Raymond and Brown Tour on a Creative and Artistic Roll Since Denver's Mile High Kick-Off: Bringing Memorable Performances to Denver, Minneapolis, Detroit and Cleveland With Stadiums Filled to Capacity

When I saw the first video footage in a video clip the morning after the kick-off concert in Denver, I was quite honestly simply wonderstruck by the fantastic light show and stage art design. Especially liked Usher's background show where a chess board was portrayed kind of holographically throughout the song performance. He has such a smooth and cool stage presence and an impressive majestic command of what was the vast audience before him. 

Throughout the show how Brown paid tribute to Michael Jackson, Prince and other r&b artists was heartening. I particularly liked his performance of Residuals where the hood of a car was used as his stage and all the lights glowing in the backdrop from what appeared to be Los Angeles, provided an amazing backdrop.

 Detroit's show was as energy packed as Denver's. The crowd really enjoyed Chris coming down from the stage, mingling and dancing with some of the audience. The performance of New Flame where Chris and Usher danced and sang together was great to see after all the build up and pre-concert enthusiasm expressed by both of them about working together. To actually see it accomplished was heartwarming. Of course, Chris flying through the air had everyone excited and probably on the edge of there seats and on pins and needles.

Here's a video recorded by a fan at the second night's concert at Ford Field in Detroit. And, a link to an experience shared by a seasoned Detroiter who had an absolute blast! 

The concerts on both nights have been  spectacular. The combination of these two entertainment icons performing live at a huge stadium with capacity crowds surpassing 50,000 created quite a buzz.  

Clip from Minneapolis:

Clip from Cleveland:

Forthcoming via link

While I thoroughly have enjoyed watching the amazing concert videos and live streams,what has been most notable about the tour is the way the artists have opened up access and opportunities for our youth as well as fans in general. Usher through his non-profit Usher's New Look , 10 interns have had the paid opportunity to learn what goes on behind the scenes of such a large production. And the tour has recently sent out a call to the pubic to apply for paid positions to participate in the actual stage concert performance as background extras.

As for the relationship of all of the foregoing in terms of its theological implications and relationship to serving God, giving back to the community that has contributed to your wealth and success is one of the things that god loves us to do. "Love your neighbor as yourself" and God loves a cheerful giver are starters for discussion. Scripture also calls upon  us to make a joyful noise to the lord. There is evidence of that a d some sounds that may be a little risqué. That will be discussed in the follow-up podcast.

Please tune into my podcast to learn more about my coverage of this and other concert and music events as well as how music plays and has played a role in our relationship with god in gospel music, jazz, blues and R&B.

God bless you and continued success to Usher and Chris on this tour. Shout out to the fans as well.

Cynthia Wilson,

Founder,Editor & CEO

Cynthia D. Wilson Speaks

Blog and Podcasts

Long Awaited "Epic"Raymond and Brown Tour Kicks Off in Denver the Mile High City Friday, June 25,2025

 

The highly anticipated and long awaited Raymond and Brown, the R & B Tour kicks off in Denver, Colorado tomorrow, Friday, June 25,2025 at the Empower Field. 

Eager fans, well respected titans and old school influencers of the  industry have been commenting about this historic tour for months including Jermaine Dupris who's comment  was motivating and deferential. He shared it in his customary  laid back style. It can be found here on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/shorts/5sDTI-4-dK4?is=OIHoP1jwHd_E-4nc

and just today Damien Damizza had this to say:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaAr7LVp5zK/?igsh=MTdiaWF4aWJ6cncycw==

Note- Please excuse the link malfunction. I am experiencing technical difficulties at this time of posting by way of glitch or hackers. Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon. In the meantime, you can catch this update on the related YouTube channel at the following link:

http://youtube.com/post/UgkxozzCxY4OXS2fSatfnyt_MKL-qwIHml6d?si=ZpZ3EzBwr4JU2BGS

How R&B Co-Headliners Raymond and Brown Tour Have Given Back to Community Over the Years

 

While it was recently announced that $1 from each ticket purchased from the upcoming Raymond and Brown, R&B concert tour will be donated to FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, both Usher and Chris Brown have been contributing to the Global and local communities over the years in admirable ways. Each one of them has enriched the lives of artists and youth through various community enrichment, support and outreach programs of their own. Usher already serves as a Global Citizen Ambassador and will continue his commitment to that project on this tour. For more information about FIFA Global Citizen Fund click here and view the video.

Usher recently in partnership with Big Sean contributed a million for a start up that invests in the creativity of Detroiters. Its a space where they can go to create podcasts  paint, design in an arts and music studio at Michigan Central a newly renovated train station in Detroit. 

The Detroit R & B concert is scheduled for July 2 and 3 at Ford Field. Pre-sale concert tickets are  currently live and tickets go on sale officially April 27. For more information about what you need to do to be added to a list, get ticket codes or to purchase, click on this link.

Usher also has been quietly grooming and training up and coming artists for years through his foundation's special training program. Many of the artists we know. Once they go through the program they return as instructors and mentors to the new trainee artists, investing 15 million of his own money. See more in this Instagram post by Prime Source Media here.

Chris Brown has been active in a number of special youth  programs throughout the years in the Los Angeles area donating clothes, gym shoes, hugs and basketball moves at a High School's  Unity Day in particular. To get a glimpse of these past events, view the YouTube video, Funny Chris Brown. The Crenshaw event is halfway through the video.

He was honored with an award from the 2nd Call organization in 2014 for spreading hope.  Check out an archived post from his archives. More recently Breezy lost one of his dancers and committed to take care of her child. The dancer passed away several months ago. See more here.

Just a reminder and brief vignette of those god has blessed with fortune, fame and favor and how they give and  have given back to the community. Two brothers who made good became famous, made fortunes and do good works we don't often hear about,see, or read about in the news broadcasts.

Its important to spread the good news of celebrities and others who are doing good things and give credit where it is truthful and due.