“The History of R&B Starring Dru Hill” is exactly what it claims: not a greatest-hits night dressed up in a production name, but a show built on the premise that R&B has a story worth telling in full. Dru Hill, the Baltimore vocal group that fused gospel-rooted four-part harmony with hip-hop production to become one of the defining acts of late-1990s R&B, anchors an evening that moves through the music’s evolution from soul’s earliest generation through the Motown era and into 1970s soul.
About the Show
Dru Hill formed in 1992 in Baltimore, Maryland, where four vocalists — Mark “Sisqó” Andrews, Larry “Jazz” Anthony Jr., Tamir “Nokio” Ruffin, and James “Woody” Green — met while working at a fudge shop at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. They named themselves after historic Druid Hill Park. What set them apart from the beginning was the approach: gospel-influenced harmony layered over hip-hop production, with original material and no sampling. Angela Thomas of Island Black Music said at the time, “This group has original songs with no sampling.” In an era built on interpolations, that was a point of distinction.
Their breakthrough came in 1996 when “Tell Me,” from the Eddie soundtrack, reached the top five on the R&B charts. Their self-titled debut album peaked at No. 5 on the R&B chart and sold more than a million copies. Their 1998 follow-up, Enter the Dru, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard chart and went double platinum, producing “How Deep Is Your Love” (later featured on the Rush Hour soundtrack) and “These Are the Times.” Their catalog also includes R&B hits “In My Bed” and “Never Make a Promise.”
For this show, that catalog becomes part of something larger. According to the production’s own description, the evening “combines legendary music with dynamic visual storytelling, including era-defining fashion, film, television, historic events and nostalgic details” alongside “a fast-moving visual timeline highlighting significant political, social, economic and cultural moments.” The show traces the arc from soul’s pioneering generation through the Motown era and into 1970s soul, with Dru Hill as the guide through all of it. The show is all-ages; guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Venue & Logistics
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino hosts this production at its event center in Niagara Falls, a regular stop on the western New York live entertainment circuit. Showtime is 8 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets start at $50 and go on sale Friday, October 2, at 10 a.m. Social Club members at Seneca Niagara receive special ticket offers, preferred seating, and complimentary beverages for eligible events. Buy tickets