Knight Ready for a Special Turkey Day

Legendary singer Gladys Knight visited the theater yesterday morning — one day before she was scheduled to perform on the Apollo Theater’s inaugural Macy’s Day Parade float, where she will present the Apollo staff with an original vinyl copy of “Every Beat of My Heart,” her first hit record in 1961 as a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, to be included in their archives.

Like many other musical luminaries such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, the Apollo helped launch Knight’s career.

“I’m grateful for the Apollo for allowing us to have a venue to come to cause you ought to understand there were so many times where we couldn’t play anywhere,” Knight said. “The Apollo was there for us you know and gave us a site for people to get to know us.”

Knight also said that the theater was like a school for her and the mentorship and assistance she received there is invaluable to this day.

When performing in the Apollo years ago, she found that she would lose her voice after two shows despite being slated for six performances in a day. The Schiffmans, owners of the Apollo, used their own funds and doctors she found out that some of her bad teeth were secreting poison down to her vocal cords.

Knight will be using those now healthy vocal cords to sing tomorrow on Apollo’s first ever float for the Macy’s Day Parade.

“This is blowing my mind,” she said “They’re asking me to represent them and I’m telling you I don’t take that honor lightly. You know it is really something I cherish. I will do my best to go out there and give the Apollo what it deserves.”

Jonelle Procope, president & CEO of Apollo Theater, said Macy’s asked the theater to participate in the parade and the Apollo in turn asked Knight to perform.

“Gladys is obviously an Apollo legend and we just thought she personifies the Apollo legacy,” Procope said. “To have the Apollo Top Hat in the parade with Gladys Knight on the float is beyond exciting for us.”

Nina Flowers, Apollo’s PR Coordinator said that three of Apollo’s Amateur Night winners will be performing with Knight. One of them is 11-year-old Lianah Santa Ana, Star of tomorrow winner.

Super Top Dog winners Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Nathan Foley are the other two scheduled to perform with Knight.

“We’re about launching not only about launching the career of legends like Gladys Knight but to bring along and nurture new talent, emerging talent,” Procope said.

Photo by Cesar R. Bustamante Jr.