Culture

Michael Jackson Tribute At The Apollo

by Jordan Yerman | June 30, 2009 at 07:04 am

1178 views | 37 Recommendations | 6 comments

Fans are gathering for a Micahel Jackson Tribute at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. Under the famous marquee, eulogies will be delivered by Rev. Al Sharpton and the Apollo's president. The Apollo saw the birth of Micahel Jackson's career, when the Jackson Five won an Amateur Night contest in 1967. The emerging boy band then played 31 shows in one week for $1000.

Fans who got up early said they felt it was important to be there.

"I can't even remember how old I was when I first saw him on TV. I just knew as soon as I seen him, I fell in love," said one fan.

Amateur Night still exists, so music fans can catch the next Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, or James Brown.

Since 1934, every Wednesday night at 7:30PM aspiring artists and performers have graced the stage of the Apollo Theater in the hope that the magic of the hallowed stage and the approval of the infamous audience will launch their careers in the entertainment world.

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Shots By Scott 45

at 13:10 on June 30th, 2009

These images only touched the surface of the love out there for the one and only Michael Jackson.

Shots By Scott 45 has contributed a photo to this story.

Monica Hutton (not verified)

at 14:41 on July 5th, 2009

I think its disgusting that anyone should pay tribute to Michael Jackson. The blindness of people to the evil of this man has really shaken my faith in human nature over the last few days.

rockinandrollin

at 13:30 on June 30th, 2009

Very moving moment... All gathered under the Apollo marquee, singing MJ songs, chanting his name and clapping our hands. No tears, just feeling good all of us brought together, thanks to a great artist.

rockinandrollin has contributed a photo to this story.

Korynn (not verified)

at 08:14 on July 2nd, 2009

Pah, I was in tears for a good 2 hours lol. And once I got inside. That release was good.

The whole thing would have been just what he wanted.

Pythiian1

at 16:04 on June 30th, 2009

Apparently, the queue is still 10 blocks long as of this note.

From a local TV station:

Reverend Al Sharpton attended an event with a eulogy at 2 p.m.

"Michael Jackson represents to us something that we understand and understood when the whole world turned on Michael we never turned on Michael," said the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Mourners will be allowed in the Apollo Theater - 600 at a time - to pay their respects and lay flowers on the stage where Jackson first performed as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1967.