When Tupac referenced Billie Holiday on Hold On Be Strong it seemed the two musicians would not likely be mentioned in the same breath again. But Holiday, like the California rapper, is due to be posthumously immortalised as a hologram, and viewed in New York’s iconic Apollo theatre this autumn.
“For the first time ever and only in New York City at the Apollo, the magic of holographic technology will transport you to the concert of your dreams as Lady Day takes the stage again,” read a brief statement posted on the theatre’s website on Wednesday. Holiday’s virtual likeness is to be developed by Hologram USA – the same company responsible for the Tupac hologram that debuted at Coachella festival in 2012.
Though a firm date hasn’t been set for the launch of the hologram, it is due to be available for viewing during the Apollo’s daytime tours. “Billie is going to be able to talk about the history of the Apollo,” said theatre president Jonelle Procope, speaking to the New York Times arts blog. “She can take questions from the audience in an interesting way. She can sing some songs.”
The Apollo will be the first US theatre to provide continuing hologram programming with this incarnation of Holiday’s likeness. The singer made her debut, aged 19, at the theatre and appeared at the venue nearly 30 times over the span of her career.
Holiday was inducted into the Apollo’s Walk of Fame in April, 56 years after she died in New York in 1959.
