Eight-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Anita Baker announced her 40th-anniversary tour in 2023. The Songstress‘ tour will stop in New Orleans at the Smoothie King Center Friday, February 17.

Tickets go on sale starting Thursday, November 17 at 10 a.m. CST on LiveNation.com.

Baker’s influence in New Orleans extends deep into its R&B and soul roots. Artists like Joy Clark have cited Baker as an important influence. In addition, she has played at many important local sites such as the Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2018 and Congo Square.

The tour celebrates Baker’s 40 years as a music icon in the industry since the release of her debut album, The Songstress, was released in 1983. These dates mark the first time she has been on a full tour since 1995 and it is also the first time The Songstress will be performing her classic hits live since winning back the rights to her masters.

“Looking forward to some crazy, lovely, hang time with my fans, on tour in 2023,” said Anita Baker, “Gonna bring some new music & some special guests, too.”

Born in Toledo, OH and raised in Detroit, MI, Bake grew to become a popular singer of soulful ballads during the height of the quiet storm period in the 1980s. Starting her career in the late 1970s with the funk band Chapter 8, Baker released her first solo album, The Songstress, in 1983. In 1986, she rose to stardom following the release of her Platinum-selling second album, Rapture, which included the Grammy-winning single “Sweet Love.” Baker has four Platinum albums, along with two Gold albums. Baker is a contralto with a vocal range that extends her register to at least three octaves.

Produced by Live Nation, Baker will tour 15 cities kicking off on February 11th at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL making stops across the U.S. in Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, and more before wrapping up in Oakland’s Oakland Arena on December 23rd.