Oakland-Born R&B Vocalist Goapele Set To Shine On City Stage
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Known for smash hits like "Closer," Oakland-born singer songwriter Goapele is ready to open for Alicia Keys Saturday night at Super Bowl City.
"My first reaction when I was going to open for Alicia, I just said, Yes! Exclamation! Absolutely," said Goapele.
The R&B singer says if she wasn't opening for the star, you'd probably find her in the audience at City Stage Saturday night. While she lives Southern California now, KPIX 5 caught up with her in her hometown where she popped in some of her favorite spots.
One of those spots was Oaklandish, a downtown clothing and accessories store that celebrates all things Oakland.
Another was Red Bay Coffee, a roaster on East 10th Street that will soon open a coffee bar and art space.
"You're the first coffee roaster I've ever met, you know what I mean? I'm getting the packages and I'm like, This is my friend that made this," said the singer.
Goapele loves to support entrepreneurs that are building brands from the ground up.
"That just feels empowering and I feel like it goes with the Bay Area's spirit, the singer explained. I'm an independent artist and put out my first album through our family label Skyblaze. Selling them at shows out of our trunk and at consignments like at Amoeba and Rasputins."
No matter how busy she is these days, she always makes time to give back. She stopped by the Oakland School for the Arts to speak to aspiring musicians.
Who I am as an artist is who I am as a person. I can be honest and don't have to fit into a box, she told students.
On Saturday night, Goapele will show thousands of fans she's just that.
"It's kind of like the last night to get the energy out there! And I would say, Bundle up, be there by 7 and be ready to have a good time. Yeah!" enthused the singer.
