Apollo Theater and Absolutely Live Entertainment
To Celebrate the 100th Birthday of Billie Holiday
With Presentations in Honor of the Legendary Jazz and Blues Singer
Songstress to Be Inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame
Ceremony to Include Two-Time Grammy Winner Cassandra Wilson
Monday, April 6th
WHAT: The Apollo Theater will celebrate its jazz legacy and the centennial birthday of Billie Holiday by inducting the legendary songstress into the Apollo Walk of Fame. The event, presented in collaboration with Absolutely Live Entertainment, will include performances by violinist Kersten Stevens and Harlem School of the Arts Choir; photo ops with Apollo president and CEO Jonelle Procope, two time Grammy winner and jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson, son of Jazz great and Billie Holiday’s friend and collaborator Lester Young Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr. , managing partner of The Bicycle Music Company and representative of the Estate of Billie Holiday Steven Salm, and Legacy Recordings president Adam Block.
The ceremony will also kick off a week of events celebrating the late songstress include the release of Cassandra Wilson’s upcoming Legacy Recordings release, Coming Forth By Day (April 7th) and a special concert, Cassandra Wilson: A Celebration of Billie Holiday, which will mark Wilson’s first time headlining the Apollo (April 10th).
WHEN:
Billie Holiday Apollo Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony
Monday, April 6th, 2015 – press check in: 5:45 pm; Event begins: 6pm
WHO:
Jonelle Procope, Apollo President and CEO Cassandra Wilson, Grammy Winning Jazz Vocalist Dr. Lester W. Young Jr., son of Jazz great and Billie Holiday’s friend and collaborator Lester Young Steven Salm, managing partner of The Bicycle Music Company and representative of the Estate of Billie Holiday Adam Block, Legacy Recordings president Kersten Stevens, Violinist Harlem School of the Arts Choir
WHERE:
The Apollo Theater – 253 West 125th Street – New York, NY
PHOTO OP: Please RSVP prior to the Walk of Fame induction ceremony for Billie Holiday and direct all requests to Nina Flowers via email to nina.flowers@apollotheater.org or cynthia.tate@apollotheater.org
ABOUT US: The Apollo is a national treasure that has had significant impact on the development of American culture and its popularity around the world. 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, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and countless others began their road to stardom on the Apollo’s stage.
The Apollo is a presenting organization that also produces original, groundbreaking programs at its legendary home and makes them available to audiences nationally and globally through touring projects and digital media. Through its civic, educational and public programs, the Apollo also serves as a community gathering place and resource by building knowledge, providing career development opportunities, and addressing issues that affect its community and American society and culture.
The Apollo will continue to present historically relevant presentations, as well as more forward-looking, contemporary work. The Apollo Theater’s new artistic vision – music is our foundation and our programs build upon our living legacy to nourish its ongoing development. Music also drives our work in dance, theater, and performance art events.
The Apollo’s programming celebrates and re-envisions the Theater’s legacy in creative and contemporary ways and provides an unparalleled resource for the nurturing of emerging artists and curators, promoting intimate and engaging experiences that dynamically connect both artists and audiences. Also central to the Theater’s mission is: to encourage experimentation and new artistic directions by mid-career and established artists; developing and presenting new and cutting edge multi-disciplinary work and to nurture culturally diverse artists and audiences.
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. For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org.
Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027 United States
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