Yesterday (February 8), the Museum of the City of New York opened a new exhibit that explores the history and cultural significance of Harlem’s Apollo Theater as an icon of black entertainment.
The exhibit features items from music legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Charles and Miles Davis, all of whom performed at the Harlem theatre during its 75-year history.
The Apollo’s Amateur Night has helped launch several successful careers. Michael Jackson performed with the Jackson 5 at Apollo’s Amateur Night when he was only nine years old.
"The first time I appeared at the Apollo was during Amateur Night — my gospel group during a gospel caravan show," said singer and actress Dionne Warwick. “And we won. And the next time was at the very beginning of my career in 1962."
"When I think of a soundtrack for the second half of the twentieth century, it’s the music that was launched by the Apollo," said museum director Susan Henshaw Jones in a statement.