David and Tamela Mann are headlining the “Live Breathe Fight” tour, which kicks off next month. The 12-stop tour will begin in Dallas, Texas, on May 15 and will run through June 1, closing in Newark, New Jersey. Of course, a stop will be at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Along with the Manns, who have been married for 37 years and celebrated their anniversary on Thursday, April 24, the day of this interview, fellow gospel music stars Erica Campbell, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard, and Tye Tribbett will join them on stages across the country.
The Atlanta Voice spoke with the Manns about the tour, what they are looking for from the fans, what songs they look forward to performing, and much more.
The Atlanta Voice: Good morning, “Live Breathe Fight,” what do those words mean to y’all when you hear them?
Tamela Mann: Well, I think it comes from a place of just dealing with life. So it’s like in the midst of all the things you’re dealing with, struggling with, facing, that I still have to live. You still have to live. And then in the midst of that, it’s actually taking a deep breath to just settle yourself, think about what’s happening, to readjust, to keep breathing for whatever that situation that you’re dealing with.
Because every day is something different. And then fighting, and it’s like victory can be through anything. So you’re fighting for the victory over whatever it is. That’s what the fight is about, getting the victory.
David Mann: Amen. Amen.
The Atlanta Voice: Is there a significance to the location of the tour stops: Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta?
DM: We just wanted to get as many people as we can and just try to, on this particular run, on the next we want to get as many people as we can. So, you know, of course you try to put some of the biggest cities in there and then you try to catch some of the other markets as well. You want to spread love to everybody.
The Atlanta Voice: Y’all know that Atlanta is going to show up for this concert.
DM: That’s actually like our second home because we’re starting off here in Dallas, Fort Worth. That’s where we live, but we had to make a stop in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Voice: What’s the inspiration behind the other acts that are on the tour? I mean, these are huge names in gospel music. Is it because they’re friends of yours? Do you like them? Do you like their music?
DM: All of the above. Actually, all of the above. Yeah, I mean, that’s actually true of all of the above. You know, you got the high-energy, energetic Tye Tribbett, who has a catalog that just speaks for itself. You have Erica Campbell, the same, who has a catalog that speaks for itself. Karen Clark-Sheard, Kierra Sheard, they come from a legendary bloodline.
TM: You can’t go wrong with any of them.
DM: They are just easy and great people to work with.
TM: It’s different age groups where it’s like, you get a little bit of everything. We’re spreading yourself out to reach the masses, meaning all age groups. And the artists that we connected with are like those artists that have connected with the young people, the middle ages people, as well as our older ones, because we got some of our seasoned saints, and trust me, they come out. They may have their walking stick, but they are there.
The Atlanta Voice: Yes. They’re definitely going to be there in Atlanta. What do you want to accomplish most on this tour?
TM: I would say goals for us are to encourage, uplift our people. To encourage people that it’s not over just because our world is looking and feeling like it’s feeling. I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread [David 37:25]. And we want to encourage those who may not be believers that we still can have victory even in this time that we’re in right now.
DM: Some people just need that two and a half, three hours to just leave that at the door, and come worship. Because this is more than a concert, it’s a movement. It’s some of everything. You’re going to jump, you’re going to dance, you’re going to shout, you’re going to cry, and I’m going to bring the laugh. And so you get a little bit of everything. I love that.
The Atlanta Voice: Did you think this spring/summer was the right time for a gospel music tour? If so, why?
DM: Yeah, that’s the hope that we were coming in with, that it’s a great time to uplift people.
TM: I mean, if it’s ever been needed before, you know, it’s needed. Because we need uplifting too. Look, we’re a part of it. We’re a part of the things that’s happening.
The Atlanta Voice: What, if any, is your favorite song to perform on this tour, and why? Are we getting new music and jokes as well?
TM: I can’t wait to do this one of course, “Take Me to the King” and “Only Imagine”. They’re like a must that we have to do and “Change Me”, but I’m excited about some of the new songs.
DM: We’re just going to try to incorporate something from everything that we’ve done. You know, we’ve been doing this for 32 years now. So all this stuff just keeps growing. For me, I’m excited about getting on stage, some of the new jokes out and getting some of the new material out that I’m putting together.
