Musician Raphael Saadiq talks unique gigs on heels of 'Cowboy Carter' success

USA Today

12-03-2025

AI-assisted summary
Musician Raphael Saadiq is launching a one-man show called "No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits" starting May 31 in New York.
Saadiq rose to fame as a vocalist in the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! and is known for his work with artists like Beyoncé and Lucy Pearl, earning him three Grammys and numerous other accolades.
The "No Bandwidth" show will feature Saadiq performing music, sharing stories and connecting with the audience in a personal setting.
Saadiq also recently celebrated success with Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter," for which he co-wrote and produced several songs.
Raphael Saadiq, who has cemented his mark in the music industry over the past three decades, has a special year planned for his fans with the release of exclusive content and a new one-man show.
"No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits" will run for only four nights, kicking off May 31 in New York before heading to Los Angeles on June 6 and his hometown of Oakland, California, on June 7 and June 8.
"It'll be me singing sometimes, me playing some instruments, me talking, telling stories, talking about the past and talking about the present," Saadiq says. "We're just going to be in one place all together. It's going to be no phones. We're really going to be close and personal."
Saadiq rose to fame in the '80s and '90s as the lead vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! In 1999, he formed another R&B group, Lucy Pearl, and released music with its members before eventually releasing five solo albums. The versatile music mogul has earned three Grammy Awards, received 20 additional nominations, and had his work recognized by both the Oscars and Golden Globes.
This year he won a Grammy for album of the year for his work on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter," on which he helped produce and write a number of songs. He also kicked off the year by performing at the NBA All-Star Game in Oakland and announcing the launch of his vinyl club.
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"The (past) year has been really successful. I have worked with some amazing people," Saadiq says. "Though maybe different than some, I've had a lot of years like this."
'No Bandwidth' shows significant in more ways than one
As a producer, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, he has written and produced for music legends while becoming one himself. Some of those artists include Beyoncé, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles, D'Angelo and John Legend.
His first one-man show will be held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem — an intentional choice.
"There's so much seasoning left on the floor at the Apollo. When you walk on that floor, you have to understand the people who worked so hard — blood, sweat and tears — and the ancestors that touched that stage," Saadiq says. "I wanted to take some of that energy and then just bring it out. Every time I go to the Apollo, I feel that way. But to go back by myself, and as a one-man show, is monumental for me."
Fans can expect his performance include his work from throughout the years.
"It's not about the talent that I have and have been blessed with," Saadiq says. "I've been blessed to work with so many good people. So I'm taking little pieces of everybody as I can remember, and then sort of bring it to to the stage."
Through his vinyl club, Saadiq is offering fans a rare glimpse into his back catalog. Those with a membership receive exclusive quarterly releases, including his most celebrated albums, new releases and more.
"It's really giving me that outlet to talk to people who really love and enjoy music," he says.
'Cowboy Carter' and Saadiq's continuous collaboration with Beyoncé
While he's no stranger to collaborative and solo success, Saadiq recognizes the uniqueness of his recent endeavors, including his collaboration with Beyoncé.
In addition to being a songwriter on Beyoncé's Grammy-winning hit "Cuff It" from her 2022 album "Renaissance," he co-wrote and produced a number of songs from her eighth studio album, including "Texas Hold 'Em," "16 Carriages," "Bodyguard" and "Ameriican Requiem." He also played the instruments for multiple songs, including "Ya Ya" and "Just For Fun."
"I think 'Cowboy Carter' just brought the perspective that Black people sang country music first. And (Beyoncé) brought a lot of people from the past and (present)... like Shaboozey, who's been already singing country music," Saadiq says. "It sort of gave them an outlet to get out to a bigger audience."
Tickets are now available for Saadiq's upcoming shows on raphaelsaadiqmusic.com.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.