Apollo Theater’s Post

Transcript

Is the Apollo's president and CEO Nice to have you both here. Congratulations. What does it mean to get this great honor from the Apollo? It's it's, it's nothing I ever saw coming. So really, why not? No, I mean, because, you know, James Brown, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle and Prince. I just never saw my names along the side, those names. Need to get Michelle, maybe you can answer this. How many hits do you need to become an icon for the Apollo Theater to give them an award? And I don't know how Babyface could receive more awards or have more hits to be such a globally celebrated artist. And we're honored, honored to have Babyface there at our our 90th anniversary. It's our 90th anniversary. Congratulations. We must honor someone who is truly very, very special and deserving. And Baby Face, I just was gonna go through some of the awards here. 125 top ten hits, 45 #1 R&B hits, 16 #1 pop hits. You look at your your page and you've worked with so many great artists from Beyonc�� to Barbra Streisand. I mean, how have you sort of been able to work not just when you're singing, but also producing? I mean, you've, you've really had a dual role here of over the course of your career. I think that's been my love is being a writer and a producer first. So that's the one thing that I wanted to do. Yeah, that's that was it. And that's the thing that pushed me more than anything. So that's why I kept doing it. So and just that love of the music. It's the love of the music and working with the artists and, and being able to just kind of get a sense of what they want to do and, and trying to be their voice as well. And so that's that's that's a fun process, I think. Michelle, I wanted to ask you, this is also coming at a time when the Apollo is expanding and it is doing something that it hasn't done in a long time. And that's. Sort of build out and sort of create this new connection with the community. Can you talk to us a little bit about what the theater is doing up there? Yes, absolutely. It's the 90th anniversary in the spring benefit next Tuesday. We're excited. We're right in the middle of having just opened the Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, just a few doors down with two special flexible spaces. One, the Janelle Procope theaters, her vision to expand the Apollo Stages, the 1st. For expansion and then later this year the first full scale renovation of the historic theater. Wow. So you gonna close that down a little bit? Yes. We're gonna have periods where we'll be closed. OK. But we will modernize, restore this this venue and we'll have a new cafe, expanded lobby bar performances and, and in the lobby new new AV acoustics are so much exciting happening at the Apollo. I have to say it's such a beautiful place I've been. There for concerts. It's just, I don't know, cultural treasure. It sure is. So tell me a little bit, baby face, about your first time that you were ever at the Apollo Theater. Well, funny enough, the first time I was supposed to be there, I wasn't able to play because it was on 9/11. Gee, it was the that was I was supposed to play that night and then everything went crazy. So and I don't think I I'm getting back in there turn around 2005 or so, and that was the first time. So it was crazy to just actually go in that place where, you know, so many people have, you know, graced that stage and December 10th, 2005, it's a legendary concert that you know, I mean, I know you would get 2500 people remember that. I mean, they will never forget that moment. And that's one of the special things about. Playing the Apollo, it's different than when you play a bigger venue that's maybe more modernized. There's something about the soul that comes out when you play at the Apollo. Can you talk a little bit about that? Well, it's the intimacy. It's, it's the, the crowds right there. You better be good because if you're not, then that's what you got to worry about that, you know, because they, they wear their feelings on their sleeves and they, they, they let you know. So, but it's, it is about feeling connected to the audience and when. And when that when that happens with the songs that they know that that's probably the best feeling that any artist could. What is feeling that. Yeah. Michelle. Our tickets still available next week for this award ceremony. Tickets are still available where it's gonna be an amazing show. Yeah. Give us an informative. Jordan Parks. They'll be new additions on Johnny Gill and Big Daddy Kane. You know every Wilson a special tribute performance by. You know our RMB royalty, Karen White. It's gonna be a spectacular evening. And the after party with Denise, the one and only legendary Dee. Nice. Wow. Yes. Not to be missed. It's the most exciting night of the summer, I'm sure. Now you're not performing right. You're sitting there, you're taking it all in. Or you can watch it. I hope it will be a tribute performance for Usher, maybe for someone. I wanted to ask you, your music is so often associated with romance and and things along. Do people come up to you and say thank you? You saved my marriage, did you? You had four babies. Faces music. Thank you for my life. It wasn't, you know. Yeah. I've never got the marriage saving one, but the babies. Alright, I don't want, don't want to miss the the Walk of Fame. Ohh, yes of course. Monday the 10th and that would be free and open to the public and babyface. Will there be there in the Walk of Fame along with the likes of Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Mary J Blige, Lionel Richie? Do we need tickets for that too? You just show up and show up. That's one of the great connections with the Apollo and the community in Harlem. I mean, that's one of those moments where you really do get that great. This is great. We're so happy that you came by again, baby face. We always love, you know, talking with you and Michelle, congratulations. I, I know you've worked around in the business and you've been at some iconic places, but the Apollo, Apollo, the Apollo, nothing, there's nothing like the Apollo. This story being you. It's been a phenomenal 90 years. To be a part of this legendary force and culture is an honor, and I look forward to helping to build for the next 90. Beautiful. Congratulations. Thank you, Thank you.