Ring in the new year with an R&B concert

If you love rhythm and blues, then there is no better place to spend part of the first day of the new year than at the Columbus Civic Center.

Grammy Award winner Anthony Hamilton's 2016 tour will be making a stop here Friday night, and he is bringing popular singers Lyfe Jennings and Monica with him.

Hamilton has had many hit songs on the R&B charts, including "Charlene" and "Can't Let Go."

For some, the Charlotte, N.C., native is probably best known for his duet with Elayna Boynton, "Freedom," which was featured on the "Django Unchained" soundtrack.

His second studio album, "Comin' From Where I'm From," was released in 2003 and has sold more than a million copies.

According to his website, he has been singing in church since he was 10 years old and that his talent has earned him a reputation as an "artist's artist." He counts guest stints on a diverse roster of projects from Dr. Dre and Young Jeezy to Keyshia Cole, Josh Turner, Santana and John Rich (Big & Rich).

A concert review in the Los Angeles Times called him "one of soul music's most consistent talents."

Monica is a native of College Park, Ga., who began her singing career performing with a traveling gospel choir and signed her first major label deal when she was just 12 years old.

According to her website, she was just 13 when she had back-to-back No. 1 hits with "Don't Take It Personal" and "Before You Walk Out of My Life."

Other No. 1 singles include "Angel of Mine" and "The First Night."

The Grammy Award winner has sold more than 25 million albums, and in 2010, Billboard Magazine listed Monica at No. 24 on its list of Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop artists of the past 25 years.

Lyfe Jennings, a Toledo, Ohio, native, is known for hit songs such as "Must Be Nice" and "S.E.X."

His 2006 album, "The Phoenix," soared to No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

IF YOU GO

What: Anthony Hamilton 2016 Tour featuring Monica and Lyfe Jennings. A show featuring R&B, hip hop and soul music.

When: Friday at 7 p.m.

Where: Columbus Civic Center

Cost: Tickets are $49.50, $59.50 and $69.50. The Columbus Civic Center office is open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Friday except for New Year's Day when it will open at 1 p.m. Tickets may be purchased there, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Extra cost: Parking is $5.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 9:42 PM with the headline "Ring in the new year with an R&B concert."