Join The Apollo to induct 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds into The Apollo’s Walk of Fame.
Celebrating and honoring the 90-year lineage of extraordinary artists who have performed on the Historic Theater stage, Babyface joins a iconic list of inductees who have influenced generations of musicians, fans, and culture at large, including Prince, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Little Richard, Ella Fitzgerald, The Temptations, and most recently, Mary J. Blige in 2021.
This event is free and open to the public.
About Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the “Producer of the Year” category four times, three of which were consecutive (1995-1997), and is the co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and Pink. Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Barbara Streisand, Bruno Mars, and countless others.
Babyface has produced and written 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number-one R&B hits, and 16 number-one pop hits, with his work boasting over 800 million records sold and over a billion streams. Throughout his career, Babyface has won the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year trophy seven times, and received a total of 51 BMI Awards, as well as 4 American Music Awards, 5 Soul Train Awards, and 5 NAACP Image awards. He has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2017, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Babyface is a passionate philanthropist, actively supporting the Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Larry Ruvo’s Keep Memory Alive, and Stand Up To Cancer.
Join The Apollo to induct 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds into The Apollo’s Walk of Fame.
Celebrating and honoring the 90-year lineage of extraordinary artists who have performed on the Historic Theater stage, Babyface joins a iconic list of inductees who have influenced generations of musicians, fans, and culture at large, including Prince, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Little Richard, Ella Fitzgerald, The Temptations, and most recently, Mary J. Blige in 2021.
This event is free and open to the public.
About Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is a 13-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, and one of the most celebrated creative forces in music history. He is the only producer to win the “Producer of the Year” category four times, three of which were consecutive (1995-1997), and is the co-founder of the legendary record label LaFace, which launched the careers of artists like Usher, Toni Braxton, TLC, Outkast, and Pink. Babyface has written and produced hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Eric Clapton, Madonna, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Barbara Streisand, Bruno Mars, and countless others.
Babyface has produced and written 125 Top 10 Hits, 45 number-one R&B hits, and 16 number-one pop hits, with his work boasting over 800 million records sold and over a billion streams. Throughout his career, Babyface has won the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year trophy seven times, and received a total of 51 BMI Awards, as well as 4 American Music Awards, 5 Soul Train Awards, and 5 NAACP Image awards. He has also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2017, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Babyface is a passionate philanthropist, actively supporting the Carousel of Hope, which benefits the Children’s Diabetes Foundation, the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Larry Ruvo’s Keep Memory Alive, and Stand Up To Cancer.
Featuring SOFIA NEGRON, DEZZ WHITE, SHAWN HARVEY
HOSTED BY LARRY LANCASTER
From Lotus Avenue to the A-train, ELHAE makes a quick stop in Harlem for an acoustic performance that blends alternative R&B with Hip Hop. His catalog includes thematic and seductive gems such as “Fun Fact”, “I Choose You (w. Ambre)”, “Doesn’t Matter (w. Kehlani)” and the deliciously pulsating dance hit “Touch (w. GoldLink)“.
The Girl Who Heard the Universe follows Zuri, a brilliant young sound scientist whose heart beats to rhythms no one else can hear. By day, she experiments with waves and vibrations in her Brooklyn bedroom-turned-laboratory, composing melodies that echo her boundless curiosity. By night, she gazes up at the stars, dreaming of how quantum particles might dance and sing across the cosmos. Blending music, science, and imagination, this story celebrates the power of wonder, the beauty of Black girl brilliance, and the belief that every sound—no matter how small—can change the universe.
For the first time, The Apollo and The Howard Theatre come together for a one-night presentation of live music in Washington, D.C.
With host Chris Spencer and special performances from the Clipse, Black Alley, and Gabby Samone plus, Grammy-Award winning artist Matthew Whitaker, and Wé Ani who got their start at Amateur Night at The Apollo Presented by Coca-Cola, giving D.C. Audiences a front-row seat to the performers who have braved the "world's toughest audience" and emerged victorious.
Best of The Apollo brings the legacy and energy of Harlem’s legendary stage to D.C. for a live music event celebrating Black music and the artists shaping it. Expect an unforgettable night of live music by award winning performers.
PitchBLACK Awards is Black Public Media’s signature celebration honoring visionary media makers who tell stories about the global Black experience. Heralded as an event where industry leaders discover new talent, PitchBLACK is also an evening of inspiring content, special guest appearances and the presentation of funding awards to winning creators.
This year, Black Public Media continues its tradition of excellence with a special tribute to the 2026 BPM Trailblazers: Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith, whose standard-setting body of work about the Black experience has garnered Emmy, Peabody and other distinguished awards.
PitchBLACK festivities will commence with a networking reception followed by the awards ceremony. The evening culminates with a lively afterparty featuring DJ Precise.
Join us at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater on Thursday, APRIL 30, to celebrate PitchBLACK in Harlem and witness the magic!
Purchase your Tickets today!
Featuring DWIGHT PRYDE, CALVON BROWN, MIKE ROSS
HOSTED BY STILETTO
Step inside an intimate speakeasy vibe for an unforgettable, intimate evening with contemporary R&B powerhouse Teedra Moses, an artist who effortlessly weaves strength and vulnerability into every note at Apollo Music Café: UPclose. In this rare, UPclose performance, the iconic chanteuse brings the soul-stirring songs of her legendary album Complex Simplicity to life in a setting designed for true connection.
Accessibility
The Apollo is here for everyone. Artists, audiences, and all supporters should be able to experience The Apollo fully and in a way that is comfortable for them.
The Apollo has taken comprehensive steps to ensure that entrances, seating, restrooms, and more are as accessible and compliant as possible. Learn more about accessibility options and support services that might be right for you.
All persons and bags are subject to search. Bags that have passed inspection must fit comfortably under your seat. Oversized bags are prohibited.
No outside food or beverage. Accommodations are made for patrons with medical needs. Please email access@apollotheater.org or call the box office at (212) 531-5305 for assistance.
