arie Crown Theater
October 2, 1986
Peoria
Civic Center Theater
October 4, 1986
Memphis
Orpheum Theatre
October 5, 1986
October 6, 1986
October 8, 1986
Chattanooga
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium
October 10, 1986
Washington, D.C.
DAR Constitution Hall
October 11, 1986
October 21, 1986
Norfolk
Chrysler Hall
October 22, 1986
Richmond
Mosque Theater
October 23, 1986
Greensboro
War Memorial Auditorium
October 24, 1986
Columbia
Township Auditorium
October 25, 1986
Macon
Macon City Auditorium
October 28, 1986
Jacksonville
Civic Auditorium
October 29, 1986
Orlando
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
October 30, 1986
St. Petersburg
Mahaffey Theater
November 19, 1986
Highland Heights
Front Row Theater
November 20, 1986
November 21, 1986
Chicago
Arie Crown Theater
November 22, 1986
November 23, 1986
November 25, 1986
St. Louis
Fox Theatre
November 26, 1986
November 28, 1986
Detroit
Masonic Temple Theater
November 29, 1986
November 30, 1986
December 3, 1986
Cincinnati
Cincinnati Music Hall
December 4, 1986
Detroit
Masonic Temple Theater
December 5, 1986
December 27, 1986
Los Angeles
Beverly Theatre
December 28, 1986
December 30, 1986
December 31, 1986
January 2, 1987
January 4, 1987
January 5, 1987
February 4, 1987
Oakland
Paramount Theatre
February 5, 1987
February 6, 1987
San Carlos
Circle Star Theatre
February 7, 1987
February 8, 1987
February 14, 1987
Sunrise
Sunrise Musical Theater
February 15, 1987
February 18, 1987
New Orleans
Saenger Theatre
February 20, 1987
February 21, 1987
February 22, 1987
Dallas
Dallas Convention Center Arena
March 3, 1987
Toronto
Canada
O'Keefe Centre
March 5, 1987
Highland Heights
United States
Front Row Theater
March 6, 1987
March 7, 1987
March 8, 1987
March 19, 1987
Merrillville
Holiday Star Theater
March 20, 1987
March 21, 1987
March 22, 1987
July 17, 1987
Philadelphia
Mann Music Center
July 18, 1987
Columbia
Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 19, 1987
Atlanta
Chastain Park Amphitheater
July 20, 1987
July 22, 1987
Nashville
Starwood Amphitheatre
July 25, 1987
Clarkston
Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 26, 1987
July 28, 1987
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 31, 1987
Holmdel Township
Garden State Arts Center
August 1, 1987[C]
Wantagh
Jones Beach Marine Theater
August 4, 1987
Cuyahoga Falls
Blossom Music Center
August 5, 1987
August 7, 1987
Hoffman Estates
Poplar Creek Music Theater
August 8, 1987
August 10, 1987
Mansfield
Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts
August 11, 1987
August 15, 1987
Columbia
Merriweather Post Pavilion
August 16, 1987
August 18, 1987
Mobile
Mobile Municipal Auditorium
August 19, 1987
Huntsville
Von Braun Civic Center
August 21, 1987
Bonner Springs
Sandstone Center for the Performing Arts
August 23, 1987
Tempe
ASU Activity Center
August 25, 1987
Morrison
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 27, 1987
Seattle
Mercer Arena
August 28, 1987
Portland
Civic Auditorium
August 29, 1987
August 31, 1987
San Carlos
Circle Star Theatre
September 1, 1987
September 3, 1987
Los Angeles
Greek Theatre
September 4, 1987
September 5, 1987
September 6, 1987
September 9, 1987
Mountain View
Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 11, 1987
San Diego
SDSU Open Air Theatre
September 12, 1987
September 13, 1987
Irvine
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
September 17, 1987
Concord
Concord Pavilion
September 18, 1987
Sacramento
ARCO Arena
September 19, 1987
Las Vegas
Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts
October 14, 1987
New York City
Radio City Music Hall
October 15, 1987
October 16, 1987
October 18, 1987
October 22, 1987
Boston
Wang Theatre
October 23, 1987
October 24, 1987
October 25, 1987
October 29, 1987
Atlanta
Fox Theatre
October 30, 1987
October 31, 1987
Winston-Salem
LJVM Coliseum Annex
November 12, 1987
Detroit
Masonic Temple Theater
November 13, 1987
November 14, 1987
Pittsburgh
Syria Mosque
November 15, 1987
November 17, 1987
St. Louis
Fox Theatre
November 18, 1987
November 21, 1987
Washington, D.C.
DAR Constitution Hall
November 22, 1987
November 24, 1987
November 25, 1987
November 27, 1987
Merrillville
Holiday Star Theatre
November 28, 1987
November 29, 1987
Festivals and other miscellaneous performances
A This concert was a part of the "JVC Jazz Festival"[ 8]
B This concert was a part of the "Montreux Jazz Festival "[ 9]
C This concert was a part of the "Miller Genuine Draft Concerts at Jones Beach"[ 10]
Cancellations and rescheduled shows
July 14, 1986
Hamburg, West Germany
CCH Saal 3
Rescheduled to September 17, 1986
July 29, 1986
Glasgow, Scotland
Theatre Royal
Rescheduled to September 15, 1986
July 30, 1986
Dublin, Ireland
Olympia Theatre
Rescheduled to September 14, 1986
February 22, 1987
Dallas, Texas
Music Hall at Fair Park
Moved to the Dallas Convention Center Arena
Box office score data
edit
Venue
City
Tickets sold / Available
Gross revenue
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Baltimore
5,000 / 7,500 (67%)
$104,000[ 11]
Fox Theatre
St. Louis
23,304 / 23,325 (100%)
$432,128[ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15]
Front Row Theatre
Highland Heights
18,785 / 18,984 (99%)
$361,553[ 14] [ 16]
Arie Crown Theater
Chicago
12,957 / 12,957 (100%)
$255,580[ 14]
Masonic Temple Theater
Detroit
30,029 / 30,029 (100%)
$586,103[ 14] [ 17]
Cincinnati Music Hall
Cincinnati
3,630 / 3,630 (100%)
$61,233[ 14]
Paramount Theatre
Oakland
5,600 / 5,600 (100%)
$129,000[ 18]
Circle Star Theatre
San Carlos
11,100 / 11,100 (100%)
$238,000[ 18]
Saenger Theatre
New Orleans
8,400 / 8,400 (100%)
$181,000[ 18]
Dallas Convention Center Arena
Dallas
7,600 / 9,816 (77%)
$119,000[ 16]
O'Keefe Centre
Toronto
3,059 / 3,059 (100%)
$59,848[ 16]
Holiday Star Theater
Merrillville
13,344 / 13,344 (100%)
$250,460[ 19]
Pine Knob Music Theatre
Clarkston
17,071 / 28,000 (61%)
$313,685[ 20]
Garden State Arts Center
Holmdel Township
8,663 / 10,802 (80%)
$146,943[ 21]
Jones Beach Marine Theater
Wantagh
10,226 / 10,226 (100%)
$201,460[ 20]
Poplar Creek Music Theater
Hoffman Estates
13,659 / 33,878 (40%)
$236,215[ 22]
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia
18,754 / 26,344 (71%)
$356,723[ 23]
Greek Theatre
Los Angeles
24,748 / 24,748 (100%)
$611,750[ 24]
Shoreline Amphitheatre
Mountain View
7,974 / 15,000 (53%)
$154,787[ 25]
SDSU Open Air Theatre
San Diego
8,331 / 8,331 (100%)
$173,055[ 26]
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Irvine
10,418 / 10,418 (100%)
$199,556[ 26]
Concord Pavilion
Concord
7,269 / 8,110 (90%)
$126,270[ 25]
ARCO Arena
Sacramento
4,888 / 5,000 (98%)
$85,557[ 25]
Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts
Las Vegas
7,000 / 7,000 (100%)
$142,156[ 27]
Wang Theatre
Boston
16,254 / 16,254 (100%)
$394,672[ 28]
Fox Theatre
Atlanta
8,638 / 8,638 (100%)
$216,573[ 28]
Syria Mosque Theater
Pittsburgh
7,200 / 7,200 (100%)
$162,000[ 17]
DAR Constitution Hall
Washington, D.C.
14,541 / 14,984 (97%)
$353,750[ 29]
TOTAL
328,442 / 382,677 (86%)
$6,653,057
A DVD and CD live collection, entitled A Night of Rapture: Live was released in 2004 by Rhino Records , which reached #35 in the Billboard 'Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums' list.[ 31]
Caught Up in the Rapture – 5:29
Mystery – 5:24
Been So Long – 5:52
No One in the World – 4:11
Same Ole Love (365 Days a Year) – 3:59
Watch Your Step – 6:20
Moondance – 4:08
You Bring Me Joy – 4:32
Sweet Love – 7:20
Sweet Love [Multimedia Track]
You Bring Me Joy [Multimedia Track]
No One in the World [Multimedia Track]
^ Hunt, Dennis (January 18, 1987). "Baker And The Rise Of Black Women In Pop" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Holden, Stephen (August 30, 1987). "SEASON PREVIEW: POP; Legends and Reunions" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ "Perri" . Soul Walking . April 2000. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Source for concert held on June 25, 1986:
^ Sources for select dates in Europe, July 1986:
^ Sources for select tour dates in North America, August–September 1986:
^ Sources for select dates in North America, September 1986-November 1987:
Kogan, Rick (September 24, 1986). "ANITA BAKER IGNITES STAGE WITH MUSICAL MAGIC, POWER" . Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Kim, Jae-Ha (November 24, 1986). "Charming Anita Baker puts her audience in 'Rapture' " . Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Wolff, Jennifer (November 28, 1986). "Baker to appear at Holiday Star" . Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
McGuigan, Cathleen; Lerner, Michael (February 13, 1987). "Balladeer Anita Baker Relishes The Gift Of Song" . South Florida Sun Sentinel . Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Smith, Patricia (January 23, 1987). "Holiday Star books Anita Baker shows" . Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Harrington, Richard (June 5, 1987). "Starlight, Stars Bright" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Cromelin, Richard (September 5, 1987). "Baker Plays It Loose And Lively At The Greek" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Brown, Joe (November 23, 1987). "Anita Baker's Seasoned Soul" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Voedisch, Lynn (September 4, 1987). "Anita Baker to sing at the Holiday Star" . Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Johnson, Connie (December 29, 1986). "ANITA BAKER BREAKS OUT OF POP PACK" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Duncan, Amy (September 5, 1986). "Anita Baker carving out big-time career" . The Christian Science Monitor . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
Himes, Geoffrey (August 8, 1986). "Anita Baker: Pure 'Rapture' " . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
"Entertainment" . Orange Coast . 13 (9). Costa Mesa, California : O.C.N.I.: 23 September 1987. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
"Lakeland Leisure" . Antioch News . 101 (31). Antioch Township, Illinois . July 30, 1987. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
"Music and Dance: Concerts" . New York . 20 (41): 142. October 19, 1987. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Duncan, Amy (July 3, 1986). "No longer Kool, but just as hot: JVC Jazz Festival" . The Christian Science Monitor . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Norment, Lynn (December 1986). "Anita Baker: Soul's New Romantic Singer" . Ebony . 42 (2). Johnson Publishing Company : 56. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ Ericson, Raymond (May 17, 1987). "SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS THROUGHOUT THE LAND" . The New York Times : 25. Retrieved February 29, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 32. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. (published August 9, 1986). 9 August 1986. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 37. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. (published September 13, 1986). 13 September 1986. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 50. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. (published December 20, 1986). 20 December 1986. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b c d e "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 2. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. January 10, 1987. p. 20. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 49. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. December 5, 1987. p. 21. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b c "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 12. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. March 21, 1987. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 48. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. November 28, 1987. p. 35. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b c "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 11. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. March 14, 1987. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 15. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. April 11, 1987. p. 21. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 33. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. August 15, 1987. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 34. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. August 22, 1987. p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 36. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. September 5, 1987. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 35. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. August 29, 1987. p. 45. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 38. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. September 19, 1987. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b c "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 40. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. October 3, 1987. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 39. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. September 26, 1987. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 41. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. October 10, 1987. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ a b "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 46. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. November 14, 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ "Amusement Business Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF) . Billboard . Vol. 99, no. 51. Nashville, Tennessee: Billboard Publications, Inc. December 19, 1987. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510 . Retrieved March 30, 2020 .
^ Jeffries, David. A Night of Rapture Tour > review at AllMusic . Retrieved 2013-04-11.
^ "A Night of Rapture – Live (chart position)" . AllMusic.