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Cotton Candy and Revolutionary Rides: The Moth Radio Hour
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From 125th Street to the Apollo — James Brown Names Her 'Lil Mama'
At 31:53 · chapter starts 27:50
Walking down 125th Street near the Apollo, Audrey heard James Brown blasting from the Record Shack — and her body took over. A crowd gathered. A man stepped out and handed her a paper with a time, a date, and a stage. She showed up, paid admission like any audience member, and watched the Coasters perform, their lead singer Speedo working the crowd with a microphone and a 'Whoa!' — to which she replied 'Wow!' so powerfully he grabbed her hand and pulled her onstage. [1] — Audrey Pleasant "Walking down 125th Street near the Apollo, Audrey Pleasant heard James Brown blast from the Record Shack and couldn't help herself. A crowd…" 27:50 She demonstrated her posterior in rhythmic motion; Speedo took off his shirt and reached for his pants; she screamed and ran. The manager tracked her down with a flashlight and offered her a paid week of performances. She was 13 and said yes. When James Brown himself later appeared, he watched her execute a figure-8 slide and said: 'Wow, Lil Mama.' The stage name stuck. From there, Audrey moved through Harlem's legendary venues — the Carver Ballroom, the Renaissance Ballroom, the Audubon Ballroom, Small's Paradise — having left the side-shuffle behind forever.
Walking down 125th Street near the Apollo, Audrey Pleasant heard James Brown blast from the Record Shack and couldn't help herself. A crowd gathered. A man stepped forward and handed her a piece of paper with a time and a stage. At 13, she performed with the Coasters — and then James Brown himself walked out and called her 'Lil Mama.'
Audrey Pleasant was just 13 years old when she was pulled onstage at the Apollo Theater to perform alongside the Coasters, launching a career that took her to Harlem's legendary venues.
