|PIC1|Renowned gospel artists Rebecca St. James and Brian Littrell will kick off on "The Christmas Tour", a concert billed as 'a night of acoustic Christmas' during an eight city tour set to run from 7 to 17 December.

"I've been a born-again Christian since I was eight years old and I've known for a very long time that my main objective is to spread God's word," notes Littrell whose introduction as part of the five member Backstreet Boys re-defined the term 'pop music phenomenon' with their 1997 launch. "God has allowed me through the Backstreet Boys to minister in a positive way, encouraging people to stand up for what they believe. I'm looking forward to this tour. I have utmost respect for Rebecca, her ministry and music," he added.

Littrell's success with the group Backstreet Boys has set the stage for his launch as a solo artist in Christian music and the spring '06 debut of his Christian album release Welcome Home.

St. James, who records for EMI/Forefront Records, and Littrell whose Christian music is an alliance project of Reunion Records and mainstream label partner Jive Records, hold the promise of together delivering a powerful evening filled with the true heart and meaning of Christmas.

The two hour plus nightly presentation will present individual sets by each artist with a closing segment that will bring them both together onstage.

A defining voice in Christian music for more than a decade, Australian born Rebecca St. James has reached globally with her consistently passionate message for God through music and ministry. Of the tour she noted: "I am very excited about the Christmas tour for quite a few reasons. I love Christmas music- it represents some of the most powerful worship music to God in the world. To go on the road with an artist of the caliber of Brian Littrell and share the belief in that powerful message as we do, is a tremendous thrill. Being acoustic as it is, the concert will hopefully allow Brian and I to engage audiences in a very warm and personal way with the true emphasis on the reason for the season: Jesus."