Barry White Cancels First Seven Dates Of His U.S. Concert Tour Due To Hypertension

Jet, August 23, 1999

Soul legend Barry White recently was forced to cancel the first seven dates of his U.S. concert tour due to high blood pressure, according to his tour promoter.

"I'm taking my doctor's advice and taking it easy for a few weeks," said White, who is sharing the touting bill with the hit-making R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire. "The last thing I want to do is ... disappoint any of my fans. I hope to be able to, give 110 percent as soon as I can."

Kurt Nishimura, publicist for White's Private Music record label, told USA Today that the singer had gone nonstop for three weeks on his promotional tour.

The '70s icon, who won a new following with hits in the '90s like Practice What You Preach and cameos on TV's top-rated "Ally McBeal" sitcom, just released his first album in five years, Staying Power.

Known for such classic hit songs such as Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe, I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby and You're the First, the Last, My Everything, the 54-year-old crooner also recently penned his autobiography, Love Unlimited, Insights on Life and Love.