# I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour

The I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour was a concert tour by American singer Whitney Houston, in support of her multi-platinum third studio album I'm Your Baby Tonight (1990). Prior to Houston performing two dates in Japan early-March, the official tour started on April 18, in North America. Houston's performed nearly 100 concert dates throughout 1991 in North America and Europe.

## Background

After a successful series of concerts in Japan during March 1991, Houston returned to the United States to prepare for the world tour to support the four-times platinum selling album of the same name. Houston was initially planned to start the tour in the U.K. However, due to the Gulf War, the European leg was rescheduled until the fall. Houston instead started the tour in the US. Houston kicked things off with her "Welcome Home Heroes Concert" on March 31 in Norfolk Virginia. The special, which aired on HBO, was dedicated to the troops who were fighting in the Gulf War. All proceeds went to the Red Cross. Mid-1991 was considered one of the worst touring seasons ever. Many big names were cancelling dates and playing to low capacities. Houston was no exception. The singer played to low attendances and even cancelled some dates due to poor ticket sales. Experts cited the ongoing recession and financial crisis as the main reason. In August, Houston also developed a throat ailment. As a result, the singer was forced to cancel the end of her Canadian tour to rest her voice.
The tour resumed in late August when Houston reached the U.K. She played 10 consecutive dates at Wembley Arena in London, surpassing her own record of 9 straight dates at the same arena during the Moment of Truth World Tour, in 1988.
A month and a half after the tour concluded in Paris, October 1991, Houston would begin production on her first feature film, The Bodyguard in December.

## The show

Unlike her previous tours, the shows had more focus on visuals. The stage was lit by 300 lights spinning and flashing in synch with the music. The state of the art system was designed by Mark Fisher and Jonathan Park. The system had only been used previously by Pink Floyd in his "The Wall" show in Berlin and the Rolling Stones' "Urban Jungle Tour". Houston also incorporated costume changes during her sets for the first time. She often wore skin tight jump suits. Houston also took part in choreographed dancing with backup dancers. Unlike her previous tours, the stage was not in the round. She was backed by a seven piece band. After her previous musical director John Simmons died, bass player Rickey Minor became the tour's musical director. R&B group After 7 opened during the North American leg. Dance act Snap! supported her on the European leg.
Houston reworked most of the songs during the show with improvisations and spontaneity, adding funk to the uptempos while slowing down the ballads. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Saving All My Love for You" was "sultry, taking excursions through the church and jazz world that aren't heard on the recorded version." She incorporated her popular love songs into a "Love Medley", giving her time to try out the newer uptempo/new jack swing numbers on her current album. Midway through the shows, Houston introduced her band while singing the gospel "Revelation". This started the gospel set which included a cappella and solos from her backup singers. Her brother Gary Houston also performed a Marvin Gaye medley. With hip hop music becoming popular during the time, Houston incorporated rappers into the show. Rappers were given verses during "How Will I Know" while shouting "yo Whitney yo" throughout other songs. During some of the shows, Houston incorporated her hit "All The Man That I Need" into a medley with the Billie Holiday classics "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)" and "My Man", which she dedicated to her own man at the time. At the time, Houston was rumored to be dating singer Bobby Brown. The rumor of course turned out to be true. The Holliday cover earned praise from many critics. The Vancouver Sun said "her delivery was achingly soulful" and that the singer should continue towards that direction musically. For some of the US dates, she performed her top ten pop hit "Miracle". Houston ended her show with "I'm Your Baby Tonight" before the encore, "Greatest Love of All", in Europe for some of the London, UK dates included the encore "I Belong to You".
Some criticized Houston for focusing on the MTV trend of relying on dancing and big production lighting. The Sun Sentinel noted that the singer should opt for smaller venues and theaters that are "far more suitable to her sophistication and talent." USA Today praised the singer because she "shakes the confinements of her recordings' calculated productions and gets downright gutsy and soulful"

## Opening acts

* After 7 (US leg)
* Snap! (European leg)
* D'Influence (Glasgow Scotland)
* Gerald Alston (European leg, select dates)

## Set list

This set list is representative of the concert on May 11, 1991 at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.
* "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
* "So Emotional"
* "Saving All My Love for You"
* "How Will I Know"
* "All at Once" / "A House Is Not a Home" / "Didn't We Almost Have It All" / "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
* "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)" / "My Man" / "All the Man That I Need"
* "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" / "What's Going On" (performed by Gary Houston)
* "My Name Is Not Susan"
* "Anymore"
* "Miracle"
* "Revelation" (contain elements of "He's All Right")
* "In Return"
* "This Day"
* "Who Do You Love"
* "I'm Your Baby Tonight"
* "I Belong to You"
* "Greatest Love of All"
Notes
* ↑ performed at select dates in North America
* 1 2 performed at select dates in Europe
Additional notes
* March 14 and 15: in Yokohama, Japan, Houston performed a stirring rendition of "In Return".
* May 11: her performances of "My Name Is Not Susan", "Miracle" and "Greatest Love of All" at her Oakland, California concert were shown during a televised telethon that aired on MTV, May 12, for The Simple Truth: A concert for Kurdish Refugees.
* September 29: the concert in A Coruña, Spain was recorded and aired on TV in several markets of Spain, and select countries in Europe.

## Shows

List of concerts, showing date, city, country, venue, tickets sold, number of available tickets and amount of gross revenue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Revenue |
| Asia ||||||
| March 14, 1991 | Yokohama | Japan | Yokohama Arena | — | — |
| March 15, 1991 | Yokohama | Japan | Yokohama Arena | — | — |
| North America ||||||
| March 31, 1991 | Norfolk | United States | Naval Air Station | 3,500 / 3,500 | — |
| April 18, 1991 | Knoxville | United States | Thompson–Boling Arena | 6,836 / 16,786 | $136,637 |
| April 20, 1991 | Lexington | United States | Rupp Arena | — | — |
| April 21, 1991 | Champaign | United States | Assembly Hall | — | — |
| April 23, 1991 | Columbia | United States | Hearnes Center | — | — |
| April 24, 1991 | Ames | United States | Hilton Coliseum | 6,175 / 13,000 | — |
| April 26, 1991 | Iowa City | United States | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | — | — |
| April 27, 1991 | Minneapolis | United States | Target Center | — | — |
| April 29, 1991 | Winnipeg | Canada | Winnipeg Arena | 5,832 / 12,470 | $156,624 |
| May 1, 1991 | Saskatoon | Canada | Saskatchewan Place | — | — |
| May 3, 1991 | Edmonton | Canada | Northlands Coliseum | — | — |
| May 5, 1991 | Calgary | Canada | Olympic Saddledome | 9,736 / 14,114 | $238,662 |
| May 7, 1991 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | — | — |
| May 8, 1991 | Portland | United States | Memorial Coliseum | 9,387 / 10,000 | $218,422 |
| May 9, 1991 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Coliseum | 8,807 / 11,993 | $203,520 |
| May 11, 1991 | Oakland | United States | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena | — | — |
| May 12, 1991 | Sacramento | United States | ARCO Arena | 9,031 / 12,786 | $208,640 |
| May 16, 1991 | Inglewood | United States | Great Western Forum | — | — |
| May 17, 1991 | Costa Mesa | United States | Pacific Amphitheatre | — | — |
| May 19, 1991 | Phoenix | United States | Desert Sky Pavilion | 10,774 / 12,000 | $221,576 |
| May 21, 1991 | Las Vegas | United States | Thomas & Mack Center | — | — |
| May 23, 1991 | Albuquerque | United States | Tingley Coliseum | — | — |
| May 24, 1991 | Greenwood Village | United States | Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre | — | — |
| May 25, 1991 | Salt Lake City | United States | Salt Palace | — | — |
| May 28, 1991 | New Orleans | United States | Lakefront Arena | — | — |
| May 30, 1991 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center | — | — |
| May 31, 1991 | Dallas | United States | Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre | 8,837 / 20,111 | $188,511 |
| June 2, 1991 | The Woodlands | United States | Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | — | — |
| June 4, 1991 | San Antonio | United States | HemisFair Arena | — | — |
| June 5, 1991 | Austin | United States | Frank Erwin Center | — | — |
| June 7, 1991 | Birmingham | United States | BJCC Coliseum | — | — |
| June 9, 1991 | Pensacola | United States | Pensacola Civic Center | — | — |
| June 10, 1991 | Orlando | United States | Orlando Arena | 7,093 / 15,500 | $159,593 |
| June 11, 1991 | Miami | United States | Miami Arena | 9,530 / 10,000 | $238,250 |
| June 13, 1991 | Columbia | United States | Carolina Coliseum | — | — |
| June 15, 1991 | Atlanta | United States | Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre | — | — |
| June 16, 1991 | Greensboro | United States | Greensboro Coliseum | — | — |
| June 19, 1991 | Chattanooga | United States | McKenzie Arena | — | — |
| June 20, 1991 | Nashville | United States | Starwood Amphitheatre | 8,000 / 17,137 | — |
| June 27, 1991 | Milwaukee | United States | Marcus Amphitheater | — | — |
| June 28, 1991 | Noblesville | United States | Deer Creek Music Center | 7,746 / 12,000 | $157,199 |
| June 30, 1991 | Tinley Park | United States | World Music Theatre | 8,525 / 20,000 | $221,965 |
| July 3, 1991 | Detroit | United States | Joe Louis Arena | — | — |
| July 6, 1991 | Charlotte | United States | Blockbuster Pavilion | — | — |
| July 7, 1991 | Raleigh | United States | Hardee's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre | — | — |
| July 10, 1991 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center | — | — |
| July 11, 1991 | Grove City | United States | Capitol Music Center | — | — |
| July 13, 1991 | Burgettstown | United States | Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater | 10,763 / 20,089 | $208,566 |
| July 14, 1991 | Richmond | United States | Richmond Coliseum | — | — |
| July 16, 1991 | Columbia | United States | Merriweather Post Pavilion | — | — |
| July 17, 1991 | Providence | United States | Providence Civic Center | 7,012 / 12,000 | $164,782 |
| July 19, 1991 | Philadelphia | United States | The Spectrum | — | — |
| July 20, 1991 | Hershey | United States | Hersheypark Stadium | — | — |
| July 21, 1991 | Saratoga Springs | United States | Saratoga Performing Arts Center | — | — |
| July 23, 1991 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden | 13,850 / 14,000 | $401,773 |
| July 26, 1991 | East Rutherford | United States | Brendan Byrne Arena | — | — |
| July 27, 1991 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverbend Music Center | 8,114 / 17,000 | — |
| July 29, 1991 | Lenox | United States | Tanglewood | — | — |
| July 30, 1991 | Hopewell | United States | Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center | — | — |
| August 1, 1991 | Buffalo | United States | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium | — | — |
| August 3, 1991 | Hartford | United States | Hartford Civic Center | — | — |
| August 4, 1991 | Rutland | United States | Paramount Theater | — | — |
| August 6, 1991 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Performing Arts Center | — | — |
| August 7, 1991 | Mansfield | United States | Great Woods Performing Arts Center | — | — |
| August 9, 1991 | Old Orchard Beach | United States | Seashore Performing Arts Center | — | — |
| August 10, 1991 | Nashua | United States | Holman Stadium | — | — |
| Europe ||||||
| August 27, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| August 28, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| August 29, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| August 30, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| August 31, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| September 1, 1991 | Birmingham | England | NEC Arena | — | — |
| September 3, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 4, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 6, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 7, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 9, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 10, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 11, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 13, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 14, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 15, 1991 | London | England | Wembley Arena | — | — |
| September 17, 1991 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | — | — |
| September 18, 1991 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | — | — |
| September 19, 1991 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre | — | — |
| September 21, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 22, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 23, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 25, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 26, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 27, 1991 | Rotterdam | Netherlands | Ahoy Sportpaleis | — | — |
| September 29, 1991 | A Coruña | Spain | Coliseum da Coruña | — | — |
| October 1, 1991 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | — | — |
| October 2, 1991 | Paris | France | Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy | — | — |

### Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

Summerfest

### Cancellations and rescheduled shows

| May 13, 1991 | Mountain View, California | Shoreline Amphitheatre | Cancelled |
| June 22, 1991 | Maryland Heights, Missouri | Riverport Amphitheatre | Cancelled |
| June 23, 1991 | Kansas City, Missouri | Starlight Theatre | Cancelled |
| June 25, 1991 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Cancelled |
| July 5, 1991 | Hampton, Virginia | Hampton Coliseum | Cancelled |
| August 11, 1991 | Moncton, Canada | Magnetic Hill Concert Site | Cancelled |
| August 13, 1991 | Halifax, Canada | Halifax Metro Centre | Cancelled |
| August 15, 1991 | Montreal, Canada | Montreal Forum | Cancelled |
| August 16, 1991 | Ottawa, Canada | Lansdowne Park | Cancelled |
| August 17, 1991 | Toronto, Canada | CNE Grandstand | Cancelled |

## Personnel

Band
* Musical Director – Rickey Minor
* Bass guitar, bass synthesizer – Ricky Minor
* Guitar – Ray Fuller
* Keyboard: Michael Bearden
* Drums – Ricky Lawson
* Keyboard – Bette Sussman
* Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
* Keyboard – Kevin Lee
* Percussion – Bashiri Johnson
* Background vocalists – Gary Houston, Vonchita Rawls, Carmen Rawls, Tiawana Rawls
Choreography Choreographer – Khandi Alexander
Dancers
* Diesko Boyland, Bryant Cash-Welch, Jonathan Webbe, Luca Tommassini
Tour Management
* Manager – Tony Bulluck