The veteran singer has done his best to dispatch rumors of ill health and worse, and has now lined up a series of theatre dates in November and December.

The solo tour kicks off November 21 at the Auditorium Center in Rochester, N.Y. The trimmed-down star will also stop in Richmond, Va.; Hartford, Conn.; Oakland, Calif.; San Diego; Los Angeles; and Seattle.

Vandross recently signed a contract with esteemed record mogul Clive Davis’ new label, J Records. His last album, I Know, was released in 1998.