CHRISETTE MICHELE, NEWEST DEF JAM SIGNING, TO OPEN MUSIQ SOULCHILD’S NORTH AMERICAN TOUR, JULY 6th-AUGUST 6th

New Def Jam recording artist Chrisette Michele, whose soulful, jazz-influenced debut album I AM will be released June 19^th, has been tapped as opening act on the upcoming North American tour with platinum Grammy nominated Atlantic Records recording artist Musiq Soulchild.  The tour begins July 6^th at Afram in Baltimore, and wraps up one month later at the Fillmore in San Francisco, on August 6^th.   (Please see tour dates below.)

Chrisette personally auditioned for and was signed by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group, who told the singer he had “goose bumps” after the first time he heard her.  “When Chrisette Michele enters a room,” said Mr. Reid, “the room becomes a better place.”  I AM features production from the likes of multi-platinum, 10-time Grammy Award winner Babyface, as well as hitmakers, will. i. am, John Legend and Salaam Remi.

The distinctive jazz and soul inflections of this 24-year old native New Yorker (from Long Island) set her apart from the pack, which is apparent after listening to four of the songs from her album on the website – http://www.myspace.com/chrisettemichele – “Your Joy,” “If I Have My Way,” “Good Girl,” and “Like a Dream.”  The touching ode to her father, “Your Joy,” will be single of the week on I-TUNES, beginning Friday, May 15^th.  In addition, Chrisette has been chosen as an “Artist To Watch” for ClearChannel’s NEW! Launching on May 29^th.  The flirty single, "If I Have My Way," will be available on all ClearChannel Urban/Rhythmic websites participating in NEW!

For a visual fix of Chrisette’s special talent, check out the 5-minute interview posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRXU5_LHKd4.  Included are on-screen performance excerpts of “If I Have My Way,” “Golden,” “Love Is You,” “Like a Dream,” “Best Of Me,” “Good Girl,” as well as her duets with Jay-Z (on “Lost Ones”) and with Nas (on “Can’t Forget About You,” which samples Nat King Cole).  Along the way, Chrisette shows off her jazz chops with impromptu homage to Billie Holiday (“God Bless the Child”) and Ella Fitzgerald (on “Take the ‘A’ Train”).

“I’m excited about finding my place amongst young composers like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott,” says Chrisette.  “My goal from the moment I was signed, was to create a seamless album that mixes soul and pop in a way that will have people coming back again and again.”  With the release of I AM, her dreams are becoming reality.

MUSIQ (SOULCHILD) & CHRISETTE MICHELE ON TOUR

Date                    City                             Venue            

July    6                Baltimore, MD            Afram  

          11              Chicago, IL                  House of Blues

          12              Toronto, Ont.               Phoenix Theatre

          13              Detroit, MI                   Chene Park

          15              Nashville, TN               Ryman Theatre

          19              Newark, NJ                  NJ PAC

         20              Philadelphia, PA           Penn's Landing

          21              Atlantic City, NJ          Tropicana

          24-25         New Orleans, LA         House Of Blues

          27              Omaha, NE                  Holland PAC

          29              Kansas City, MO         Beaumont

Aug   3                San Diego, CA             Humphrey’s

          4                Los Angeles, CA          The Wilshire

          5                                                   

          6                San Francisco, CA       Fillmore

Contact: Jana Fleishman, 212.445.3298
email: jana.fleishman@umusic.com