The Apollo Theatre in Harlem, billed as a negro vaudeville theatre opened 81 years ago today (1/26/1934). Its actually not a new theater. It opened in 1914 as Hurtig & Seamons New Burlesque Theatre and was for white audience only. The first major appearance after it reopened as The Apollo was jazz and Broadway performer Adelaide Hall and after the newspapers printed a favorable review the theaters reputation was established. There are way too many famous acts to name here but just a few would include Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Moms Mabley, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Richard Prior, Redd Foxx, The Miracles, James Brown & the Famous Flames, Marvin Gaye, Isley Brothers, Jackson 5, Wicked Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder. Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross & the Supremes .. I better stop, I could go on forever. Several live performances LP were recorded at The Apollo to include Live at the Apollo by James Brown which hit No. 2 on the charts. Other live LPs include Ben E King, Clyde McPhatter and Robert Palmer. Monday night is amateur night at the Apollo. One Monday night in 1964 first place was won by an unknown Jimi Hendrix. Others whose careers got kick started on amateur night include Wicked Wilson Pickett. James Brown & the Famous Flames, Gladys Night & the Pips, The Miracles, Billie Holiday, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Parliament Funkadelic and so many more. Long post aint it. Its a safe guess that I love the music that came out of the Apollo. #ApolloTheatre https://youtube/watch?v=cabWLyM2Mgc
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:13:53 +0000