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The legendary Apollo Theatre – one of Harlem, and the nation’s best-known music venues – celebrated it’s 80th Anniversary this week at their annual spring gala and the historic landmark has never looked better!

The fête that raised a record-breaking $2.3 million dollars for the theater, included unforgettable performances by singing legends Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight and The Isley Brothers — who will be inducted into The Apollo Theater Legends Hall of Fame.  The night also included impressive stage performances by a younger generation of stars including rapper Doug E. Fresh, tap dancer Savion Glover, singer Joss Stone, Australian quartet Human Nature and pianist Mathew Whitaker. Multi-talented actor Wayne Brady hosted the night and in addition to making jokes in between sets, he bobbed and weaved through the performances himself, singing and even rapping!

MUST READ: Dance Theater of Harlem Celebrates 45 Years With Stunning New Spring Season & Impressive New Talent

The performers each paid homage to history-making stars that have graced the marquee like Miles DavisJohn ColtraneNat King Cole, Sarah VaughnBillie HolidayElla FitzgeraldJames Brown, Stevie WonderLuther Vandross and more reminding the crowd just how full of history the venue truly is.

It’s almost hard to imagine that when the theater was constructed in 1914, and named the Hurtig and Seamon’s New Burlesque Theater, it kept it’s doors closed to Black people with a strict “Whites Only” policy. But after it officially opened as the “Apollo Theater” in 1934 it became an incubator for Black talent.  Jimi Hendrix won the first place prize in an amateur musician contest at the Apollo in 1964. James Brown recorded four albums there, including the legendary “Live At The Apollo,” album that sat on the Billboard pop album charts for 66 weeks. Lauryn Hill and Dave Chappelle were both famously booed at their first “Showtime at the Apollo” appearance.

Of course, there are countless other historic moments in the Apollo’s history books and this week’s spring gala showed the venue is still in the business of being a destination where “stars are born and legends are made.”

#TeamBeautiful was in the house for the celebration and danced the night away during the program – and epic after party where DJ D-Nice hit the ones and twos! Check out video of the red carpet and performance clips from  Joss Stone, Gladys Knight and The Isley Brothers, below.

We were on a mean two step and body roll when The Isley Brother’s hit the stage singing “In Between The Sheets!”

In case there was any doubt about UK singer Joss Stone’s ability to put the soul in songs, see her belt James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s, Man’s World.”

Gladys Knight lent her beautiful vocals to the classic hit “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

NewsOne’s Roland Martin hits the red carpet to get the scoop from guests!

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Performers At Apollo Theater’s 80th Anniversary Gala
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