Self-promotion just one of Foxx's many talents

Remember Wanda?

She was the breakthrough character Jamie Foxx created in the early '90s on "In Living Color," the TV series that made him a star.

The tall, handsome Foxx would don a dress, wig and makeup, cross his eyes, bulge his lips and transform himself into Wanda, an ugly, desperate woman-on-the-make who glared at men and promised seductively, "I'll rock your world!"

When I interviewed Foxx back then, after "In Living Color" was canceled and he got his own sitcom, the less-successful "Jamie Foxx Show," he told me, "I want to surprise people. I want to show them I can do more than just comedy."

And, boy, did he show us.

I had no idea then just how talented Foxx was. The whole world found out in 2004 via his star turn in "Ray," which earned Foxx a well-deserved Oscar.

He showed in that movie that not only was he an amazing actor — he became the character so convincingly, it was like watching Ray Charles himself — but he could also sing and play piano.

Concert preview


Jamie Foxx, Fantasia, Speedy, 8 tonight, KeyArena, Seattle Center; $58.75-$68.75 (206-628-0888 or www.ticketmaster.com; information, 206-684-7200, www.seattlecenter.com or www.jamiefoxx.com.

He followed up "Ray" with a hit album of steamy hip-hop love songs, the 2 million-selling "Unpredictable," and more impressive movie roles, including a disreputable manager in the current "Dreamgirls," in which he co-stars with Eddie Murphy and Beyoncé.

Now comes Foxx's first major headlining tour, also called "Unpredictable," which plays tonight at KeyArena, featuring "American Idol" veteran Fantasia and comedian Speedy as opening acts.

The show attempts to round up all of Foxx's talents into one big production, with a band, backup singers and several dancer/strippers.

The set opens with a stand-up comedy routine, followed by the R- and sometimes X-rated songs from his album, then a segment as Ray Charles, dressed in costume from the movie, followed by more comedy and music. His set runs from about 90 minutes to up to two hours.

Reviews of previous shows on the tour have been lukewarm to mixed. Apparently Foxx is so full of himself that it becomes embarrassing. He brags that he won an Academy Award at least a dozen times, engages in the usual hip-hop braggadocio about his sexual prowess and, worst of all, keeps telling the audience how funny he is (the kiss of death for a comedian).

The show is said to be padded with bits like sing-alongs, cheering matches between the men and women in the audience, recitations of Zodiac signs with each one getting applause, conversations with folks in the front rows, and other unfocused, rambling moments.

But just basking in Foxx's glow seems to satisfy the fans, critics say, especially the ladies.

"Seattle knows me," Foxx told me in that interview years ago. He started playing here in the early '90s, mostly at comedy clubs. He was a big hit at Bumbershoot in 1994. "Always get a good crowd in Seattle," he said.

Foxx, 39, was born Eric Marlon Bishop in Terrell, Texas, where he was raised by his grandparents. He moved to Los Angeles in the late '80s, pursuing a stand-up comedy career, which led to "In Living Color." He released his first album, the barely noticed "Peep This," in 1994. In addition to "Ray" and "Dreamgirls," his other major movies include "Booty Call," "Any Given Sunday," "Bait," "Ali," "Jarhead," Miami Vice" and "The Kingdom," which will be released later this year.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com