I'm Back...

Hey everybody. I know it's been a very long time since you've heard from me. But I'm back. I'm back with new music and the beginning of my promotional tour. I can't wait for you to hear and see the new album, Once Again . I'm truly excited about the songs and creative direction of the album. I worked with a great list of producers and co-writers, including Kanye West, will.i.am, Raphael Saadiq, Craig Street, Sa-Ra, Eric Hudson, Devo Springsteen, Dave Tozer and Avenue. I also had a special guest appearance from Mary J. Blige. I'm really proud of what we did. This album shows how I've grown and developed since Get Lifted . You'll hear a range of influences from soul to hip-hop to classic pop to alternative. I hope you enjoy it.
I spent most of the summer working on the new album, but I found some time to do a few other things as well. Here are some highlights:

• I had the privilege of recording a duet with Tony Bennett for his upcoming album and television special.
• I performed with Wynton Marsalis and his band for a fundraiser for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. That was a memorable experience. Mr. Marsalis is a genius.
• I performed with Sergio Mendes for his 40 th anniversary concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
• I sang at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game I did a duet with Hoots the Owl on Sesame Street. My best duet ever.
• I had a chance to perform my first ever concert in Trinidad & Tobago. We had a great time down there. I'm hoping to return next year...
• I co-wrote a beautiful song called "Finally" for Fergie's new album.
• I also recorded with Kanye West, Common, Consequence and Cassidy for future releases

As many of you know, we're doing a small set of promotional performances in a few cities in September and October. Tickets will be very hard to come by because the venues will be very small. But don't worry; we'll do a larger tour after the album is released on October 24th. I hope to see all of you out there on the road. The band has been getting ready, and I think we're going to be better than ever. In the meantime, make sure you check out the new video for the first single, "Save Room." You can also buy the single at various online stores like i-tunes, etc. And be sure you request it on your local radio stations and video channels. Finally, as we commemorate the 1 st anniversary of Katrina and the 5 th anniversary of the tragic events of 2001, let us continue to work and pray for peace and prosperity around the world. While we remember the lives of those several thousand Americans who were killed on 9/11, let's also remember that hundreds of thousands of people around the world are dying every year due to extreme poverty and preventable and treatable diseases. I recommend that you read Jeffrey Sachs' "The End of Poverty" which suggests ways we all can work to end this ongoing tragedy. It's a powerful book and well worth your time.

Thanks again for your support.

John