LAKE COUNTY — Quintessential peacemaker Keith Sweat knows his music has the power to turn quarreling couples into lovers.
“You put Keith Sweat on, you know what time it is,” he said. “I”ve helped make the arguments go away.”
The R&B legend brings his “grown and sexy” brand of music to Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino (RRRC) Friday.
Sweat released his 11th studio album, “”Til the Morning,” in November. The album is classic R&B music, with slow-paced, passionately sexualized songs such as “Make You Say Ooh” and “To the Middle,” featuring hit-maker T-Pain.
Sweat said his music is sexual but not graphic like the current crop of R&B stars.
“That”s that young boy thing right now, they can get away with that gangsta stuff,” Sweat said. “My audience is a little more mature.”
On “Knew it all Along,” Sweat collaborated with former LSG band mates Johnny Gill and the late Gerald Levert. The song is a soulful take on a man who tells a woman friend, who is in a rocky relationship, that he loves her. He said he used tapes of Levert singing that date from their LSG days.
“I took some old vocals masters from him and incorporated them (into the song),” he said. “I think the song came out pretty good.”
Sweat said he has a great friendship with Gill.
“We talk constantly,” he said. “Working with him is like doing something by myself. It”s a natural thing to do with him.”
He said the collaboration with T-Pain, who raps on the track and lets Sweat use his signature auto-tune vocal effect, was a lot of fun.
“I”m a big fan (of his),” he said. “We wanted to do something together.”
Sweat said he began touring again after the album came out and things are going well.
“The response has been great,” he said. “I”ve been going out a whole lot over the last four or five months. I still enjoy myself, still love the response (from the crowd). I love performing.”
Tim O”Meara, a graphic designer in RRRC”s marketing department, said ticket sales for Friday”s show have been steady.
“We”re receiving a great response and a lot of buzz,” O”Meara said.
He said RRRC management has taken steps to make the casino resort Lake County”s entertainment venue.
“We feel we”re offering the best entertainment to this area,” he said. “We”re excited.”
The venue has a capacity of 882.
“It”s a smaller venue,” he said. “It”s typically pretty high-energy. It”s close quarters but it seems fun because of that.”
Sweat said, “My band is going to be rockin” and I”m going to be sounding just like the record. Go buy the album, you will be fairly pleased.”
Sweat performs Friday at 9 p.m. Doors for the show open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the RRRC Player”s Club at 800-809-3636.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
