New Legends Hall of Fame Inductees Quincy Jones and Patti LaBelle Joined Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Prince, Steve Harvey, Bill & Camille Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Fantasia Barrino, Roberto Cavalli, b michael, Gayle King, Sherri Shepherd, And Many More To Raise Funds In Support Of The Non-Profit Theater’s 75-Year Legacy
*The Apollo Theater celebrated a monumental 75-year legacy with a gala concert and awards ceremony at the historic Theater that raised more than $1.3 million to benefit the non-profit soulful cultural institution and its initiatives for emerging artists and community and educational programs and to support The Apollo Theater Foundation’s community programs.
In her welcoming remarks, Jonelle Procope, president and CEO, The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., told over 900 revelers representing the best and brightest in business and entertainment that the amount raised exceeded the projected amount.
Comedian, actor, radio personality, and former Showtime at the Apollo host Steve Harvey, served as Master of Ceremonies and delivered some very funny monologues in which he reminded the affluent attendees that they were uptown in Harlem at The Apollo and should put aside their polite applause and hoop and holler if they wanted to.
The event served as a platform to honor the newest additions to the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame: music impresario Quincy Jones, whose contributions to American popular music as a composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, multi-media entrepreneur and humanitarian are unparalleled; and soulful superstar Patti LaBelle, who, revered for her powerhouse vocals and amazing versatility, has enjoyed one of the longest-lived careers in contemporary music.
Jones’ award was presented by Oscar-winning actor, accomplished singer/musician, and comedian Jamie Foxx, and LaBelle’s award was presented by multiple Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter, producer, and actress Mariah Carey.
In a surprise visit to everyone involved in the gala, Grammy-award winning performer Prince joined Carey onstage to present LaBelle with her award and praise her as “my mother, my teacher, my cook and my stylist.” Prince added, “She taught me so much. I love her with all my heart, and I’m here for her.”
Past inductees into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame include Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Little Richard, and Ella Fitzgerald.
The awards ceremony continued with the Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis Arts and Humanitarian Award presented to Bill and Camille Cosby by Tony award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad.
This award, named after the late Ossie Davis and his wife, Ruby Dee, is given annually to a couple who embody the powerful beliefs of this unique pair: a rarified command of their craft, a deep commitment to their community, and an unshakeable connection to each other and their family.
Previous award winning couples have included Pauletta and Denzel Washington; Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon; Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance; and Tonya Lewis Lee and Spike Lee.
Additionally, the Apollo Theater presented the first Percy E. Sutton Civic Leadership Award, honoring New York cultural leaders, to the City of New York and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The annual award is named in honor of one of New York City’s legendary leaders and a champion of Harlem and its cultural institutions. This award is given to an individual or group who has demonstrated extraordinary support for and understanding of the value of the arts as part of the fabric of the community and quality of the life of the City.
The City of New York has been selected as the first recipient of the award, which was presented to Mayor Bloomberg for his administration’s unflagging work in strengthening cultural resources and advancing the vitality of the City. The coveted award was presented by Citigroup board chairman Richard Parsons.
The theater’s annual corporate award recognizing superior corporate leadership was presented to The Coca-Cola Company for its ongoing commitment to the Apollo Theater and the Harlem community and accepted by Ingrid Saunders Jones.
Produced by Ron Weisner of Ron Weisner Entertainment, the evening featured standout performances – under the musical direction of Ray Chew and The Ray Chew Band -- by American Idol winner and Broadway star Fantasia Barrino, Showtime at the Apollo winner Chanj and Apollo Star of Tomorrow Zaccheus Denwiddie. A special performance by the mighty O’Jays brought to an end a very memorable evening.
The post party took place at The Apollo Supper Club -- a slam dunk gorgeous lounge replete with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling over luxurious settings -- atmosphere created by David Monn and featuring spectacular gourmet creations prepared by Great Performances. DJ D-Nice provided music for late-night club dancing.
The Apollo’s 75th Anniversary Gala was chaired by gala co-chairs Pamela Fiori and Debra Shriver and national committee co-chairs Alicia Riley Bythewood and Yolanda Ferrell-Brown.
The gala’s sponsors included lead sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and presenting sponsors American Airlines, Bloomberg, TV One, Hearst Corporation, Mac Andrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc., TV One and Belvedere Vodka, Hennessy and Moët & Chandon Champagne.
This event is the Apollo’s largest annual fundraiser and all proceeds of the event benefit the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc., a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, dedicated to preserving and developing the Apollo Theater and its initiatives for performing artists, educational programs, and community outreach efforts in New York City and beyond.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009, the Apollo Theater is one of Harlem’s, New York City’s, and America’s most iconic and enduring cultural institutions.
The Apollo was one of the first theaters in New York, and the country, to fully integrate, welcoming traditionally African-American, Hispanic, and local immigrant populations in the audience, as well as headlining uniquely talented entertainers who found it difficult to gain entrance to other venues of similar size and resources.
Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has played a major role in cultivating artists and in the emergence of innovative musical genres including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel, blues, soul, and hip-hop.
Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage.
Based on its cultural significance and architecture, the Apollo Theater received state and city landmark designation in 1983 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photos by Audrey J. Bernard and Shahar Azran)
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Camille & Bill Cosby (Photo by Marc Rasbury)
Dick Parsons, Jonelle Procope, Quincy Jones
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Fantasia rocked the house (Photo by Marc Rasbury)
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Mariah Carey, Prince (Photo by Marc Rasbury)
Patti LaBelle, Bill Cosby
The O'Jays
Audrey J. Bernard is an established chronicler of Black society and Urban happenings based in the New York City area.