As legendary hip-hop artist and DJ D-Nice played music on turntables on the stage, hip-hop icon Rakim performed some of his greatest hits, including “Know the Ledge,” “Paid In Full,” “I Know You Got Soul,” and “I Ain’t No Joke.” At the same time, actor and New Kids on the Block founding member Donnie Wahlberg danced on stage. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that signifies what Derrick D-Nice Jones created during the pandemic: Club Quarantine. In the virtual place, people could unify during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic as it began five years ago. That special moment on stage, and the event itself, could only happen at the world-famous Apollo Theater, and with the uncertain political climate we are enduring, it was a much-needed night out for the thousands in attendance.
It was the second Club Quarantine anniversary that Jones, who wore a jean jacket emblazoned with CQ5 that mirrored those of New York City’s subway lines, hosted at the Apollo Theater as he celebrated the third anniversary in Harlem.
Some of the many highlights included a performance by singer and actress Deborah Cox, who honored the late Whitney Houston by performing her 1980s hit “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and digging into her catalog to perform “Sentimental” and her Billboard chart-topping “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here.”
Derrel Johnson photos
Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Melba Moore looked fabulous in a yellow ensemble and performed her 1970s hit “You Stepped into My Life.” Jones came from behind the turntables to hug Moore before she left the stage.
Grammy-nominated singer Case took the stage with a red leather jacket with his name emblazoned in white letters and performed some of his biggest hits, including “Happily Ever After,” “Missing You,” and “Touch Me Tease Me.”
Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls performed the group’s late 1970s/early 1980s songs “Nights Over Egypt,” “Who Can I Run To,” and “You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else,” while 1980s star Lisa Lisa performed “Can You Feel The Beat” and “I Wonder If I Take You Home.”
Things turned emotional when De La Soul took the stage as Jones let Maseo take the helm at his DJ set up, honoring group member Trugoy the Dove, who passed away in February 2023, and DJ Clark Kent, who died in October of last year.
Other performers included hip-hop artists Dres of Black Sheep, Nice & Smooth, Melle Mel, and R&B singer Raheem DeVaughn, while a four-piece band led by Chris Rob performed with Jones and the various acts throughout the night.
After the event, a star-studded afterparty took place at The Apollo Stages at the Victoria Theater, a few steps east of the Apollo Theater. It was a unique event that could only happen at the iconic Harlem venue.