Moment of Truth World Tour

Moment of Truth World Tour

Official Tour Program
Tour by Whitney Houston
Associated album Whitney
Start date July 4, 1987
End date November 21, 1989
Legs 4
Shows 91 in North America
37 in Europe
18 in Asia
6 in Australia
152 in total
Box office $24 million (North America)
Whitney Houston concert chronology
The Greatest Love World Tour
(1986)		 Moment of Truth World Tour
(1987-89)		 Feels So Right Tour
(1990)

The Moment of Truth World Tour was the second worldwide tour by American recording R&B/Pop singer, Whitney Houston. The tour is in support of her multi-platinum hit album Whitney. The trek started on July 4, 1987 in North America and continued overseas during 1988 in Europe, Asia and Australia. As reported by Pollstar Magazine's top grossing tours in 1987, Houston's had the seventh highest-earning and the highest grossing tour by a female artist that year. The North American leg tour alone grossed over $20.1 million.[1] Ironically enough, the name of the tour, Moment of Truth, was a track that was to be on the Whitney album and subsequently left off at the last minute and replaced with "You're Still My Man". The song "Moment of Truth" was featured on the B-side to the US 7" single for "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)". It was also released on the CD single for "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)".

History

Following the release of Whitney, Houston began promoting the album with a world tour. She began on July 4 in Tampa, Florida, where she played to over 70,000 people. In a specious show of religious faith, Houston barred the sale of beer during the concert, alienating most of the thirsty audience members who were expecting an Independence Day celebration to remember and instead left early for Ybor City. [Source: John W. Gardner, personally attended the concert and left early because there were no beer sales.] She returned to the Sunshine State where she ended her North American leg at the Orange County Convention Center on December 8, 1987.

In Europe, Houston visited 12 countries, playing to over half a million fans. Houston played nine consecutive nights at Wembley Arena in London. At the same time, the singer had just broken The Beatles' record of seven consecutive #1 singles in the US. A party was thrown with guests such as Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and Clive Davis. Houston cancelled an Italian concert date after agreeing to fly back to London to pay tribute to a then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela who was celebrating his birthday. Houston performed a set at Wembley Stadium, playing to over 72,000 fans during the historic event.[2] Following this, Houston resumed her tour in Italy. In 1988, Houston returned from the European leg to perform a benefit concert for the United Negro College Fund on August 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Houston's only North American date during 1988 after playing 89 dates the previous year. The concert raised over $300,000 for the UNCF. [3]

The tour was one of the top ten highest-grossing tours of the year.[4] The North American leg of the tour alone grossed over $24 million, enough to make her the second highest-earning female entertainer of the year according to Forbes.[5] In addition, the European leg was sold out.[3]

The show

Like her previous tour, Houston again performed on a round stage in the center of the arena or auditorium so that everyone can see her. The seven-piece band was situated below her. There were two outfit changes; no stage props. However, unlike her previous tour, Houston called upon three backup dancers during the uptempo songs. The dance routines were choreographed by Damita Jo Freeman and Khandi Alexander. Jonathan Butler and Kenny G opened during select dates for the North American leg.

With two albums under her belt, the singer had more material to choose from. She included most of the songs from Whitney, the biggest hits from her debut, as well as the gospel song "He/I Believe". Houston also performed songs from her peers during various concerts, interpreting Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, and Janet Jackson.[6] Like her debut tour, Houston proved herself to be a creative musician. She rearranged most of the songs into soulful jazzy numbers and did a lot of improvisation. The Montreal Gazette said, "Whatever faults the 24-year-old singer has, she is first and foremost a creative musician."[7] The pop hit "How Will I Know" was given a jazzy beginning and gospel-like ending. "You Give Good Love" was slowed down into a steamy and sensual slow jam. Houston often scatted with sax player Jay Davidson on "Just the Lonely Talking Again".[6] Most critics noted "He/I Believe" and "Greatest Love of All" as being the show's highlights.

Despite the praise for her voice and arrangements, many critics noted her lack of dancing and movements. The Richmond Times said "she is about as stiff as a cardboard box."[8] Some noted that she lacked a true personality. Others complained that despite the name of the tour, she followed the same formula as her previous tour.[6] Jon Pareles of the New York Times reviewed her Madison Square Garden concert and said, "Ms. Houston may be a new kind of pop singer for the video era: an encyclopedic, restless virtuoso. She has absorbed the soul and pop styles of everyone from Aretha Franklin to Barbra Streisand to Diana Ross to Al Green; she can deliver a gospel rasp, a velvety coo, a floating soprano and a cheerleader's whoop."[9]

Opening acts

Set list

Notes

The band

Tour dates

Date City Country Venue
North America[10]
July 4, 1987 Tampa United States Tampa Stadium
July 5, 1987 Milwaukee Marcus Amphitheater
July 7, 1987 Canandaigua Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center
July 8, 1987 Lake Placid Olympic Center
July 9, 1987 Providence Providence Civic Center
July 11, 1987 Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion
July 12, 1987
July 14, 1987 Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center
July 17, 1987 Indianapolis Market Square Arena
July 18, 1987 Saint Paul Harriet Island Pavilion
July 19, 1987
July 21, 1987 Hoffman Estates Poplar Creek Music Theater
July 22, 1987
July 24, 1987 Peoria Peoria Civic Center
July 25, 1987 St. Louis St. Louis Arena
July 26, 1987 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center
July 27, 1987
July 30, 1987 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
July 31, 1987 Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre
August 1, 1987
August 2, 1987 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
August 5, 1987 Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum
August 7, 1987 Birmingham BJCC Coliseum
August 8, 1987 Atlanta Omni Coliseum
August 9, 1987 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum
August 12, 1987 Richmond Richmond Coliseum
August 13, 1987 Hershey Hersheypark Stadium
August 14, 1987 Philadelphia The Spectrum
August 16, 1987 Wantagh Jones Beach Marine Theater
August 17, 1987
August 19, 1987 Holmdel Township Garden State Arts Center
August 20, 1987
August 21, 1987 Hartford Hartford Civic Center
August 22, 1987
August 24, 1987 Boston Boston Common
August 25, 1987
August 26, 1987
August 28, 1987 Montreal Canada Montreal Forum
August 29, 1987 Ottawa Lansdowne Park
August 30, 1987 Toronto CNE Stadium
September 2, 1987 Saratoga Springs United States Saratoga Performing Arts Center
September 3, 1987 Syracuse Onondaga War Memorial
September 5, 1987 Providence Providence Civic Center
September 8, 1987 New York City Madison Square Garden
September 9, 1987
September 12, 1987 Lexington Rupp Arena
September 13, 1987 Champaign Assembly Hall
September 18, 1987 Austin Frank Erwin Center
September 19, 1987 Houston The Summit
September 20, 1987 Dallas Reunion Arena
September 23, 1987 Albuquerque Tingley Coliseum
September 26, 1987 Irvine Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
September 27, 1987 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 29, 1987 Las Vegas Thomas & Mack Center
October 1, 1987 Oakland Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
October 2, 1987 Inglewood The Forum
October 9, 1987 Seattle Seattle Center Coliseum
October 10, 1987
October 11, 1987 Vancouver Canada Pacific Coliseum
October 12, 1987 Portland United States Memorial Coliseum
October 27, 1987 Denver McNichols Sports Arena
October 30, 1987 Ames Hilton Coliseum
October 31, 1987 Iowa City Carver–Hawkeye Arena
November 3, 1987 Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium
November 4, 1987 Oklahoma City Myriad Convention Center Arena
November 10, 1987 East Rutherford Brendan Byrne Arena
November 20, 1987 Knoxville Stokely Athletic Center
November 21, 1987 Chapel Hill Smith Center
November 27, 1987 New Orleans Louisiana Superdome
December 2, 1987 Jacksonville Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum
December 4, 1987 Tampa USF Sun Dome
December 5, 1987 Pembroke Pines Hollywood Sportatorium
December 8, 1987 Orlando Orange County Civic Center
Europe
April 17, 1988 Brussels Belgium Forest National
April 19, 1988 Rotterdam Netherlands Ahoy Rotterdam
April 21, 1988
April 23, 1988
April 24, 1988
April 27, 1988 Birmingham United Kingdom NEC Arena
April 28, 1988
April 30, 1988
May 1, 1988
May 2, 1988
May 4, 1988 London Wembley Arena
May 5, 1988
May 7, 1988
May 10, 1988
May 11, 1988
May 12, 1988
May 15, 1988
May 16, 1988
May 18, 1988 Paris France Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy
May 20, 1988 Frankfurt Germany Festhalle Frankfurt
May 21, 1988
May 24, 1988 Copenhagen Denmark Valby-Hallen
May 25, 1988 Drammen Norway Drammenshallen
May 27, 1988 Stockholm Sweden Johanneshovs Isstadion
May 28, 1988
May 29, 1988 Gothenburg Scandinavium
June 2, 1988 Berlin Germany Waldbühne
June 4, 1988 Dortmund Westfalenhallen
June 6, 1988 Wrocław Poland Hala Stulecia
June 8, 1988 Rome Italy Palazzo dello Sport
June 9, 1988
June 12, 1988 Milan Palatrussardi
June 13, 1988
June 16, 1988 Vienna Austria Wiener Stadthalle
June 18, 1988 Basel Switzerland St. Jakobshalle
June 19, 1988
June 21, 1988
June 23, 1988 Munich Germany Olympiahalle
June 24, 1988
June 26, 1988
June 28, 1988 Barcelona Spain Plaça de Toros La Monumental
June 29, 1988 Madrid Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
North America
August 28, 1988 New York City United States Madison Square Garden
Asia
September 21, 1988 Hiroshima Japan Hiroshima Green Arena
September 22, 1988 Fukuoka Fukuoka Kokusai Center
September 26, 1988 Tokyo Nippon Budokan
September 27, 1988
September 28, 1988
October 1, 1988 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall
October 2, 1988
October 5, 1988 Nagoya Nagoya Rainbow Hall
October 6, 1988
October 7, 1988 Shizuoka Kusanagi Athletic Stadium
October 11, 1988 Sapporo Makomanai Indoor Stadium
October 13, 1988 Sendai Sendai Gymnasium
October 15, 1988 Yokohama Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium
October 16, 1988 Tokyo Nippon Budokan
October 17, 1988
Australia
October 22, 1988 Melbourne Australia National Tennis Centre
October 25, 1988 Canberra National Indoor Sports Centre
October 31, 1988 Perth Perth Entertainment Centre
November 7, 1989 Sydney Sydney Entertainment Centre
November 8, 1989
November 11, 1989 Brisbane Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Asia
November 18, 1989 Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Coliseum
November 19, 1989
November 20, 1989

Broadcast / Recordings

Boxscore data

Not all data are listed, only select dates in the United States and Canada
Date(s) Venue City, state Ticket price(s) Ticket sold / available Ticket grossing
July 4, 1987[11] Tampa Stadium Tampa, Florida $19 / $17.50 49,659 / 55,000 (90.3%) $883,551
July 7, 1987[12] Performing Arts Center, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Canandaigua, New York $20 / $14 12,500 / 12,500 (100%) $186,280
July 8, 1987[12] Olympic Center Complex Arena Lake Placid, New York $16.50 8,000 / 8,000 (100%) $131,291
July 9, 1987[12] Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island $18.50 / $16.50 13,342 / 13,342 (100%) $240,546
July 14, 1987[13] Blossom Music Theatre Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio $18.50 / $12.50 18,723 / 18,723 (100%) $254,101
July 17, 1987[14] Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana $20 / $18.50 14,000 / 14,000 (100%) $231,682
July 24, 1987[14] Peoria Civic Center Peoria, Illinois $17.50 11,206 / 11,206 (100%) $196,105
July 25, 1987[15] The Arena St. Louis, Missouri $18.50 10,491 / 19,398 (54.1%) $194,084
July 30, 1987[15] Civic Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania $18.50 16,908 / 16,908 (100%) $317,153
July 31-August 1, 1987[15] Pine Knob Music Theatre Clarkston, Michigan $20 / $15 28,287 / 28,287 (100%) $481,680
August 5, 1987[16] Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina $17.50 11,737 / 11,737 (100%) $198,783
August 7, 1987[16] Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center Birmingham, Alabama $16.50 / $14.50 16,000 / 16,000 (100%) $255,658
August 8, 1987[16] The Omni Atlanta, Georgia $19 16,062 / 16,062 (100%) $305,185
August 9, 1987[16] Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina $19 / $17 12,624 / 15,781 (80.0%) $219,981
August 12, 1987[17] Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Virginia $17.50 10,386 / 10,386 (100%) $175,945
August 13, 1987[17] Hersheypark Stadium Hershey, Pennsylvania $17 22,000 / 22,000 (100%) $377,055
August 14, 1987[17] The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania $20 / $17.50 / $15.50 18,800 / 18,800 (100%) $348,674
August 16–17, 1987[17] Jones Beach Theatre Wantagh, New York $20 20,480 / 20,480 (100%) $409,600
August 19–20, 1987[18] Garden State Arts Center Holmdel Township, New Jersey $21 / $13.50 21,356 / 21,356 (100%) $366,276
August 21–22, 1987[18] Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut $18.50 / $15.50 30,613 / 30,613 (100%) $561,088
August 24–26, 1987[19] Concerts on the Commons Boston, Massachusetts $21.50 / $19.50 36,000 / 36,000 (100%) $732,478
August 28, 1987[19] Montreal Forum Montreal, Quebec $23.50 16,348 / 16,348 (100%) $287,395
August 30, 1987[19] Exhibition Stadium Toronto, Ontario $24 / $20 24,568 / 24,568 (100%) $436,315
September 3, 1987[20] New York State Fair Syracuse, New York $15 / $13 15,000 / 15,000 (100%) $217,146
September 18, 1987[20] Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas $17.50 / $15.50 16,966 / 16,966 (100%) $281,731
September 19, 1987[20] The Summit Houston, Texas $17.10 17,000 / 17,000 (100%) $294,591
September 20, 1987[20] Reunion Arena Dallas, Texas $17.50 15,984 / 15,984 (100%) $292,863
September 23, 1987[21] Tingley Coliseum, New Mexico State Fairgrounds Albuquerque, New Mexico $20 / $18 / $15 10,626 / 10,626 (100%) $189,583
September 26, 1987[21] Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre Irvine, California $75 / $25 / $19.50 / $15.50 14,555 / 14,555 (100%) $281,453
September 27, 1987[21] Shoreline Amphitheatre Mountain View, California $18.50 / $16.50 16,113 / 16,113 (100%) $280,089
October 2, 1987[22] The Forum Inglewood, California $18.50 15,600 / 15,600 (100%) $289,192
October 9–10, 1987[22] Seattle Center Coliseum Seattle, Washington $18.50 29,417 / 29,417 (100%) $535,249
October 11, 1987[22] Pacific National Exhibition Park Coliseum Vancouver, British Columbia $23.50 / $22.50 16,500 / 16,500 (100%) $279,720
October 12, 1987[22] Memorial Coliseum Complex Portland, Oregon $18.50 12,725 / 12,725 (100%) $231,270
October 27, 1987[23] McNichols Sports Arena Denver, Colorado $19.25 / $17.05 13,673 / 16,000 (85.5%) $262,277
October 30, 1987[23] Hilton Coliseum Ames, Iowa $17.50 12,500 / 12,500 (100%) $212,853
October 31, 1987[23] Carver-Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, Iowa $17.50 14,000 / 14,000 (100%) $243,828
November 3, 1987[24] Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha, Nebraska $18.50 10,859 / 10,859 (100%) $197,118
November 4, 1987[25] Myriad Convention Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma $17.50 9,530 / 9,530 (100%) $160,738
November 10, 1987[24] Meadowlands Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey $20 / $17.50 17,257 / 17,257 (100%) $335,818
November 21, 1987[26] Smith Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina $17.50 9,633 / 20,991 (45.9%) $168,578
Total 708,028 / 739,118 (95.8%) $12,545,003

References

  1. ↑ U2's $35-Million Gross is Highest for 1987 Tours. Los Angeles Times. By Robert Hilborn-January 23, 1988
  2. ↑ allwhitney.com
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Choices". Newsday. August 26, 1988, Page 02
  4. ↑ MacDonald, Patrick. "U2, Bon Jovi were top concert acts of 1987". Seattle Times. January 15, 1988. Page 5. Retrieved May 16, 2008
  5. ↑ "Bill Cosby Leads the Millionaire Entertainers". San Francisco Chronicle. September 7, 1987
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Bream, Jon. "Houston is sensational - if you like glitz and glamour". The Minneapolis Star and Tribune. July 19, 1987
  7. ↑ Griffin, John. "Whitney Delivers but Stage Presence Slips". Montreal Gazette. August 29, 1987
  8. ↑ Young, Monte R. "Houston Leaves Fans In Awe Of Her Voice". Richmond Times. August 13, 1987
  9. ↑ Pop: Whitney Houston Live.Review by Jon Pareles, September 10, 1987, New York Times
  10. ↑ Pop Review: Whitney Houston Can Sing Up A Storm, Madison Square Garden, September 8, 1987. New York Times
  11. ↑ "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (29): 25. July 18, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (30): 25. July 25, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. ↑ "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (31): 39. August 1, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (32): 23. August 8, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (33): p25. August 15, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (34): 45. August 22, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (35): 45. August 29, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (36): 22. September 5, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (37): 23. September 12, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (40): 29. October 3, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (41): 23. October 10, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (43): 40. October 24, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (45): 24. November 7, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Boxscore: Top Concert Grossess". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (48): 35. November 28, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  25. ↑ "Boxscore: Top Concert Grossess". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (47): 24. November 21, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.
  26. ↑ "Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 99 (52): 42. December 26, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510.

External links