{"id":493,"date":"2022-06-12T08:59:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-12T16:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493"},"modified":"2024-06-29T23:44:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T07:44:09","slug":"the-apollo-1996","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493","title":{"rendered":"THE APOLLO 1996"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

June 12, 1996 7:30 p.m. was my debut at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This is reminiscent of my view as my man friend from Boston and I lumbered our way to stand in front of these doors at 4 a.m. We had come out on Greyhound together to do separate auditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was first in line and the door opened at 9.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The line to audition had formed down the street and around the block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shirley Matthews was the coordinator I met as my 23 year old self.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The pianist isn’t here yet but you can sing Acapella.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“With You” my Mariah like song was sung in about 2 lines…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I was misunderstood in a world of pain” I belted out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No time to cry, held back the rain”… and then I was stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ok,” she waved me over, “you can sing”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June 12, 1996 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As I warmed up and sung with the band on stage the first time, I recall this exact look as I sat in the chairs located in the audience.
This also reminded me of a gentleman that was an agent for one of the other acts approaching me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As I waited backstage after just talking to the girl that seemed to be an assistant of sorts this is what I recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then I watched as I saw a younger female get pulled off the stage with a hook like this….. annnd I was next!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

“Let’s hear it for Shandra, not Ch andra not Chaandra<\/em>” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The black girl said jeeringly into the microphone. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stepping onto the small side stage, I made sure to touch the famous piece of tree for luck before facing my misinformed hostess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had asked her stage assistant if I could be introduced as Chandra (“Shawndra”) not with the hard Ch sound and not with the letter a in my name being the long sound,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, technically she introduced me exactly how i had asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood next to her more amused than upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was in nice black heels and a very long, tight, black, dress next to the young, hip Comic View Star that was here to host “Amateur Night at The Apollo” on a Wednesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her braids hung long down her back and I could swear I recognized her from B.E.T. cable tv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She sized me up,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Hmm, where you from?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m from Cincinnati but live in Boston.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Mmm, ok whatchu gonna sing?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Love Takes Time by Mariah Carey.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Oh, ok, go ahead”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I just laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“After all it is THE<\/strong> Apollo.”<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Fearlessly, I took my spot and began singing when the music started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As abrupt as the boos had begun, they stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The immediate silence breaking into my first lines “I had it all, but I let it slip away” almost had me letting the lines of the song “slip away.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this loud silence I became afraid of what could happen… So I became super aware of myself but not the next lines of the song..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But feeling that familiar feeling of, going to sit somewhere else while my body continued to sing, I closed my eyes and let it take over.
The difference was so sudden as the crowd broke into loud yells and claps.
I recall that I was making an effort to walk across the stage as I sang the song in a trepidatious way, but finished happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During intermission I went out to find my friend’s cousin that had driven in with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wasn’t hard to spot, near to the back as the only white face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I walked I saw an older lady with her friend and she stopped me<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You were so good, can i have your autograph”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the first time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then when I was walking in the back I was approached by an excited group of teenage girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Ooo… girl, you can sing”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

was what the head girl said to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Hit a note”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she and I laughed together, I returned to the backstage area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I took the stage again at the end, I really didn’t know what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Although it was Amateur Night, the real Kiki from the show was there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stood there in a long line of everyone that had not been pulled off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beautiful woman in a super long dress was pretty far down the line and I relaxed taking in the scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a feeling right at the back of my neck that pulled me back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I swear my hairs were standing up as I realized Kiki was behind me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My breath caught in my throat, my eyes went to the audience and I couldn’t move with the anticipation of what was to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This moment in time held everything for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was glad it had happened so fast as she went down the line, but now she was right behind me and I had just a small slowed down second to register it all.. and then I heard the crowd responding wildly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can recall using my eyes to make sure her hand was over me thinking.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Oh my God, they are actually clapping!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shock of it all barely registered as I stayed on the stage as people moved off of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It kept going as it finally went down to me and 2 other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crowd divided in their applause and excitement for me, and it was obvious they wanted the great male singer to win the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet I was still on the stage!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I stayed in a daze and finally made my exit from the stage and went down the stairs, I caught eyes with the girl I had talked to before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same assistant that seemed to not like me telling her how to say my name stopped and turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Girl”<\/em>, she exclaimed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Next time you need to sing Gospel, then you will win!”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt as if, I had been inducted to some amazing club and was a moment to stick!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The club I’d love to be part of!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Still in my high, I can recall going outside looking for my friend’s cousin and chatting lightly with nice people near the alley at 11pm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I left the theater, I was asked about singing on the tv show by a white lady holding a clip board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was looking down at the list of dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“January next year is the next date”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

” I’m really not sure where I will be by then” I said knowing my current gypsy style and turning down the opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997, I did end up in Northern California to meet my dad for the first time since I was 6 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On my arrival being able to sing at “Ivy’s” on New Years Eve and “Geoffrey’s” later in Oakland had the same feel and seemed to continue these years of validation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later when I returned to New York to meet with some people and possibly go to record companies I ventured back to The Apollo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can recall going up the stairs to chat with Shirley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I remember you and I remember you can sing”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

she said easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What would you sing”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

was her question to me. Kinda great that she was making an effort to let me sing… That night!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The National Anthem” was my question and suggestion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her unexcited response was,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Someone did that already” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So i walked outside to the overlook in the back.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I remember standing up against this rail and having someone approach me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I remember you…”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You sang Mariah”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told me he was the clown and asked me if I wanted to sing at his gig tomorrow night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think I was in college and was supposed to present in class the next days so I told him I have to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We didn’t get each other’s information and I only recently realized who he was.. So it’s a major honor to have been asked and remembered!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June 12, 1996 7:30 p.m. was my debut at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York This is reminiscent of my view as my man friend from Boston and I lumbered our way to stand in front of these doors at 4 a.m. We … Continue readingTHE APOLLO 1996<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":146,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-493","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nTHE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"THE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"June 12, 1996 7:30 p.m. was my debut at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York This is reminiscent of my view as my man friend from Boston and I lumbered our way to stand in front of these doors at 4 a.m. We … Continue readingTHE APOLLO 1996\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Chandra Chamois\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-30T07:44:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nupower.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1-1024x281.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493\",\"name\":\"THE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1-1024x281.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-06-12T16:59:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-30T07:44:09+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/nupower.info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C296&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/nupower.info\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/06\\\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C296&ssl=1\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":296},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=493#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"My Story\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?page_id=146\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"THE APOLLO 1996\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/\",\"name\":\"Chandra Chamois\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nupower.info\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"THE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"THE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois","og_description":"June 12, 1996 7:30 p.m. was my debut at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York This is reminiscent of my view as my man friend from Boston and I lumbered our way to stand in front of these doors at 4 a.m. We … Continue readingTHE APOLLO 1996","og_url":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493","og_site_name":"Chandra Chamois","article_modified_time":"2024-06-30T07:44:09+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1-1024x281.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493","url":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493","name":"THE APOLLO 1996 - Chandra Chamois","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1-1024x281.jpg","datePublished":"2022-06-12T16:59:09+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-30T07:44:09+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nupower.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C296&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nupower.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Screenshot_20220611-210153_Chrome-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C296&ssl=1","width":1080,"height":296},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=493#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"My Story","item":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?page_id=146"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"THE APOLLO 1996"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/","name":"Chandra Chamois","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/493","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=493"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3399,"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/493\/revisions\/3399"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nupower.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}