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The Greatest Love World Tour

The Greatest Love World Tour was the debut worldwide concert tour by American singer Whitney Houston, in support of her debut studio album Whitney Houston. The four-month tour began in North America on July 26, 1986 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion with an itinerary that included visits in Europe, Japan and Australia.

Associated album

Whitney Houston

July 26, 1986

December 1, 1986

4

  • 36 in North America
  • 7 in Asia
  • 4 in Oceania
  • 6 in Europe
  • 53 total

$5 million ($12.88 in 2023 dollars)[1] (North America leg)

Sylvia Traymore Morrison (USA—Leg)

Mark McCollum (comedian) (USA—Leg)

(USA—Leg, select dates)

Kenny G

Sylvia Morrison from Washington, DC, is the first black female impressionist/comedian.[6]

July, August: for select dates, Houston performed "" (recorded prior to her debut album), "A Brand New Day" and a duet with her mother, singer Cissy Houston.

Memories

Houston also added 's US pop hit "Heart to Heart" and "I Am Changing" from the musical Dreamgirls as part of her setlist.

Kenny Loggins

August 4: at the Garden State Arts Center show, Whitney performed "" with her mother Cissy and brother Gary.

When I First Saw You

September 13: for the concert in Mountain View, Houston brought out a cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to her father, John Houston.

Houston was also working on her second album and included two new songs in her set, "" and "Didn't We Almost Have It All".[2][7]

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

Music director / piano – John Simmons

Bass guitar / bass synthesizer –

Ricky Minor

Guitar – Curtis Taylor Neishloss

Keyboards –

Willard Meeks

Saxophone – Josh Harris

Drums – Brian Brake

Percussion – Kevin Jones

Background vocalists – , Felicia Moss, Voneva Simms, Billy Baker

Gary Houston

Houston and John Simmons were friends from their church in New Jersey. While Houston was trying to get a recording contract, she would perform sets as part of her mother's nightclub act in New York City. Simmons was her musical director. Houston asked Simmons to put together a band that would back her during her nightclub act and record label showcases.[14] The tour manager was Tony Bulluck, who remained her tour manager on several of her tours later, including the Nothing but Love Tour. Rickey Minor and Whitney's brother Gary Houston remained band members throughout her touring career.

The show at Osaka-jō Hall on November 5 was broadcast live on in Japan. There were no official recordings released to the public.

Asahi Hōsō Radio

at Houston's official website

The Greatest Love World Tour