Summer Tour Plans Emerge For Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige will open a three-month summer tour with a five-night stand in the San Francisco Bay area city of Richmond, Calif., on June 5. Blige, who has edged away from hip-hop and into full-fledged R&B since her 1991 debut, released her fifth album, "Mary" (MCA), last August.

After a performing in South Africa as part of that country's late-April Freedom Week celebration, Blige is scheduled to appear on NBC-TV's ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' on May 11 to sing her current hit, "Give Me You."

"Give To You" jumped from No. 94 to No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart this week.

Pras of the Fugees and Blige joined Wyclef Jean on stage at S.O.B.'s, a small New York Club, on Thursday (4/20), according to MTV Online. Jean was showcasing music from his forthcoming album ''The Ecleftic,'' due in stores on July 11.

Blige has worked closely with other members of the Fugees as well: Lauryn Hill produced and sang background on "All That I Can Say," the first single from "Mary."