I remember watching Showtime at the Apollo late at night when I was growing up, and every time I watched, the host, which would be a revolving roster (including Sinbad, Mark Curry, Ricky Aviles, Rudy Rush, Steve Harvey, and Mo’Nique), would introduce Kiki Shepard, and she would grace the stage looking gorgeous and regal.
The late Shepard, who suffered from a heart attack on March 16, not only co-hosted the cultural institution from 1987 to 2002, but also appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including A Different World, Baywatch, Grey’s Anatomy, and A Rage in Harlem.
A native of Tyler, Texas (I actually lived there for a minute), Shepard went to Howard University, where she was a charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company. She went on to perform at New York’s Delacourt Summer Shakesperian Festival, and also graced the Broadway stage in many productions, including Porgy and Bess.
The Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night was an incubator of some of the most influential musical acts in history. Notable performers included Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Gladys Knight, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Luther Vandross, The Jackson 5, and more.
Along with the roster of hosts and the iconic Howard “Sandman” Sims, Shepard was an integral part of a formative Black institution that helped build American culture.
