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Home // Photos // From Apollo's Amateur Night to Superstardom // From Apollo's Amateur Night to Superstardom
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  • In 1934, at the age of 17, the late Ella Fitzgerald won the Amateur Night competition after singing "The Object of My Affection."
  • The Isley Brothers performed at the famed theater in the late 50s, opening up for a slew of bigger acts like Jackie Wilson. The group went on to release 30 studio albums, ten of which were Billboard R&B chart toppers.
  • The legendary "Godfather of Soul" James Brown won Apollo's Amateur Night in 1956
  • The Jackson 5 won the Amateur Night competition in 1967. Their performance impressed Motown Records artist Gladys Knight, who recommended them to label head Berry Gordy. After some initial reluctance, the group was officially signed in 1969.
  • An 18 year old Luther Vandross competed on Amateur Night five times, and lost five times. "The experience taught me that show business is really a process of rejection, until you get to someone who might want to champion your cause," said the late singer about his experience.
  • Although her performance on Showtime At The Apollo wasn't the best (she was booed), Lauryn Hill went on to stage a successful music career. As the one third of The Fugees and as a solo act, she has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide.
  • In 1991, at the age of 17, D'Angelo performed Johnny Gill's "Rub You the Right Way" on Amateur Night and won $500
  • In the early 90s, Dru Hill entered the local version of the famed Apollo Theater's 'Amateur Night,' winning twice and going on to the national competition in New York where they placed third.
  • At the age of 11, Jazmine Sullivan appeared on the Apollo Kids segment, singing "Accept What God Allows." Now the 25 year old songstress is a Grammy Award nominated artist with two critically acclaimed albums under her belt.
  • A month after finishing a ten-year prison sentence, Lyfe Jennings found himself on the Apollo stage. He was booed when he walked on-stage with his acoustic guitar, but he won the crowd over with his gritty vocals---a style that helped garner him five amateur-night victories in a row.

From Apollo's Amateur Night to Superstardom

At the age of 11, Jazmine Sullivan appeared on the Apollo Kids segment, singing "Accept What God Allows." Now the 25 year old songstress is a Grammy Award nominated artist with two critically acclaimed albums under her belt.

Published 04/12/2012

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