Tag: James Brown

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Entertainment

‘Showtime At The Apollo’ being picked up by FOX as a weekly series

The Apollo Theater and FOX today announced that SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO has been picked up as a one-hour weekly series featuring Emmy Award-winning personality Steve Harvey as host. Set to debut during the 2017-2018 season, SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO is a reimagining of the classic talent showcase series.

“We all had such a blast on the two specials that aired earlier this season, that we thought it really deserved being a weekly event,” said Harvey. “But our mission is a little different this time around. Instead of just putting on a great show, we’re going to do that and find the next great comic and the next big music star. That’s what the Apollo is all about. My roots are on that stage and I can’t wait to be there every week, looking for great talent. Who said you can’t go back home again?”

Featured in the series are elements from the Apollo’s legendary Amateur Night – the long-running, live talent competition, now in its 82nd year – which provides a platform for up-and-coming artists to perform in front of the toughest audience in the world. The Apollo audience is famed as one of entertainment’s most boisterous and brutally honest, and those amateurs who don’t win them over must endure the wrath of this notorious crowd.

The Apollo Theater launched the careers of many iconic artists, including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, D’Angelo and countless others. Its venerable stage show, Amateur Night at the Apollo, has long been revered by artists as a transformative experience during which up-and-coming talent feel the power of the legendary performers who have come before them, while audience response can help make or break a career.

In each episode, Harvey will be joined by some of the biggest stars in comedy and music. Artists featured in the two SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO specials that aired earlier this season on FOX include John Legend, Ashanti, Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes, Doug E. Fresh, Chaka Khan, Anderson.Paak & The Free Nationals, Flo Rida, Rakim, T.I. featuring Meek Mill, Quavo and RaRa, Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue and Jodeci; and comedians Anthony Anderson, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Jay Pharoah, Mike Epps and Gabriel Iglesias.

Open auditions for SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO will be held at the legendary Theater on Sunday, April 23rd. Additional auditions will be held in select cities across the country.

This audition is open to singers, dancers, comedians and musicians of all ages and musical styles. Artists are encouraged to arrive early as auditions are on a first come first seen basis and only the first 300 acts per venue will be seen. More complete details are outlined below and available on www.apollotheater.org.

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Entertainment

Steve Harvey To Host 2-Hour SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO Special On FOX

Emmy Award-winning personality Steve Harvey will host SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO, a two-hour event and re-imagining of the classic talent showcase series, in which Harvey will celebrate his return to the famed theater, where he launched his own career, and where he’ll be joined by some of the biggest stars in comedy and music. The star-studded special will air Monday, Dec. 5 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. An additional one-hour special, also hosted by Harvey, will air in early 2017.

Also to be featured in the special are elements from the Apollo’s legendary Amateur Night – the long-running, live talent competition, now in its 82nd year – which provides a platform for up-and-coming artists to perform in front of the toughest audience in the world. The Apollo audience is famed as one of entertainment’s most boisterous and brutally honest and those amateurs who don’t win over the crowd risk being booed off the stage. Amateur Night at the Apollo launched the careers of many iconic artists, including James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, D’Angelo and countless others, and the show continues to present new talent on the legendary Apollo stage every Wednesday night. The Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night has long been revered by artists as a transformative experience during which up-and-coming talent feel the power of the legendary performers who have come before them, while audience response can help make or break a career.

 “I’m excited to be going back home to the Apollo to celebrate the history of this great theater,” said Harvey. “I have great memories from my time there, and this is going to be a homecoming party that you won’t want to miss.”

Jonelle Procope, President and CEO of the Apollo Theater and an executive producer of the special said:

“Since its inception in 1934, the world’s original talent competition – Amateur Night at the Apollo – was, and continues to be, a primary source for discovering new talent and spotlighting up-and-coming artists. That tradition was extended with the successful 21-year run of the ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ television program. We’re proud to continue to produce our live, weekly show, and are equally excited to be partnering with FOX to produce this SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO special and to bring the Apollo experience back to television!”

David Madden, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company says:

“The Apollo Theater played a crucial role in so many of this nation’s most talented artists, including Steve, and we couldn’t be happier to have him lead us back to this legendary venue. We’re sure this will be a fantastic night of entertainment.”

Photo Credit: Foc Kan/WireImage

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Entertainment

Apollo Theater To Hold Amateur Night Auditions In New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC For 2017

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The Apollo Theater announced today that it will hold auditions for its legendary Amateur Night show, now in its 82nd year, in multiple cities this Fall. Auditions will be held in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, September 17th, in New York City at the Apollo Theater on Saturday, September 24th and will conclude in Washington, D.C. at Howard University on Saturday, October 1st. Amateur Night producers will screen hundreds of vocalists, rappers, dancers, comedians, spoken word artists, and other performers vying for a coveted spot on the Apollo’s stage, where they will then compete for a chance to win the new grand prize amount of $20,000.

“The Apollo is driven by a commitment to explore all possibilities of contemporary artistic expression. One way to achieve this is by opening our Amateur Night 2017 auditions to a geographically-diverse pool of talent,” said Jonelle Procope, President and CEO of the Apollo Theater. “Amateur Night is not only a beloved live, weekly show but rather a greater catalyst renown for sparking the careers of so many legendary performers.”

“The Apollo is the world’s stage and, as such, we want to make sure the performers are equally world-class. By reaching out to talent in locations like Washington, DC, we ensure we are getting the best possible competitors. Long before American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and Star Search, the Apollo’s Amateur Night was, and continues to be, a primary source for discovering and spotlighting up-and-coming artists. We’re on a hunt for the best of the best,” said Amateur Night Producer and audition judge, Marion J. Caffey.

Since its inception in 1934, the Apollo Theater’s signature show, ‘Amateur Night,’ has been one of New York City’s most popular live entertainment experiences, launching the careers of thousands of performers and attracting audiences from all over the world. ‘Amateur Night’ has long been revered by artists as a transformative experience where up-and-coming talent feel the power of the legendary performers who have come before them, and where audience responses can help make or break a career. Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill and Michael Jackson are just a few of the legendary performers who launched their careers on the Apollo stage.

 

Auditions for Amateur Night are as follows:

September 17th in Philadelphia (10am- 6pm)

Location: Kimmel Center

300 South Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

 

September 24th in NYC (10am-6pm)

Location: Apollo Theater

253 West 125th Street

New York, NY 10027

 

October 1st in Washington, D.C. (10am- 6pm)

Location: Cramton Auditorium – Howard University

2455 6th St NW

Washington, DC 20059

 

*Important Note: For Amateur Night, only children ages 5 to 17 will be considered for the “Child Stars of Tomorrow” segment. For those competing in the adult category, you must be 18 years and older to compete in the adult category. Children under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. For a complete list of audition guidelines and rules, visit apollotheater.org

For Amateur Night auditions, judges will only see the first 250 acts if time permits, so please arrive early. Amateur Night at the Apollo weekly performances are independent from the APOLLO LIVE and SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO taped events. 

 

RULES:       

  • An Amateur is anyone who has not had a recording, Film or TV contract with a major studio.
  • NO profanity, including any racial epithets or slurs all material must be appropriate for a family show.
  • Children under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult.
  • Only children ages 5 to 17 will be considered for the “Child Star of Tomorrow” segment.
  • For those competing in the adult category, you must be 18 years and older.
  • No lip synching, singing along with track vocals or post-production engineering of vocals is permitted.
  • The audition is open to singers, dancers, comedians, spoken word artists and musicians and other variety performances.
  • Each live contestant will have up to 90 seconds to perform.
  • Singers can bring a track on cassette or CD or sing a cappella. A band is NOT available.
  • Musicians must bring their own instruments.
  • Dancers should bring a CD.
  • Do NOT bring CD’s in CD-RW format.
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Entertainment FLY Interviews SFPL TV

Fly Interview: Singer Charles Perry Takes The Throne As The New Soul Superhero on SFPL TV [Video]

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There’s a new Soul, Rock and Funk Maestro in town and he goes by the name of Charles Perry! Holding down the music fork that has been passed on to him through generations, including from his Grandfather, who was a Doo-Wop legend of the The Jive Five, Charles plans to keep the tradition going, delivering what God has gifted him.

Transitioning from Gospel music, the Brooklyn native plans to represent the Forefathers of Rock & Roll: James Brown, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix — the ancestors who have paved the way for African-Americans in the various genres of music. Perry has donned himself “the representation of the new Generation of Rock Artists.”

About what separates himself from other artists: 

There are a lot of people that are gifted. There are people that are talented. And then, there are people that are anointed…i’m anointed. I created a lane for myself, so i’m not worried about my car swerving or my spaceship going into another man’s lane. My lane is different. I sing Soul, Rock, Funk.

The talented singer also talks about possibly doing a Gospel album, if asked — because of his strong love for God. He also, speaks about bouncing back and forth in between genres, and music legends like Luther Vandross that influenced his style.

Peep the FULL interview below:

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Download Charles Perry’s EP The Soul Superhero HERE.

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Entertainment FLY Events Last Night in NYC Music

Nile Rodgers Honored as Icon At BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards + DJ Mustard, B.o.B, Sevyn Streeter, Snoop Dogg, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price, Evan Ross, Tyrese + more

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Broadcast Music, Inc.®, (BMI®), the global leader in music rights management, presented the BMI Icon Award to GRAMMY-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist, Nile Rodgers, at the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on August 28th. The star-studded event celebrates the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of the previous year.

Rodgers was honored for his unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers and his ability to connect people through song and defy musical expectations. As the 2015 BMI Icon Award recipient, Rodgers joins an elite list of previous honorees that includes The Jacksons, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard and Al Green, to name a few.

The evening featured a slew of performances: B.o.B opened with a medley of hits, followed by IloveMakonnen who kept the energy going with “Tuesday.” Backed by music director Rickey Minor, as well as band and Donald Lawrence’s vocals, the high-powered Icon tribute was kicked off by R&B chanteuses Kelly Price covering “Upside Down,” Deborah Cox’s delivery of “I’m Coming Out,” Kathy Sledge and the Company offering a rousing rendition of “We Are Family,” and Empire’s V. Bozeman’s vibrant version of “I Want Your Love.” The celebration continued with CeeLo Green’s dynamic performance of “Let’s Dance.” The night concluded with the top honoree taking the stage to perform fan favorites “Good Times” and “Rappers Delight,” with hip-hop legend Chuck D joining Rodgers.

Additional top honors presented at the awards ceremony: John Legend “All of Me” earned the Song of the Year prize; DJ Mustard was crowned the Songwriter of the Year for penning hits “2 On,” “Don’t Tell ‘Em,” “I Don’t F**ck With You,” “Main Chick,” “My Hitta,” “Na Na,” “No Mediocre,” “Paranoid,” “Show Me,” and “Who Do You Love?” DJ Mustard also won the coveted Producer of the Year award for the second year in a row, while Universal Music Publishing Group accepted the prestigious Publisher of the Year crystal for having 18 of the most-performed songs from the previous year. BMI also recognized top producers Kanye West, J Cole, Jim Jonsin, Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac De Boni.

SoMo won the BMI Social Star Award. Selected by fans voting via Twitter and Instagram, the award salutes the BMI R&B/hip-hop songwriter who has best demonstrated the power of social media to showcase their songwriting talents.

BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton shared the evening’s hosting duties with R&B artist and actor Ray J.

Guests celebrated and mingled while enjoying Red Bull cocktails during the evening’s festivities. BMI partnered with HD Radio, TW Steel, Provider Inc. and KIND Snacks to present the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.

Photos by Lester Cohen & Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI

Photos Provided to SFPL by BMI, Inc. 

Check out the FULL gallery below:

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