The 1960s opened up my world to the sounds of Rhythm and Blues. In 1965, when I was 12 years old, my mother allowed me to go to the Apollo Theatre on 125th Street, in Harlem with my younger sister and older cousins. Other than television and Dick Clark's TAMMI Revue in the movies,I had never seen an R&B; show.

The Apollo became the neucleus of my teenage world. I lived for Saturday so that I could go to the Apollo for the 12noon show and stay until 6 or7 p.m. (sneaking in the bathroom to hide from the guards because you were supposed to leave after each show). Seeing Smokey & The Miracles, The Temptations, James Brown, Otis Redding!

Sometimes they were on the same show! Imagine, these larger than life singing sensations! Every Easter, James Brown sold out the Apollo for one week. On Easter sunday, you had on your best clothing and stood in a line that wrapped twice around the corner to see James Brown! Who cared about the wait, that was part of the fun! No mega arena can ever replace the Apollo Theater in my heart and soul.