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A Legend in His Own Right By Amy Carlson Gustafson
"People come from all over the world to tour the Apollo, and it's a beautiful thing."
Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Little Richard, the Supremes – the list truly seems endless – have all performed here. Throughout its 90 years, the institution has shown unwavering
support for artists' careers along with a commitment to education and advocacy.
As Apollo's in-house historian, tour guide and ambassador, Mitchell, 74, holds a wealth of knowledge, deservedly earning the name "Mr. Apollo." When asked to name one of his proudest Apollo moments, Mitchell doesn't hesitate. It was giving a private tour to Michelle Obama, along with her daughters and mother, when the Obamas were in the White House. "I sang 'My Girl' with Michelle Obama up on this stage," he recalls as he sings a few familiar bars of the song. "We were on the stage singing, and I told her about my life. She told me I needed to write a book.” Mitchell says working at the Apollo is more than just a job for him, and he'll do it as long as he's able. "I meet people that most people only dream about meeting," he says. "It means so much to be a part of this institution. I wish everybody could see what I've seen at the Apollo."
When Billy Mitchell takes to the Apollo Theater stage, he's not singing or dancing. But he's as mesmerizing as they come. On a recent tour of the legendary Harlem institution, about 50 people listened attentively as Mitchell demonstrated his gift for storytelling. Whether talking about his days as a youngster running errands for the likes of James Brown and Marvin Gaye or instilling the importance of a good education, Mitchell's engaging presence is enough to get people of all ages to put their phones away for an hour. "People come from all over the world to tour the Apollo, and it's a beautiful thing," Mitchell says. "Most people don't know the history of the Apollo; they look at us as just being Black culture, but we're a part of American culture. We are very proud of that."
Read more of this story on NextAvenue.org
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