Leslie Uggams, 'Babyface' Join NY Apollo Board

NEW YORK (AP) -- Leslie Uggams, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and Marcus Samuelsson are among seven new board members at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

President and CEO Jonelle Procope said they will help guide the vision, programming and fundraising of the legendary musical theater. They were elected to the board Tuesday night.

Uggams is a Tony award-winning Broadway actress and singer who once performed 29 Apollo shows a week.

Samuelsson is executive chef of New York's Swedish Aquavit restaurant. He prepared the first state dinner at the Obama White House.
Edmonds, an R&B artist and producer, is a 10-time Grammy award winner.

The Apollo is currently celebrating its 75 anniversary. It has propelled the careers of such legendary artists as Ella Fitzgerald and Michael Jackson.

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