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Best R&B Concerts Coming To Los Angeles

summer concert lawn grass 610 header
(credit: istockphoto)

If R&B music lights your fire, there are a number of great shows coming to Los Angeles the remainder of the summer and into the fall. Whether you want to hear from some of the legendary acts that have been around for many years (and can still send audiences home happy) or some newer shows that could be the next generation of hit-makers, there are plenty of events to catch your fancy. While some concerts are indoors, one of the great things about living around the greater Los Angeles area is being able to see some awesome outdoor shows. From the Hollywood Bowl to the Rose Bowl, not to mention many places in between, there are a number of exciting outdoor venues all around the area.

Among the upcoming shows to get you up out of your seat and dancing:

babyface
(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for 2016 Essence Festival)

New Edition with Babyface
Microsoft Theater
777 Chick Hearn Court
Los Angeles, Ca. 90015
(213) 763-6030
www.microsofttheater.com
Date: Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Even though they do not have quite as long a history as of some of the artists mentioned below, both New Edition and Babyface are no strangers to music success. Both will bring their talents to the Microsoft Theater on the final Sunday of July for a star-studded event. Boston-grown New Edition has tallied its fair share of hits over the years, with "Candy Girl" proving to be a pop sensation back in the early 1980s. Over time, the group has become known for some great R&B music, keeping them in front of fans for several decades now. Meantime, Babyface (aka Kenneth Brian Edmonds) has had a big impact on the music world too, striking for nearly a dozen Grammys during his time in the spotlight. His talents don't end behind the mic, as he is also a well-known music producer and writer.

gladys knight
(Photo by Brian Killian/Getty Images)

Gladys Knight
Hollywood Bowl
2301 North Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com
Dates: Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 at 8 p.m.

Gladys Knight, one of the legendary singers of her time, brings her award-winning act to the famed Hollywood Bowl in early August. A winner of seven Grammy awards, Knight will appear with Tower of Power on the first Wednesday evening in August. Knight, who has produced more than three-dozen albums, is probably best remembered for her classic "Midnight Train to Georgia" smash, a song she did as part of Gladys Knight & the Pips. Never one to tire even after all these years, Knight has paired up with some of her fellow great music talents over the years, including Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder and Elton John.

"The Temptations And The Four Tops On Broadway" - Curtain Call
(Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

The Temptations
The Rose
245 East Green St.
Pasadena, Ca. 91101
(888) 645-5006
www.roseconcerts.com
Date: Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016 at 9 p.m.

When you talk about some of the legendary Motown groups over the last 50 years, you can't leave The Temptations out of that discussion. The Temptations, members of the R&B Hall of Fame, have had more than their fair share of top hits during that time period, cementing themselves as one of the best groups of their time. Coming out of Detroit, The Temptations forged a legacy that to this day makes them a popular hit among fans. Although the faces and the voices have changed over the years, The Temptations still deliver a performance that will leave old and new fans shaking their heads in amazement.

The Isley Brothers
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Isley Brothers & The O'Jays
Los Angeles County Fair
1101 West McKinley Avenue
Pomona, Ca. 91768
(909) 623-3111
www.lacountyfair.com
Date: Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

A pair of names that are synonymous with music and success are The Isley Brothers and The O'Jays. The two star-studded groups will make it a Labor Day evening to remember when they perform a spectacular concert for fans at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona Natives of Ohio, both The Isley Brothers and The O'Jays have been turning out hits since the mid to late 1950s. The Isley Brothers have had a slew of hits, along with some that didn't crack the Top 10 lists, but went on to great success being re-recorded numerous times. One such song is the much-played "Shout." Done by a number of artists over the years, the song was first released by The Isley Brothers back in 1959. Meantime, The O'Jays are no strangers to success either. One of their top hits is the famed "I Love Music." That song sat for nearly two full months as the top recording on the disco charts in the mid-1970s.

smokey robinson
(Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Capital Concerts)

Smokey Robinson
Saban Theatre
8440 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, Ca. 90211
(888) 645-5006
www.sabanconcerts.com
Date: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 at 9 p.m.

Another of the R&B legends to record hits nationwide and all over the world for decades, Smokey Robinson brings his incomparable voice to Beverly Hills in October, giving music-goers more reason to celebrate. Robinson, who is probably best-known for his work under the name Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, has thousands of songs tied to him in one form or another over a career that runs some five decades. One of the Motown legends, Robinson will not only dazzle the crowd with some of his most famous hits on this mid-October evening, but will also interact with the crowd.

Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
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