photo credit: MAXfam Taiwo
(2009-10-08) | Maxwell Makes Billboard History!
New York (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) - New Ambassador of Soul Maxwell has entered the history books at Billboard with “Pretty Wings” and “Bad Habits,” the two singles from the approaching-platinum album ‘BLACKsummers’night.’ Billboard’s Gary Trust writes “For the first time in the 16-year history of the Adult R&B radio airplay chart, one act monopolizes the top two slots on the survey.”
Maxwell has also earned some of the best reviews of his career, and is playing to bigger crowds than ever before on his current arena tour, selling out Madison Square Garden in NYC (his largest ever hometown show), the Verizon Center in Washington DC, the Spectrum in Philly, and more. Plans are in the works for additional touring in 2010.
The Billboard achievement continues the remarkable momentum behind BLACKsummers’night’ (Columbia), “one of the best records of 2009″ (NY Post).
Other recent highlights include:
*Additional sold-out arena shows in Detroit, Richmond, and Atlanta, on his 18-date North American fall tour.
*Early “Album of the Year” buzz in the LA Times’ Grammy forecast: “A seductive, yet devastatingly heartbreaking record. Look for it on year-end lists, and look for it in this field.”
*A glowing profile in the Washington Post Oct. 2: “Call it a comeback that no one saw coming - including Maxwell. His latest album, ‘BLACKsummers’night,’ debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart in July, officially ending a multiyear hiatus from the stage, the radio and the ever-bourgeoning blogosphere. Now the prodigiously gifted, intensely private 36-year-old is enjoying the biggest tour of his career.”
*Outstanding live reviews from the opening dates of the tour:
“Jazzy, wild soulfulness… a stellar concert.”- NY Post.
“Maxwell wowed the crowd at Madison Square Garden.”- MTV.
“Maxwell transformed the Coliseum into a mass of screaming, undulating female fans.”- Richmond Times-Dispatch.
“For the sold-out crowd, the temperature couldn’t get hot enough as [Maxwell] showed fans just what they’d been missing during his almost eight-year hiatus,”- Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“He gave his hit single “Pretty Wings” star treatment, letting each word, each wrong and each heartache linger. When he finished… fans yelled for more.”- Charlotte Observer.
It’s going to be a hot summer! Soul star Maxwell has tapped Roc Nation songbird Melanie Fiona to join his Summer Tour which kicks off May 21st. Melanie will join Maxwell for select dates beginning June 11th at Atlanta’s Philips Arena. Tickets are available for purchase at Live Nation.
Last Sunday was a good night to be Maxwell. After a sold out concert at the United Palace Theater, he headed downtown to the Bowery Hotel where a room-full of lucky fans and celebrity friends like model Liya Kebede and the gal-about-town Bevy Smith waited to welcome him. Between hugs, kisses, and more hugs, he took five minutes to chat with me about his return to music, his insecurities and his roots as a Brooklyn boy.
