Bronx, NY—-Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present GINUWINE with special guest RO JAMES on Saturday, November 7th, 2026, at 8 PM. The Grammy-nominated sultry singer returns with unforgettable R&B hits such as “Pony,” “Differences,” and “So Anxious.” GINUWINE is bringing back his romantic anthems from albums The Life, 100% Ginuwine, and Ginuwine…The Bachelor, which received a double-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999.
Joined by special guest RO JAMES, celebrating his most recent single “5th Gear” and his breakout hit “Permission,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. They will be making their debut on the Lehman Center stage.
VIP Reception – Guests seated in Orchestra Rows A-J are invited to an exclusive VIP reception at 6 PM before the performance, featuring complimentary wine, beer, beverages, and light bites in our elegant mezzanine cocktail bar.
GINUWINE, born Elgin Baylor Lumpkin in Washington, D.C., grew up in Forestville, Maryland, where he began performing with the local hip-hop group Finesse Five at age 12. He later spent a brief time as a Michael Jackson impersonator. GINUWINE was discovered by R&B quartet Jodeci and signed to Rochester-based record label Swing Mob. There, he met producer and hit-maker Timberland, who would go on to produce his debut self-titled album, Ginuwine. The Bachelor (1996). The first single, “Pony,” reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album received double-platinum certification. His collaboration with Timberland led the single to be featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV and the film Magic Mike. The two artists collaborated again on his second album, 100% Ginuwine (1999), which won Best R&B/Soul Male Album at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards, and the hit single “So Anxious” would go on to receive platinum certification.
Throughout the early 2000s, Ginuwine continued to dominate R&B charts with his soulful voice through albums The Life (2001), The Senior (2003), and Back II da Basic (2005). He is a three-time American Music Award nominee and has received an iHeartRadio MMVAs Best Rap Video award for a feature on Canadian-Palestinian rapper Belly and his debut single “Pressure” (2007). Along with Ginuwine’s many nominations and top-charting singles, he is also a television and film actor.
Ginuwine has been featured in movies such as Juwanna Mann (2002), Honey (2003), and as a season 6 regular in the television show Moesha (2000) alongside R&B singer Brandy. With over 15 million albums sold in the US alone, Ginuwine remains passionate about his craft and has exciting projects in the pipeline.
RO JAMES is a Grammy-nominated, platinum-certified R&B singer and songwriter known for his soulful vocals, gritty songwriting, and ability to blend classic soul with contemporary R&B and trap-infused production. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, and raised across the United States, James first gained attention with his independently released three-part EP series Coke, Jack, and Cadillacs (2013), featuring appearances by Snoop Dogg and Asher Roth.
The project led to a deal with ByStorm Entertainment/RCA Records and the release of his breakthrough single “Permission” in 2015. The platinum-certified hit reached #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart, #37 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and earned James a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance.
His major-label debut album, ELDORADO (2016), reached #8 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He followed with the Smoke EP (2018) and his sophomore album, MANTIC (2020), featuring collaborations with Miguel and Brandy. James continues to create new music while supporting the development and mentorship of young artists through the revitalized Big Brother and Big Sister program.
Since its founding in 1980, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts has been deeply rooted in the cultural life of the Bronx. As the only theater of its size in the borough, with a capacity of more than 2,200 seats, Lehman Center provides Bronx residents with local, affordable access to high-quality live performances that entertain, educate, inspire, and celebrate the traditions of a multi-cultural community.
In its 46-year tenure, the Center has been committed to bringing both local and national attention to historically underrepresented groups in the performing arts, such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald in the 80s and 90s, and Janelle Monáe in the Super Bowl halftime show in 2011.
Lehman Center serves the artistic needs of the community through four distinct programming series: “Punchline,” “First Curtain,” “Bronx Music,” and “The Discovery Series,” with a specific focus on youth programming, comedy, the musical heritage of the Bronx, and exposure to wider global cultures. These longstanding traditions underscore Lehman Center’s historic role as one of the Bronx’s most important cultural institutions, dedicated to preserving and uplifting diverse artistic heritage for all.
Dante Albertie, Executive Director of Lehman Center, passionately creates accessible opportunities for families and young people to experience high-level performing arts. Performances and festivities that draw community members together are what inspire Albertie to organize the lineup as a means to reach out, beckoning new people into a space he hopes they’ll return to again and again.
A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
“As a nonprofit performing arts center, everything we do is guided by a commitment to the public good. Our mission is to make exceptional live performance accessible to our community, celebrate the rich cultural traditions of the Bronx.” Dante Albertie, Executive Director, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, by public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx Delegation. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. We are thrilled to share that Goya Foods has agreed to renew their sponsorship for this season, which will help Lehman Center expand our reach to the community.
In addition, we have secured funding from the Howard Gilman Foundation to help grow our programming. The 2026-2027 season is also made possible through sponsorships by Havana Café, Friends of Lehman Center, and our cherished audience members.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for GINUWINE with special guest RO JAMES on Saturday, November 7th, 2026, at 8 PM (VIP $100, $75, $55, $45, $35) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833;
Para Español: 718-960-8835 (Monday through Friday, 10 AM–5 PM, and beginning 4 hours prior to showtime on weekends), or online at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/ginuwine. Lehman Center is accessible by the #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is located near the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.
