Actor-singer stops at Merriweather on tour to promote his latest release
Jamie Foxx
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md.
When: 5:30 p.m. (doors) Sept. 12
Info: $42.75 to $89.75; ticketmaster.com
You think you know everything about Jamie Foxx.
The funny guy also is a pretty good actor, as evidenced by the Academy Award he won for his depiction of musician Ray Charles in the 2004 movie “Ray.” But now that he’s touring behind his latest album, you might discover a whole new Foxx.
“I hope that they say, ‘Man I had unexpected fun,’ ” said Foxx of what he wants audiences to take away from his concerts. “When you used to go to concerts, the music had integrity, the jokes had an edge, and people enjoyed it. … If there is any doubt America is an incredible country, watch Tom Jones, Flip Wilson and some of the other [old-school] entertainers. At the end of it, I want people to Twitter or go on Facebook and say they had fun.”
Foxx is no latecomer to music performance. He attended college on a classical piano scholarship and had his mind set on a music career.
“I never wanted to be an actor,” said Foxx. “To be able to be in music now is wonderful because you don’t know what a hit song is or what people really like. If you’re able to be successful in the music business today, it is really, really fulfilling.”
Although Foxx has had a few public stumbles in the past year, those that doubt his sincerity and showmanship need only to watch the BET Awards 2009 which were televised live in June, just three days after Michael Jackson’s death.
Foxx, whose multimedia concerts include tributes to Jackson and Charles, said he was able to keep the event upbeat, but respectful, because of his early music experience.
“I played the piano in the church when I was a kid, about age 10 and up,” he said. “When you play at the church, you have to be the director of emotion. You have to play the appropriate thing, say the appropriate thing. … That’s why I thought his music was the most important thing to celebrate while allowing his family to mourn.”
In his concerts, Foxx also takes a positive approach weaving tributes among the songs in his catalog most notably from “Intuition” released late last year and featuring such high-powered guests as T-Pain, T.I., Kanye West, and Lil’ Wayne. As he travels, some artists occasionally make guest appearances with him, but Foxx said the audiences are really his collaborators in the concerts.
“When you reach out to the audience, put the microphone out and let them sing, that’s what is exciting,” he said. “That’s a way to reach people that you just can’t do as an actor or in comedy.”
