Superstar Blige joins Rolling Stones at Barclays

December 5, 2012 Raanan Geberer Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Mary J Blige AP060506025570.jpg

Share this:

At the Rolling Stones’ concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center this Saturday, Dec. 8, the Stones will be joined on stage by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige and up-and-coming blues-rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr., the Stones’ website announced on Wednesday.

Blige, who has won nine Grammys and recorded eight platinum albums, previously appeared with the band to duet with Mick Jagger on “Gimme Shelter” at the first of the Rolling Stones’ two shows at the London O2 arena, on Nov. 25.

Clark, considered an up-and-coming blues-rock guitarist, was voted “Best Young Gun” by Rolling Stone in April 2011, and performed alongside Jagger and other rock and blues celebrities at the White House in February.

Blige, who grew up in the Bronx, started her career in 1992 with her “What’s the 411?” album in 1992. She is the only artist with Grammys in R&B, rap, gospel and pop, and was ranked by Billboard in 2011 as the most successful female artist of the last 25 years.

She also starred in the 2009 Tyler Perry film “I Can Do Bad All by Myself” and is set to play Nina Simone in the upcoming biopic “Nina.”

Clark, who grew up in Texas, has played with a variety of musical icons, including B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Stevie Winwood and Cheryl Crow. Most recently, he recorded with Alicia Keys on two different songs. His song “Bright Lights” was heard in a 2011 Jack Daniel’s commercial.

The Barclays Center date is part of the Stones’ “50 and Counting” anniversary tour, which moves on to Newark’s Prudential Center on Dec. 13 and 15.

At Barclays Arena, the Stones are part of a star-studded lineup of classic rockers that also has included Rush, Journey, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Pat Benatar and others.