The Queen Visits Harlem:
Mary J. Blige Inducted Into
Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame
The queen of hip hop soul visited Harlem to be inducted into the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame, and HarlemAmerica’s G. Keith Alexander was there to cover the event.
The queen of hip hop soul visited Harlem to be inducted into the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame, and HarlemAmerica’s G. Keith Alexander was there to cover the event.
The queen of hip hop soul visited Harlem to be inducted into the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame, and Harlem America’s G. Keith Alexander was there to cover the event.
The Apollo Theater Welcomes an Icon
No stranger to success and accolades, the 9-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee is still making iconic moves in the film and music industries.
HarlemAmerica’s founder and legendary radio host G. Keith Alexander captured the full ceremony.
Blige talks about her first time at the iconic Harlem theater:
“My very first time performing here at the Apollo, I was not on stage as myself. I was on stage singing background for Jeff Redd. And from there on, it was Mary J. Blige history.”
Career Highlights
Let’s hit just a few of the dozens of dazzling highlights from Mary’s career:
1992 – Mary’s debut album, “What’s the 411” is released, with its first single “You Remind Me” going number one on the R&B charts, and hitting Top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100.
1997 – Mary J. Blige makes her Grammys debut, singing part of a medley of “Waiting to Exhale” with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, CeCe Winans, and Brandy.
2001 – Her song “Family Affair” is released and goes on to be one of the most popular songs of the decade. It’s also her most popular song to date. She also makes her acting debut in the same year, in the drama “Prison Song.”
2006 – Her second album, “My Life,” is included in Time’s 100 Greatest Albums of All Time.
2018 – Mary is nominated for 2 Academy Awards for her work in “Mudbound” (for supporting actress and best original song). This was the first time in history someone was nominated for both of these categories in the same year.
Mary J. Blige has won 9 Grammys, and been nominated a total of 31 times.
And a whole new audience is being introduced to her meteoric talent through her role in the hit Netflix series “Umbrella Academy.”
Mary J. Blige Is Still Making Big Moves
After more than three amazing decades in the spotlight, Mary J. Blige is still creating. Her new documentary, “Mary J. Blige’s My Life,” is available now on Amazon Prime. It chronicles her life, struggles, and the inspiration behind her 1994 LP “My Life.”
Her story is told in five parts and starts with her parents’ divorce when she was just 5 years old. She keeps it raw and real through the pain, mental illness, addiction, and how music saved her life. She speaks her truth and shows us what it took to become the icon she is today. The documentary is a masterwork in all things MJB, and it shows that she’s only just getting started.
Honoring Black Entertainers Is a Big Part of Harlem’s History
Harlem is a mecca for Black culture because of the way it has always done its part to lift up Black voices and inspire greatness from its community. Are you a black entertainer or entrepreneur looking to add your voice to the community and the world?
Click here to learn more about how HarlemAmerica Digital Network can help you create your very own podcast.