LaBelle, Jones to be honored at Apollo concert

NEW YORK – The Apollo turns 75 this year, and to celebrate its anniversary, the legendary Harlem theater is inducting Quincy Jones and Patti LaBelle into its Hall of Fame.

NEW YORK – The Apollo turns 75 this year, and to celebrate its anniversary, the legendary Harlem theater is inducting Quincy Jones and Patti LaBelle into its Hall of Fame.

The Harlem Theater also will present its arts and humanitarian award to Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille, at the June 8 anniversary gala benefit concert.

Previous recipients have included Denzel Washington and his wife, Pauletta, and Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.

The lineup of performers for the evening include actor/comedian Jamie Foxx, singers Mariah Carey and Anita Baker, and the R&B group O’Jays.

The Apollo was a venue for aspiring Black performers who were routinely turned away at other sites in the 1930s. Through its legendary Amateur Night, the Apollo is famous for propelling the careers of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and others.

A host of special performances and programs are planned for the 1,500-seat theater in celebration of its opening in 1934. Among the highlights is a new production of the hit musical, "Dreamgirls." Loosely based on the Supremes, the opening number takes place on the Apollo stage. After a limited engagement from Nov. 7 to Dec. 5, the show is scheduled to go on a national tour.

______

To read the rest of this article, subscribe to our digital or paper edition. For previous editions, contact us for details.

In photo: In this March 28, 2004 file photo, music producer Quincy Jones holds aloft the Bank of America Higher Standard Award presented to him by singer Willie Nelson, right, at the Apollo Theater during a benefit to celebrate the New York landmark’s 70th anniversary. Jones will be back at the Apollo, joined by Patti LaBelle, Bill Cosby and many other performers, on June 8, 2009, to celebrate the legendary Harlem venue’s 75th anniversary.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content