The Apollo Theater today announced its Summer at the Apollo lineup with a series of concerts and events featuring some of the most renowned artists in hip hop and soul/R&B, including Jill Scott, Aaron Neville, DMX, Kurtis Blow and more, as well as its participation in the annual HARLEM WEEK Festival.
Summer at the Apollo will kick off with the second phase of the Theater’s search for the next Apollo legend through the online launch of Amateur Night at the Apollo: Making a Star competition. Contestants can upload their audition submissions and audiences can vote online, now through August 5th, 2016. Other Summer at the Apollo events will include a 75th birthday concert for legendary singer Aaron Neville on Thursday, August 4th; an epic hip hop concert with legendary New York emcees – DMX, N.O.R.E., Jim Jones and Jadakiss – which will see the Theater return to its hip hop roots on Friday, August 5th; the Theater’s summer continues with R&B star Jill Scott making her Apollo debut, as the GRAMMY award-winning soul singer brings her summer tour to Harlem on Tuesday, August 9th; and Summer at the Apollo culminates with the annual celebration of Harlem’s rich legacy with a special Amateur Night Celebrates HARLEM WEEK featuring special guest star, hip hop pioneer and Harlem native Kurtis Blow n Wednesday, August 24th.
See Below For A Full Schedule Of Summer At The Apollo Events:
Amateur Night at the Apollo: Making a Star
Monday, July 11 – Friday, August 5, 2016The Theater’s newest initiative, Amateur Night at the Apollo: Making a Star competition, continues with the launch of its online phase. This special edition of Amateur Night will give up-and-coming vocalists the chance to win the opportunity to perform on the iconic Apollo stage. This round of the competition will give contestants the chance to submit via the competition’s website,www.ApolloMakingAStar.com, through August 5th, 2016.
Online auditions are open to amateur SINGERS ONLY ages 18 and older throughout the continental U.S. Contestants chosen will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City. Those chosen from the audition will have the chance to win the opportunity to perform on the legendary Apollo stage during a special edition of Amateur Night on September 21st.
For the first phase of the competition, the Theater announced in late June that it would launch Amateur Night: Making a Star competition with live auditions in New Orleans, during the 2016 Essence Music Festival. Contestants selected from the live auditions advanced to a semi-final round, where two performers were chosen to perform on the Essence Music Festival mainstage. Judges chose one finalist, Arrianne Keelen from New Orleans, to win the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip to New York City where she will join the contestants chosen from the online phase of the competition.
Amateur Night at the Apollo is the long-running, live talent competition presented on the world famous Apollo stage in Harlem, NY. Now in its 82nd year, Amateur Night at the Apollo continues to be a primary source for discovering new talent and spotlighting up-and-coming artists. With performances that occur virtually every Wednesday night since the theater opened in 1934, the Apollo’s Amateur Night has launched the careers of countless world-famous artists, including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, D’Angelo, Billie Holiday, Luther Vandross, Dave Chappelle, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ella Fitzgerald, The Isley Brothers, Sarah Vaughan and more. Amateur Night at the Apollo is sponsored by Coca-Cola.
Bowery Presents: Aaron Neville 75th Birthday Concert
Thursday, August 4, 2016 – 8 p.m.
GRAMMY award-winning musician, Aaron Neville returns to the Apollo on Thursday, August 4th for a special concert in celebration of the legendary musician’s 75th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his first hit single “Tell it Like it Is.” Special guests include GRAMMY award-winning guitarist,Eric Krasno and keyboardist and singer/songwriter Ivan Neville.
A New Orleans native, Aaron Neville first rose to national fame when his song “Tell It Like It Is” topped Billboard’s R&B chart for five weeks and sold over one million copies. Neville again reached the top of the charts in 1989 with his album of duets with Linda Ronstadt, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. The album featured the number one Grammy winning hits “Don’t Know Much” and “All My Life.” Neville also earned wide acclaim for his hits “Everybody Plays the Fool,” “Don’t Take Away My Heaven” and “Hercules,” among many others. With 56 years in the music business under his belt, the renowned singer will release a new album, Apache, this summer.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, July 15, 2016 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $45, $65 and $85. All tickets will be available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street. Ticketmaster at 1-800- 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Apollo Theater Presents The Originals: DMX
Featuring N.O.R.E., Jim Jones, Jadakiss & Friends with DJ Scram Jones
Friday, August 5, 2016 – 8 p.m.
The Apollo Theater will present The Originals: DMX featuring N.O.R.E., Jim Jones, Jadakiss and friends with DJ Scram Jones, an epic hip hop concert featuring some of New York’s most legendary emcees. This one night only concert will see the iconic Theater returning to its hip hop roots with all of the artists in the show having performed on the Apollo stage early in their careers and throughout.
The Apollo helped foster the careers of many legendary hip hop artists throughout the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2000’s, including Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Jay Z and DMX. From the Cold Chillin’ record label beginning its first national tour at the Apollo in 1988 with the Juice Crew All-Stars to the Notorious B.I.G. introducing then up-and-coming artist Jay-Z to the Apollo audience to Def Jam hosting its Survival of the Illest Tour in the late 1990’s to the Apollo’s presentation of the international Hip Hop Dance Theater Festival, Breakin’ Convention, in 2013 and 2015, hip hop has always been a major part of the Apollo’s rich legacy.
DMX, one of hip hop’s most talented rappers and a founding member of Ruff Ryders, shot to stardom in 1998 with his debut album It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, which shot to number one on the pop charts. The Grammy award-nominated rapper is the first artist in history to have their first four albums enter the charts at number one.
With nearly two decades under his belt, hip hop and reggaeton artist N.O.R.E. first rose to prominence as one half of the popular East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Norega. Today the Queens rapper continues to make music and is the host of the popular podcast, Drink Champs which launched in early 2016 along with his seventh solo project Drunk Uncle.
Harlem native Jim Jones is a founding member of the hip hop collective The Diplomats, also known as Dipset, alongside Cam’ron, Freekey Zekey and Juelz Santana. In 2006, Jones released his third solo album, Hustler’s P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) which spawned the hit single “We Fly High.” He recently released his fifth studio album, The Kitchen.
Since signing with Bad Boy in the early 1990’s, Jadakiss has gone on to become one of the most respected hip hop artists in the industry. Starting his career as a founding member of the hip hop trio, The LOX, alongside Styles P and Sheek Louch, Jadakiss also achieved solo success with the release of his debut solo album, Kiss tha Game Goodbye. Most recently, he released his fourth studio album, Top 5 Dead Or Alive.
Tickets are $45, $60, $75 and $100. VIP tickets are $150. All tickets will be available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street. Ticketmaster at 1-800- 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Live Nation Presents Jill Scott
Tuesday, August 9, 2016 – 8 p.m.
Celebrated soul and R&B singer/songwriter Jill Scott will make her Apollo debut as part of her U.S. summer tour on Tuesday, August 9th, at 8 p.m. Originally discovered by Questlove of The Roots during a live poetry reading, the three-time GRAMMY award-winning artist would go on to release three studio albums and earn three Grammys, including Best Urban/Alternative performance for 2005 hit “Cross My Mind.” Equally acclaimed as a poet and actress, Scott starred alongside Tyler Perry and Janet Jackson in Why Did I Get Married? and was featured in Lifetime’s Sins of the Motherand Steel Magnolias. In 2015, Scott released her fifth studio album, Woman, which was her first full-length since The Light of the Sun in 2011. She also released a greatest hits compilation called Golden Moments.
Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, July 15, 2016 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $46, $81 and $126. All tickets will be available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125th Street. Ticketmaster at 1-800- 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
APOLLO CELEBRATES HARLEM WEEK
HARLEM WEEK is a series of festivities and events that applaud the history of the diverse community that is Harlem. The neighborhood festivity offers over 100 events throughout the months of July and August, attracting over 2 million attendees from around the world. Created over 40 years ago by Harlem leaders and artists, HARLEM WEEK celebrates the many wonders of the historic neighborhood – including the world famous Apollo Theater. As one of upper New York City’s most active performance venues, the Apollo preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of Harlem and has been a participant in the neighborhood-wide celebration for years.
Half Price for Harlem: In celebration of HARLEM WEEK, Harlem residents get the benefit of experiencing Amateur Night at the Apollo shows for half-price. To receive this special offer, Harlem residents must present a valid photo ID and proof of residence when purchasing tickets at the Apollo Theater Box Office. Only two half-price tickets per Harlem resident, per show. Other restrictions may apply. This special half price offer for Harlem residents will be available August 17, 24 and 31.
Amateur Night Celebrates HARLEM WEEK: Harlem/Havana
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
This special Amateur Night will celebrate HARLEM WEEK with a show honoring the Harlem/Havana cultural exchange and the historic relationship between Latin and African American music. The annual celebration will include a special guest performance as well as scholarship presentations to area students. Guest artist to be announced at a later time.
Tickets for Amateur Night begin at $20 and are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office: (212) 531-5305, 253 West 125 Street, and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
HARLEM WEEK: Summer in the City
Saturday, August 20, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
135th Street, from Malcolm X Boulevard to Saint Nicholas Avenue
The Apollo will be on hand once again as it hosts its own exhibitor booth as part of HARLEM WEEK: Summer in the City, an annual event which stretches across 135th Street from Malcolm X Boulevard to Saint Nicholas Avenue. This yearly event includes live radio broadcasts, vendors and exhibitors selling arts & crafts, jewelry, clothing, food, as well as live entertainment on Saint Nicholas Avenue featuring local and national performing artists.
HARLEM WEEK Summer in the City is free and open to the public.
HARLEM WEEK: HARLEM DAY
Sunday, August 21, 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
135th Street, from Malcolm X Boulevard to Saint Nicholas Avenue
HARLEM DAY features four stages of entertainment, a health village, the Upper Manhattan Auto Show, vendors and exhibitors from around the country. In addition to its exhibitor booth, the Apollo will present “The Apollo Hour.” Hosted by the Apollo’s In-House Historian and Ambassador, Billy Mitchell, “Apollo Hour” will include a set of live performances from artists who have a relationship with the Theater, including R&B/Soul artist Charisa the Violin Diva, a former Amateur Night winner and Apollo Music Café headliner; former Amateur Night winner Alexis Morrast; and the NYC based a capella group Backtrack.
HARLEM WEEK: HARLEM DAY is free and open to the public.
Amateur Night Celebrates HARLEM WEEK with Special Guest Artist Kurtis Blow
Wednesday, August 24, 2016 – 7:30 p.m.
Apollo’s celebration of HARLEM WEEK culminates with a guest performance by hip hop pioneer Kurtis Blow. A Harlem native, Blow was the first hip hop artist signed to a major record label, Mercury Records, where his single ,“The Breaks,” was the first certified gold rap song. Kurtis Blow is considered by some to be the first hip hop movie star for his role in the movie Krush Groove where he starred alongside Blair Underwood, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, Shelia E and Run-DMC. Today, Blow is a Minister of the first Hip Hop Church where he also serves as DJ and worship leader.
Tickets for Amateur Night begin at $20 and are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office:(212) 531-5305, 253 West 125 Street, and Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com, www.apollotheater.org
Photo credit: Apollo Theater, Harlem.
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