McKnight's show opens Saturday with sets by R and amp;B singers Avant and Vivian Green and comedian Lavell Crawford. In an interview with The Associated Press, McKnight says the New Orleans date has been on his schedule for a while and is not a part of the tour, which launches May 12 in Phoenix.

He says New Orleans will experience his one-man show - featuring him, his piano and his guitar - where he plans to tell his story from the beginning until now.