Local music lovers to see Ne-Yo live

23 April 2010 - 02:00
By Patience Bambalele

ONE of R&B music's most talented and sexy artists, Ne-Yo, is heading for South Africa for two shows.

ONE of R&B music's most talented and sexy artists, Ne-Yo, is heading for South Africa for two shows.

The prolific songwriter, who has penned numerous number one hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna and many others, starts his tour in Jozi on May 1 at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate.

If you miss the star at Northgate you can still catch him at the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town on May 4.

Born Shaffer Chimere Smith, Ne-Yo, right, will be supported by local star JR, also known as Thabo Bogupa.

With his sexy and exciting choreography on stage, girls will be screaming for more.

Since his debut Ne-Yo has had five top-10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist, and two number-one albums on the Billboard 200.

He has also made a name for himself both as a songwriter and an artist. He has collaborated with many leading US artists.

After years of working behind the scene as a songwriter, Ne-Yo burst on to the recording scene in 2006 with his first album In My Own Words. So Sick became a US number one hit. In 2007 he dropped the album Because of You, which contained the hit Because of You.

Year of the Gentleman the following year boasts two hits - Closer and Miss Independent. Both tracks are currently enjoying renewed airplay on radio and television.

Born in Camden, US, Ne-Yo broke into the music industry after the hit Let Me Love You, a song he wrote for American singer Mario. The hit was a runaway success.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed in the top spot for nine weeks.

His career started with Las Vegas-based quartet Envy. After the group disbanded Ne-Yo began his solo career. But it took him years to get the right recording deal.

Tickets are available for between R250 and R390 for the Johannesburg show and R250 to R420 for the Cape Town show.