"Her voice will touch your heart. Her presence on the Apollo stage will captivate all who witness it. For the first time ever and only in New York City at the Apollo, the magic of holographic technology will transport you to the concert of your dreams as Lady Day takes the stage again," states the Apollo Theater on its website.
Also known as Lady Day, Holiday appeared live at the celebrated Harlem venue several times throughout her career. Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of a jazz guitarist and banjo player. After moving to Brooklyn with her mother, she reportedly began performing in New York as early 1930, where she began to make a name for herself on the competitive bar scene. She made her Apollo debut at just 19 in 1934, the theatre's founding year.
Holiday was inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame this April amongst other events celebrating what would have been the late singer's 100th birthday. "Over the course of her career, Lady Day would go on to perform at the iconic venue at least 23 times. In the late 1940s, after she lost her New York City cabaret card, the Apollo remained one of the few NYC venues where Ms. Holiday could perform," state earlier press notes from the theatre.
Holiday's plaque was installed underneath the Apollo‟s marquee on 125th Street, alongside those for Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Etta James and many more.
Holiday was the subject of the Tony-winning Broadway musical Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, which marked Audra McDonald's sixth Tony win. Penned by Lanie Robertson, the show was a portrait of the singer during one of her last performances in a seedy Philadelphia bar in 1959. "Playing Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill on Broadway was one of the most challenging and artistically rewarding experiences of my career," McDonald said at the time.
Visit the ApolloTheater to learn more.