http://news.yahoo.com/s/n...braxton_dc



Toni Braxton launching a Vegas routine

Sat May 20, 6:59 PM ET



Toni Braxton will follow in the footsteps of Celine Dion and Elton John by establishing a residency in Las Vegas. "Toni Braxton: Revealed" will open August 3 at Harrah's Entertainment's Flamingo resort and will run six days each week.

Described as "a sexy, entertaining and intimate evening," the show will no doubt tap Braxton's Broadway experience in the musicals "Beauty & the Beast" and "Aida." She will be supported by a band, backing singers and a cast of dancers.

"There is nothing like the thrill of performing nightly to a live audience with fans that have supported me throughout my career," Braxton said in a statement.

Braxton recently returned to the road, after an absence of several years, to promote her latest album "Libra," which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 last fall.

Tickets for the show, priced at $65, $75 and $100, are on sale via the Flamingo box office.

Reuters/Billboard







Not the move I thought she'd make but she's probably at a loss after "Libra" didn't do well despite it being VERY good I hope it's successful for her And that top is super cute!

it's a shame...

Next time Im in Veags. Im going to see some Toni!

GOOD MONEY

Fuck all the rightous fluff, she still gotta feed her damn self and her kids.

Altho, I'm afraid this routine may take a toll on her at the end. Us librarian women die out of repetitive lifestyle.

MikeMatronik said:

What would you have her do @ this point if you were her manager?

I mean, it's pretty cheesy but if it's successful then why not? She puts out a great album & it fails, she tours - what's left?
[Edited 5/21/06 12:55pm]

Man, I love me some Toni , But this may not be the best move. Vegas acts do get paid well, however, at the end of the day they look and feel like house slaves. I ran into Gladys Knight in the elevator after one of her shows and she was exhausted. Her exact words. "Whoo, one more day. I ain't exactly 22 no more."
I will go support the show though.

legendofnothing said:

Wow.....

legendofnothing said:

Hey guys, I think it's a great move...FOR TONI....She's a good vocalist; a strong live performer...AN ENTERTAINER...I think the "Vegas is beneath you" argument only holds weight when you are talking about artists of a rebellious nature or a talent that has represented as an alternative to the music scene during their perspective prime (Prince, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, George Clinton & Parliment, OutKast, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, U2 ect.....) Toni getting her Vegas on is not at all shameful...It makes perfect sense...

dreamfactory313 said:

If I ever go to Vegas, I would see her (although if Cher is really replacing Celine, I would see her first).

murph said:

This DOES make perfect sense for her because she was just about done as an artists, at least radio/release-wise and do make some nice paper in Lost Wages.

I would check her out in Vegas I'd have to be in town & shit, but you couldn't pay me to see Celine or Elton - great voices but I just don't give a shit

Good for her! I think it's a smart move.She's got bills to pay,you know.Plus,she can stay in one place instead of going on a grueling cross-country tour,living out of a suitcase.

legendofnothing said:

I'm sure it's very exhausting,but let's be honest,if Gladys didn't have this gig,what would she be doing right now? When you reach her age,the record labels don't care about you anymore,and she hasn't had a hit in years.At least with her Vegas gig,she has a guaranteed paycheck.

Why is it such a shocker? Smart move I think. Didn't
Prince move 3121 there also? Do what you have to do to get
the bills paid as long it's the right thing.

CalhounSq said:

Harlepolis said:

Heck Yeah!! Librans need variety!!

CalhounSq said:

That's the thing about a Vega$ booking. You don't give a shit about anybody who's booked there until you actually hit the town and you're looking for something to do. Note, I'm not talking about a tourstop, but a consecutive night booking. I've folowed PFunk & Living Colour to Vegas, but they were the objective. I was hanging around on my honeymoon and went to see Lionel Richie on the breaks. So I'd prolly go see Gladys, Toni, Celine. Fuck even [snip - luv4u]Elton if I was bored enuff.

CalhounSq said:

Harlepolis said:

THANK YOU!

hopefully i'll be in vegas in sept and toni will be 1st on my list of things to do! i've always wanted to see her in concert

DavidEye said:

True enough. At least back 15 or 20 years ago older artists had a media outlet to reach their fans through BET and VH-1, now they don't even have that anymore. With a rare few exceptions if you're over 38 and not on heavy rotation from those riduculous same 25 videos that are being played over and over...your options are kind of limited for how to keep the paychecks coming in. I mean, you can do concept albums (nostalgia, standards, ect.), then for live performing the only options are what? I think Vegas, the West regional Casino circuit, and actually the Indian Reservation circuit (they always have these massive dinner theatres)...Unless you're an artist like Patti LaBelle or James Taylor with a career and hardcore fan base that's been built around your live performances, it's almost seems like the best you can hope for after 40 is getting a gig on an oldie's bill a là Tom Joyner or Sinbad or Steve Harvey...it's such a shame...but, at least we still get to see them...and, well, they gotta EAT, too ....

CalhounSq said:

Awww, Toni is so whittle , she looks like a little girl next to the stage escorts!

Another thing I was wondering was, did she have a child a little while back? The more I think of it, the more this Vegas thing makes sense to me. Because, considering she's a mom, has been plagued by so many health problems, has had to restructure her finances and so on, this actually is a very secure option for her since she's not burning up the charts and in the media spotlight anymore.

I saw an interview with Celine maybe a year ago, where she said the thing she appreciated the most about changing her base to Vegas for the last years is chance it gave her to stabilze her home life. In the years prior everything was always about churning out albums, touring non-stop internationally, and just usurping every opportunity that came your way because in show business you have to strike while the fire is hot, knowing that eventually you're going to fizzle out and be out of the spotlight. Stationing a show in Vegas provided a way to exit the pop world gracefully, be able to still sing to a live audience, but most importantly give her a structured life to care for her baby in his formative years. She said that she could still do the work that she loves, but be a stay at home mom during the day. She leaves the house for work at 6pm, is back home no later than midnight, and can be right back up in the morning to take care of her child, feed him, go to the pediatrician, etc. I figure it's like being able to do the work you were born to do (singing,performing), but in a very structured context almost similar to working a traditional job.

CalhounSq said:

You're absolutely right Calhoun. And as long as we're keeping it real. The industry keeps getting younger and younger. Even though Toni is still very beautiful and can sing. She can't sell records to teens or the early twenty-somethings anymore. If Vegas doesn't work, maybe she can pose for Playboy with Snakes like Latoya Jackson.

GO ON STONG SISTA!

At least now she can take currr of her kids and be with her husband without leaving the states and all that shit..she can just say.."im going to work" and come back home!

I can't stand her

paisleypark4 said:

What hubby? He long gone now!

StoneCrib said:

What's this you say? Have they broken up?

is she really the level of star that's going to pull in the kind of Vegas crowd that Elton and Celine can night after night for a long term engagement?

Dayspring said:

Maybe not the SAME numbers but I don't see why it can't do well - she's younger than them, a totally different flavor, great voice, sexy, people love her songs. Don't sleep - Unbreak My Heart was HUGE for her, she's got a lot of songs that folks would wanna hear, I think... she'd be my first choice out of the three



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[Edited 5/22/06 20:26pm]