It s Showtime!—At the Apollo Spring Benefit

Signs of a great night were clear from the start at the Apollo’s Spring 2025 Benefit, where sunshine and star power kicked off the celebration. The evening began with a milestone moment: music legend Clive Davis, a Legacy Award honoree, was inducted into the theater’s Walk of Fame. He wasn’t the only icon in attendance—Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Monica, Deborah Cox, and more turned out to mark the famed institution’s 91st anniversary and its final fête before a historic renovation begins. (Expect a new café, expanded lobby, improved balcony seating, and an updated marquee.)

Following cocktail hour, Apollo New Works artist Martha Redbone took the stage to perform an excerpt from Guardian Spirit, her multidisciplinary tribute to the late Bell Hooks. Comedian Kym Whitley, the evening’s host, then gave spirited tributes to both honorees. “When I say his name, I feel like I need to bow and curtsey,” she quipped of Clive Davis, before adding with a grin: “I don’t know why I’ve never been invited to the Grammy party!” Of Innovator Award recipient Teyana Taylor, Whitley marveled, “She sings, she dances, she acts, she directs, she designs—she probably juggles!”

Before the awards were handed out, Apollo President and CEO Michelle Ebanks announced that the night had raised an impressive $3.2 million—plus an additional $2.5 million gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies. She also reminded the crowd of the venue’s rightful moniker: not just the Apollo Theater, but the “World Famous Apollo Theater.”

When Harlem-native Teyana Taylor took the stage to accept her award—presented by Dapper Dan and Sherri Shepherd—she honored the institution’s traditions by rubbing the iconic “Tree of Hope” stump, thanking the Apollo for being “the village” in her life. Davis, in his speech, underscored the theater’s cultural legacy: “Black music is an essential part of American popular culture. There is no single institution that has done more to champion the truth of Black music than the Apollo Theater.”

Musical performances throughout the evening included Shoshana Bean, Deborah Cox, Method Man, and Busta Rhymes, as well as a moving tribute to Apollo benefactor Richard Parsons, introduced by Rev. Al Sharpton.

But the real crescendo came after the show, when the Marching Cobras led guests down 126th Street to a block-party-style after-party. The celebration continued with signature cocktails, passed bites, and a packed dance floor pulsing to a soundtrack spun by D-Nice—all against a backdrop of plush banquet seating a vibrant red lighting by Apollo board member and event designer Bronson van Wyck. As Black Sheep’s Dres surprised guests with a live performance, Dapper Dan posed for photos in one corner while Busta Rhymes—dressed in a bejeweled pink suit—chatted warmly with a group of event staff. A moment only Harlem could deliver.