Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, Andre De Shields!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ He-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ey ♪ ♪ He-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ey ♪ ♪ He-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ey ♪ Everybody ♪ Everybody, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ You wanna have some fun?

♪ ♪ Pa-a-a-a-rty ♪ ♪ You only live once ♪ ♪ Well?

♪ ♪ And when you're de-e-e-e-e-e-e-ad ♪ ♪ You are done ♪ Ain't that right?

♪ So let me roll ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Let it roll ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Let's go dancing ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Don't sit there mumbling, talking trash ♪ ♪ If you want to have a ball ♪ ♪ You got to spend some cash ♪ ♪ And roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ You better roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ It makes no difference if you're young or old ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, tweet, lil' tweet ♪ ♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, dooda ♪ ♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, tweet, lil' tweet ♪ ♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, dooda ♪ ♪ Hey, Mr. Landlord, knock down the door ♪ ♪ When the police come 'round ♪ ♪ Tell them the joint is closed!

♪ ♪ We gonna roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ We gonna roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ It makes no difference if you're young or old ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Hey, everybody, Uncle Andy's in town ♪ ♪ He's got a dollar and a quarter ♪ ♪ And he's ready to clown ♪ ♪ Don't let nobody pay me cheap ♪ ♪ I got 50 cents more than I's gonna keep ♪ ♪ I wanna roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Oh, roll, roll ♪ ♪ It makes no difference if you're young or old ♪ ♪ Let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Oh, ah, oh, oh ♪ ♪ I need your loving every day ♪ Scream!

♪ I need your loving every day ♪ ♪ I need your loving every day ♪ ♪ I need your loving every day ♪ ♪ I need your loving every day ♪ ♪ I need your loving every day ♪ ♪ 'Cause everybody needs a love ♪ ♪ Sometimes ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪ On a roll ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Whoa, ohh, ohh ♪ ♪ Let the good, let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Makes no difference ♪ ♪ If you're young or o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ld ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughter ] I'm an old Black man.

♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, tweet, lil' tweet ♪ ♪ Tweet, lil' tweet, dooda ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] These are my RhinestoneRockStar BoogieWoogieDollBabies.

All you got to do is pull a string.

Ho!

♪ Wind me up ♪ Ho!

Huh!

♪ Beep, beep, ah, toot, toot ♪ Huh!

♪ Beep, beep, ah, toot, toot ♪ Huh!

♪ Beep, beep, ah, toot, toot ♪ ♪ Comin' at ya ♪ ♪ Good evening, ladies and gentlemen ♪ ♪ Good evening, tables and chairs ♪ ♪ We're gonna rock tonight, we gonna roll tonight ♪ ♪ We're gonna boogie till we just don't care ♪ ♪ We're gonna ooh-shaka-laka-laka, ooh-shaka-ooh ♪ ♪ We're gonna bop-bop-bop- a-loo-bop, sha-bop-bam-boo ♪ ♪ We're gonna... ♪ ♪ Doo lang, doo lang, doo lang ♪ ♪ We're gonna... ♪ ♪ Doo lang, doo lang, doo lang ♪ ♪ One more time ♪ ♪ Doo lang, doo lang, doo lang ♪ ♪ Oww ♪ ♪ Doo lang, doo lang, doo lang ♪ ♪ Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo ♪ ♪ Doo doo doo doo, doo doo ♪ ♪ Doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Mm-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪ ♪ Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ War, huh ♪ ♪ Good God, y'all ♪ ♪ What is it good for?

♪ ♪ Absolutely nothing ♪ ♪ Say it again ♪ ♪ War, huh ♪ ♪ Good God, y'all ♪ ♪ What is it good for?

♪ ♪ Absolutely ♪ ♪ Nothing ♪ ♪ Say it again ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba, rang a dang dang, ding a dong ding ♪ ♪ Blue moon ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba, ba ding a dong ding ♪ ♪ Blue moon ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba, ba ding a dong ding ♪ ♪ Blue moon ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba ba, ba ding a dong ding ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding dong ♪ ♪ Rama lam ding ding dong ♪ ♪ A-ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ A-ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ A-ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ Ba ba ba, ba Barbara Ann ♪ ♪ Met him on a Monday and my heart stood still ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Da doo ron-ron-ron, da doo ron-ron ♪ ♪ Boogie boogie boogie ♪ ♪ Oh, Mary Mack, Mack, Mack ♪ ♪ All dressed in black, black, black ♪ ♪ With silver buttons, buttons, buttons ♪ ♪ All down her back, back, back ♪ ♪ She asked her mother, mother, mother ♪ ♪ For a dollar, 50 cents, cents, cents ♪ ♪ To see the elephant, elephant, elephants ♪ ♪ Jump over the fence, fence, fence ♪ ♪ They jumped so high, high, high ♪ ♪ They touched the sky, sky, sky ♪ ♪ And didn't come back, back, back ♪ ♪ Till the fourth of July, July, July ♪ ♪ Mashed potatoes, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Mashed potatoes, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Push the boogie, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Push the boogie, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Push the boogie, push the boogie, push the boogie ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Pat it over, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Pat it over, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Pat it over, pat it over, pat it over ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Do the jerk, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Do the jerk, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Do the jerk, do the jerk, do the jerk ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Kill that roach, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Kill that roach, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Kill that roach, kill that roach, kill that roach ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Smack your heinie, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Smack your heinie, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Smack your heinie, smack your heinie, smack your heinie ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ That's enough, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ That's enough, baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ That's enough, that's enough, that's enough ♪ ♪ Baby, one, two, three ♪ ♪ Mashed potato, push the boogie, marry an older ♪ ♪ Do the jerk, kill that roach, shake your heinie ♪ ♪ That's enough, baby, one, two, three ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Good evening!

My sweet, lovely brethren.

Cardinal rule number one.

surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you coming.

A'ight?!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

This evening, the treatment will be read from the Book of Jelly.

The story I'm about to share with you is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, in an ancient kingdom called Baltimore, Maryland... [ Laughter and cheers ] Baltimore in the house?

...there lived a young man with his 10 siblings and 2 parents.

This young man was reared on his parents' deferred dreams.

His parents taught him about their deferred dreams.

His parents clothed him in their deferred dreams.

His parents fed him on their deferred dreams.

This young boy gorged himself on his parents' deferred dreams so much that his abdomen grew and so it started to jiggle.

So his parents nicknamed him Jelly Belly.

Now, why Jelly?

Why Jelly?

Why Jelly?

'Cause jam don't shake like that!

[ Laughter ] Hallelu.

[ Laughs ] Now, here's the map for this evening.

When you hear me use the [indistinct] Jelly, I'm talking about me.

And when you hear me use the singular, personal, nominative pronoun I, we talking about Jelly.

[ Laughter ] A'ight?

[ Laughs ] Gimme a beat.

♪♪ ♪ What happens to a dream deferred?

♪ ♪ Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

♪ ♪ Or fester like a sore and then run?

♪ ♪ Does it stink like rotten meat?

♪ ♪ Or crust and sugar over ♪ ♪ Like a syrupy sweet?

♪ ♪ Maybe it just sags like a heavy load ♪ ♪ Or does it explode, explode, explode, explode?

♪ ♪ Or does it explode, explode, explode, explode?

♪ [ Cymbals crash ] ♪ Or does it explode, explode, explode, explode?

♪ ♪ Does it explo-o-o-o-o-o-de?

♪ Jelly's dream was not deferred like his parents'.

'Cause what he wanted to do was get out of Baltimore.

'Cause he knew that if he didn't get out of Baltimore, he was gonna die in Baltimore.

Whenever my mind is pregnant with thoughts of my mother, time stands still.

She may be physically gone from the Earth plane, but her spirit remains anointing me and my life.

She was my first and my best friend.

You know how to recognize your best friend?

When you become her and he becomes you.

That you can take to the bank and collect dividends.

So when we talk about a dream deferred, sometimes that dream lives in someone else.

Deep down in my black feminist core, I have become my mother.

It's true.

Look at me.

This is my mother's hair.

These are my mother's feet.

Here is my mother's hand.

And these are her arthritic knees.

Here beats the heart of my mother and here... lives my mother's style.

But if you really, really, really want to see my mother, just look at Jelly's smile.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] Gimme a beat.

[ Bass playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I had a mother who could dance ♪ ♪ A father who could sing ♪ ♪ And sisters who could shock you ♪ ♪ When they stood and shook their thing ♪ ♪ Brothers who could really show you how to strut your stuff ♪ ♪ But all I did was tut, tut, tut ♪ ♪ 'Cause I could smile ♪ ♪ And blow them all away ♪ ♪ I'd make my mother's day ♪ ♪ When I would turn around ♪ ♪ And just smile ♪ ♪ I had a dog that would not bite ♪ ♪ A cat that could not purr ♪ ♪ Until I realized that she was him and he was her ♪ ♪ It wasn't very complicated, difficult, or strange ♪ ♪ So all I did was change their names ♪ ♪ And for a while ♪ ♪ My dog was Lady Dane ♪ ♪ And my cat was Johnny Ray ♪ ♪ And together, they would jam ♪ ♪ And I just smiled ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The moral of this story ♪ ♪ It's so easy to digest ♪ ♪ Your worse nightmares are just extroverted ♪ ♪ Dreams ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ So when there's something you just got ♪ ♪ To get off of your chest ♪ ♪ Remember things are not always what they seem ♪ ♪ Once ♪ ♪ Once ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ Had ♪ ♪ Had ♪ ♪ A ♪ ♪ A ♪ ♪ Pain inside my heart ♪ ♪ A blister on my soul ♪ ♪ A problem that confused me and refused to let me go ♪ ♪ But then I took a page from Mr. Walter Whitman's book ♪ ♪ Amazingly that's all it took ♪ ♪ And all the while ♪ ♪ Like Alice through the looking glass ♪ ♪ When the world knocks me on my ass ♪ ♪ I pick myself up ♪ ♪ I dust myself off ♪ ♪ I turn myself around ♪ ♪ And just smile ♪ ♪ Because it blows my natural mind ♪ ♪ To leave it all behind ♪ ♪ And live a life of bliss ♪ ♪ A kiss, a kiss, a kiss ♪ ♪ And all I have to do ♪ ♪ Is just smile ♪ ♪ I smile ♪ ♪ Just ♪ ♪ Turn yourself around ♪ ♪ Then stand on holy ground ♪ ♪ Then look into the eyes of the world ♪ ♪ And smi-i-i-i-i-le ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Now... that takes care of mother for a moment.

For a moment.

Now, let's talk about dad.

Let's talk about father.

Jelly may have been reared on deferred dreams.

But the seed of the seed of each dream was to leave that place of invisible but insurmountable walls called Baltimore... ...and get to some higher ground.

But he had already learned that there was not direct route from the hood to higher ground.

Because first you had to settle some scores.

First you had to pay some dues.

First there were rites of passage.

First you have to pay your debts of karma.

Not the least of which was to his father.

Let me say something about Negro fathers.

My father was born at the turn of the 20th century.

Negro men at the turn of the 20th century had a mighty battle to fight.

And it was all uphill on the rough side of the mountain.

They were dreamers.

It is not true that our Negro fathers did not love us.

It is simply that they loved their dreams more, and that was cool by Jelly.

So by the time Jelly did leave Baltimore, he had managed to do two extremely difficult tasks.

He forgave his father for not sticking around.

By the time Jelly turned 17, Daddy was gone.

Not run away but gone.

And Jelly forgave himself for ever having thought that his father did not cherish him.

Jelly's father cherished him so much that he bequeathed to him his only begotten voice with which to sing, with which to speak, with which to silence his trouble and mine.

So when you see me dance, make a little move, drop it like it's hot, I'm using my mother's feet.

But when you hear me sing, I'm using my father's voice.

This is a song for the Negro father.

Gimme a beat!

[ Upbeat music playing ] No!

This ain't no beat-down daddy rap, au con fucking traire.

[ Laughter ] I've grown to understand my father.

I've grown to love the hair he put on my head that my lovers stroke when we stoke and choke and toke on the weed of life that threw him so many curves he never had a chance to live it straight up.

Don't talk to me about sacrifice.

And that's what parents are supposed to do.

There's enough to go around for everybody to win and nobody to have to lose their dreams over some everyday thing, like life and death.

Why should our fathers be bereft of their dignity after trying so hard and checking out so young?

I've got a shitload of grace in my head, enough to embrace my father as a hero for giving up on his dream and raising me instead.

No, no, no, no.

It wasn't always that way.

My father did live in the bottle when he wasn't living at home.

It was his medication against the world that didn't so much do him wrong, as ignored his song of survival that he sang for a brief...49 years.

At 50, he was gone out of here.

11 children he reared.

That alone should have qualified him, solidified him as uber candidate for the red badge of courage.

But we, black as beautiful baby boomers, are lickety-split quick to defy our Negro fathers and lose their love, to judge our Negro fathers as shiftless, no-good, lazy philanderers who cheated on Mama and have shafafa off the side.

You know what I'm talking about?

♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ My papa was a rolling stone ♪ ♪ Well, well, well ♪ ♪ Wherever he laid his hat was his home ♪ ♪ And when he died ♪ ♪ All he left us was alo-o-o-o-o-o-ne ♪ Right?

Wrong!

That's a song about the tall, tan, talented, totally tied together, tic tac toe tapping, titillating, tantalizing, tempting Temptations.

That's money in Berry Gordy's bank.

But that's not the thanks we owe our Negro fathers.

I should know.

I slept next to my daddy in the same green metal bed that my mother, Mary Elizabeth, dropped nine crumb snatchers on their heads.

And here's a ridicule more intricate than the one Pericles had.

The niece who first called me uncle called my eldest sister Mom and my eldest brother Dad.

Now, while you signify by that, I'm gonna continue making my Negro daddy fat.

Because I remember the day through an alcoholic haze, he gazed at me, confusion on his brow.

I stood and allowed him to scratch his mind... until he could find among his Seagram's 7 thoughts what he wanted to say.

Finally with ironic insight, he spoke to me... man to man... and with shameless mortification nicknamed me... Mr.

Fancy Dan.

And that's what he called me till the day he died.

Cerebral hemorrhage, cirrhotic liver, a lifetime of living a lie.

My song is a cautionary tale for all you Fancy Dans in the house tonight.

♪♪ When your daddy... at the tender age of whatever year your father looks at you and says... "I know that I am your father.

I know that's true, by far."

"But for the life of me, for the life in me..." "...I do not know who you are"... ...do not despair.

Do not rebel.

Know at that moment he speaks into existence your right of insistence to be or not to be.

This is the last of his extraordinary feats.

He's done all that he can.

He's walked on water, even changed it into wine.

The rest is up to you... ...Mr.

Fancy Dan.

Gimme a beat.

[ Soft music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Back when I was a child ♪ ♪ Before life removed all my innocence ♪ ♪ My father who would lift me high ♪ ♪ And dance with my mother and me ♪ ♪ And then ♪ ♪ Spin me around till I fell asleep ♪ ♪ Then up the stairs he would carry me ♪ ♪ And I knew for sure I was in love ♪ ♪ If I could get another chance ♪ ♪ Another walk ♪ ♪ Another dance with him ♪ ♪ I'd play a song that would never end ♪ ♪ How I'd love, love, love ♪ ♪ To dance with my father again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When I and my mother would disagree ♪ ♪ To get my way, I would run from her to him ♪ ♪ He'd make me laugh, ha, just to comfort me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Then finally make me do just what my mama said ♪ ♪ Late in the night, when I was ashamed ♪ ♪ He left a dollar under my sheet ♪ ♪ Never dreamed that he ♪ ♪ Would be gone from me ♪ ♪ If I could steal one final glance ♪ ♪ One final step ♪ ♪ One final dance with him ♪ ♪ I'd play a song that would never end ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'd love, love, love ♪ ♪ To dance with my father again ♪ ♪ Sometimes I listen outside her door ♪ ♪ And I'd hear how Mama would cry for him ♪ ♪ I prayed for her even more than me ♪ ♪ I prayed for her even more than me ♪ ♪ I know he's praying for much too much ♪ ♪ But could you send him a man he could love ♪ ♪ I know you don't do it unusually ♪ ♪ But, dear Lord, he's dying ♪ ♪ To dance with his father again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Every night I fall asleep ♪ ♪ This is all I ever ♪ ♪ Dre-e-e-e-e-am ♪ [ Applause ] By now, Jelly was hip to the second cardinal rule.

Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.

And there's nothing so quite satisfyingly slow as a low-down, blues-in-the-basement... ...gut-bucket blues.

Gimme a beat.

[ Blues music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Can I sing?

No!

♪♪ Come on, Curtis.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Sing!

Come on!

♪ You got me runnin' ♪ ♪ You got me hidin' ♪ ♪ You've got me run, hide, hide, run ♪ ♪ Anyway you wanna let it roll ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ You've got me doin' what you want me ♪ ♪ Baby, what you wanna do ♪ ♪ I'm goin' up ♪ ♪ I'm comin' down ♪ ♪ I'm goin' up, down, down, up ♪ ♪ Anyway, ya wanna let it roll ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yow ♪ ♪ Yow, yow, yow, yow ♪ ♪ You've got me doin' what you want me ♪ ♪ Baby, what you want me to do ♪ Can I get a little help?

♪ I'm goin' in ♪ ♪ Goin' in ♪ ♪ I'm comin' at ya ♪ ♪ Comin' at ya ♪ ♪ I'm goin' in, out, out, in ♪ ♪ Anyway, ya wanna let it roll ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yow ♪ ♪ You've got me doin' what you want me ♪ ♪ Baby, what you want me to do ♪ You better blow!

Come on!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'll be black ♪ ♪ Now I'll be black ♪ ♪ And I'll be whiter ♪ ♪ And I'll be whiter ♪ ♪ I'll be black, white, white, black, ♪ ♪ Any way you wanna let it roll ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ You got me doing what you want to ♪ ♪ Baby, what you want me to do?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'll be good ♪ ♪ Good ♪ ♪ And I'll be bad ♪ ♪ Bad ♪ ♪ Now I'll be good, bad, bad, good ♪ ♪ Any way you wanna let it ♪ ♪ Ro-o-o-o-oll ♪ ♪ You got me doing what you want ♪ ♪ B-B-Baby, what you want me to do?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now, I'll be hot ♪ ♪ Hot ♪ ♪ And I'll be freezin' ♪ ♪ Freezin' ♪ ♪ I'll be hot, freezin', freezin', hot ♪ ♪ Any way you wanna let it ♪ ♪ Roll ♪ Come on now.

♪ Whoa, Lord ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ You got me doing what you want ♪ ♪ No-o-o-o-o-o-ow ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Baby ♪ Freida: ♪ Baby ♪ [ Laughter ] ♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby ♪ [ Scat singing ] ♪ Baby ♪ [ Laughter ] ♪ Baby, baby, baby, baby ♪ [ Scat singing ] ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Baby, buh-buh-buh-buh ♪ ♪ Baby, buh-buh-buh-buh ♪ ♪ Baby, buh-buh, baby, buh-buh ♪ [ Trilling ] [ Exhales sharply ] [ Laughter ] Man: Go, girl!

[ Cheers and applause ] My lips aren't working like that at the moment, but I'll give it a whirl.

[ Laughter ] Wait a minute.

You look like a man with money.

You got a $20 bill?

[ Laughter ] Come on, I'll give it back.

[ Laughter ] You're a musician, so you ain't got a $20 bill?

Okay.

[ Laughter ] I forgot what it was.

Move on to the next one.

I'll catch up with you.

I'll move on to the next one.

I'll meet you there.

Alright.

I'm going to take it all higher now.

♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Baby ♪ ♪ Baby, baby ♪ [ Trilling ] ♪ Baby, ahh ♪ [ Muted vocalizing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Babe ♪ [ Laughter ] [ Cheers and applause ] Woman: Go ahead, girl.

André.

Yes, Freida?

You know what?

What?

♪ You know you make me want to ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ ♪ Throw my hands up and ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ ♪ Kick my shoes off and ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ ♪ Come on now ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ ♪ Come on now ♪ ♪ Shout ♪ ♪ Now wait a minute, ah ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Do ♪ ♪ Do ♪ ♪ You ♪ ♪ You ♪ ♪ Want ♪ ♪ Want ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ Me ♪ ♪ To-o-o-o-o ♪ [ Inhales sharply ] ♪ Do-o-o-o-o-o-?

♪ ♪ Ye-e-e-e-eah ♪ Whoo!

Whoo!

Whoo!

♪♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, ye-e-e-e-eah ♪ Yeah!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughter ] Woman: We love you, André.

I love you black.

[ Applause ] But y'all didn't hooked me up right.

This is not how we planned it in the rehearsal.

I'll correct it.

[ Laughter ] Well... Jelly finally made it out of [indistinct].

Chicago was the next big stop.

♪ Popped on in the summertime ♪ You ever wonder what happens when Jelly gets hot?

♪♪ Give me a beat.

[ Laughter ] [ Bass beat playing ] ♪♪ ♪ A-oom ♪ ♪ A-oom ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ Karma's a boomerang.

What goes up must come down.

One day a prince.

Next day, a pauper.

Feast or famine in this town.

The pendulum swings to and fro.

Fame and fortune do not last.

There's one thing you can depend on for sure -- this, too, shall pass.

♪ Why don't you give me some of your love ♪ ♪ And I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ By 1979, the sexual revolution had finally prevailed.

But the motion of the ocean was no match for the winds in my sail.

But I was supremely confident, exquisitely fit, and every day I was getting laid.

But [indistinct] they hit the nail on the head when he wrote "attention must be paid."

♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ ♪ Come on and ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of mine ♪ ♪ Give me some of your love and I'll give you some of ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ba-dah ♪ ♪ Ba-dah ♪ ♪ Ba-dah ♪ ♪ Ba-dah ♪ ♪ Ba-dah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ They say ignorance is bliss.

They say that silence is golden.

They say that the best things in life are free.

Well, I say Arthur ashes to ashes and magic dust to dust.

There are no "they" in this battle.

There's only "we" and "us."

Ignorance.

In the beginning, we should have known... ♪ Time ♪ ...or at least have guessed when our warriors started falling... ♪ Time ♪ ...not in the heat of battle but from the heat of their own brains... ♪ Time ♪ ...frying at the un-human temperature of 105 degrees.

♪ Time ♪ We should have known, but we didn't.

What the fuck?

They were strangers.

Distant others unknown and unnamed.

We should have known.

But how could we have?

We should have guessed.

But why would we have?

Silence.

Julio was the first to go.

Julio was Nuyorican, un hermano caliente.

Julio was so sharp he was bleeding, so hot you could tan in the rays of his smile.

One day, Julio caught a bug that he couldn't shake, rattle, or roll.

Next thing we knew, Julio was chilled -- shot... in the head by a cold.

There was nothing to be said.

There was nothing to be done.

No obits were ever written.

You see, Julio was number one.

♪♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ But I won't be for long ♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ But I won't be for long ♪ ♪ I'm going to sing my song ♪ ♪ And then I'll be gone ♪ ♪♪ Jesse had been a magnificent actor -- the kind of craftsman you could really learn something from.

But Jesse's dream festered, rotted and exploded, just like Langston's raisin in the sun.

I mean, everybody cared, but no one was really scared when Jesse caught the flu.

Jesse checked out on stage and with no sense of rage we quietly counted Jesse number two.

♪♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ Can't you see how I sweat?

♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ Don't you see how I sweat?

♪ ♪ Feel my fuses, stop the burn ♪ ♪ Each step closer, I get ♪ ♪♪ Ron danced.

He danced in mysterious rhythms.

He moved on light, on shadow.

He danced to the beat of his own heart, his body singing songs we all could hear.

Until... his legs... his beautiful legs, his glorious legs shriveled into fragile reeds... unable to support even his shrunken torso.

And when Ron partnered with the Grim Reaper in a sweat-soaked, fever-pitch, blind pas-de-deux, it was called "the Gay Plague" in 10-foot-high New York Post headline letters big enough for even Republicans to see.

[ Laughter ] And in whispers that were not quite whispers... Ron was counted... ...number three.

♪♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ Let me make love to you ♪ ♪ Keep on walking ♪ ♪ And when I get through ♪ ♪ You'll be a time bomb too ♪ ♪ Keep on walking ♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ And you know it's a fact ♪ ♪ Keep on walking ♪ ♪ I'm a walking time bomb ♪ ♪ And you know it's a fact ♪ ♪ Keep on walking ♪ ♪ Everything I do is a political act ♪ ♪ Keep on walking ♪ ♪ The way I walk down the street is a political act ♪ ♪ How I wear my clothes is a political act ♪ ♪ Where I buy my food is a political act ♪ ♪ Where I spend my cash is a political act ♪ ♪ How I sing to you is a political act ♪ ♪ How I kiss your lips is a political act ♪ ♪ How I make my love is a political ♪ ♪ How I live my li-i-i-i-ife ♪ ♪ Is a political a-a-a-a-act ♪ Free!

In the beginning there was the word, and the word was, what, Armageddon?

♪ Time, time ♪ Is it too late for us to repent of our sins ♪ Time ♪ ...and find refuge in the house of those who are protected... ...from drought, famine, pestilence and plague?

Then the Lord sent down an angel from on high, a screaming violet Cockette angel of light bearing tabloids upon which had been written by the finger of God.

And the angel's name was... Sylvester!

♪♪ ♪ You make me feel ♪ ♪ Mighty real ♪ In the beginning, there was the word and the word was grid.

G-R-I-D. Gay-Related Immunodeficiency.

And the Beast would be known by the mark upon his brow.

Gridlocks.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ The world is dying.

In Mother Africa, AIDS accomplishes what slavery could have never achieved, and all the many and diverse nations weaned at her breast share the blood of an immunodeficient civilization.

The nations of... Alan, Barry, Chico... ♪ Time ♪ ...Donald Ray, Ed, Frank... ♪ Time ♪ ...Gary, Hector, Irving... ♪ Time ♪ ...Jean-Claude, Kwan, Lenny... ♪ Time ♪ ...Michael, Nkosie, Ozzie... ♪ Time ♪ ...Paul, Quentin, Richard... ♪ Time ♪ ...Stanley, Timothy, Ulysses... ♪ Time ♪ ...Victor, Willie, Xavier... ♪ Time ♪ ...Youngblood, Zane, Regina.

Regina?!

Yeah.

Regina.

Yeah, I know.

Regina was not male.

Regina was a woman.

No, I mean it.

Regina was a woman-born woman, a biologically authentic uterus-bearing female.

Regina was a sister.

Regina was a mother.

Regina was angry.

Angry at that big-nosed, big-lipped, big-footed, big-dick, big Black man she loved while living and hated while dying.

Regina cursed him.

With her last dying breath, she curse him.

"You low-down, lying motherfucker.

Why didn't you tell me?

You stupid, dumbass son of a bitch.

Why didn't you tell me?"

Why didn't he tell you what, Regina?

"That he was gay."

But he wasn't.

"Then how did he get it?"

♪♪ Oh.

He got it the same way we all get it.

♪♪ Ignorance.

♪♪ Silence.

♪♪ And it's free.

♪♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh, ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Here we are together ♪ ♪ Yet so far apart ♪ ♪ Bound like books of leather ♪ ♪ To the stories of our hearts ♪ ♪ Maybe you are asking ♪ ♪ What could bring me here ♪ ♪ Let me lower my mask ♪ ♪ And you will see me ♪ ♪ So clear ♪ ♪ I'm a man ♪ ♪ Who's standing in the need of love ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ I'm a man ♪ ♪ Whose handing out my heart ♪ ♪ To someone ♪ ♪ To someone who can make me feel ♪ ♪ That love is alive and love is real ♪ ♪ To someone who can understand ♪ ♪ I'm just a ma-a-a-a-an ♪ ♪ Standing in the need ♪ ♪ Standing in the need ♪ ♪ Of lo-o-o-o-ove ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh, ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ You might see me walking ♪ ♪ Up and down these streets ♪ ♪ You might see me talking ♪ ♪ To some stranger ♪ ♪ That I meet ♪ ♪ Stranger ♪ ♪ You might say I'm crazy ♪ ♪ Crazy, crazy, crazy ♪ ♪ Playing life like a game ♪ ♪ But every time you see me ♪ ♪ Every time you see me ♪ ♪ You'll know me when you see me ♪ ♪ I say you'll know me when every time you see me ♪ ♪ Even if you don't know my name ♪ ♪ I'm a man ♪ ♪ Who's standing in the need of love ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ I'm a man ♪ ♪ Who's handing out my heart to someone ♪ ♪ To someone who can make me feel ♪ ♪ Love is alive and love is real ♪ ♪ To someone who can understand I'm just a man ♪ ♪ Standing in the need ♪ ♪ Standing in the need ♪ ♪ Of lo-o-o-o-o-ove ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can see me standing ♪ ♪ And drinking at the bar ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ You can see me leaning against the lamp post, against the car ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ You can see me anytime, any day, any night of the week ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ I'm the one standing all alone with the tears running down ♪ ♪ Running down ♪ ♪ Running down ♪ ♪ My cheeks ♪ ♪ He's just a man who ♪ ♪ I'm standing in the need of love ♪ ♪ In the need of love ♪ ♪ I'm a man ♪ ♪ Who's handing out my heart to someo-o-o-o-one ♪ ♪ To ♪ ♪ Someone who can make me feel ♪ ♪ Love is alive and love is real ♪ ♪ To someone who can understand I'm just a ma-a-a-a-an ♪ ♪ Standing in the ne-e-e-e-e-e-ed ♪ ♪ Of ♪ ♪ Lo-o-o-o-ove ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh ♪ ♪ Ba-duh, ba-duh ♪ ♪ I'm standing in the ne-e-e-e-e-ed ♪ ♪ Of ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Lo-o-o-o-o-ove ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Freida: [ Clears throat ] Mamas and papas!

Marléne: Cats and kitties!

All the way from Baltimore City... ...is the messenger of all messengers... ...the dictator of "dap" and "ooh-baba-dee"... ...looking as fly as he want to be.

Get yourself ready for that garrulous guru and [indistinct]... ...that passionate pasha of play... ...that powerful [indistinct] of perpetude, that perving, proselytizing [indistinct].

Mm-hmm.

Put your hands together for that bodacious baba of bling... ...that salacious sultan of steam... ...that capricious caliph of ka-ching... ...and [indistinct].

He's half man... ...half Cadillac.

The insatiable mechanical monster.

Get ready for the shaking of the sheep.

Here he is, the mostest of the mostest, and the highest of the high.

A friend of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost... Mm-hmm.

Both: The Reverend I.M.

Randy!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughs ] Greetings and salutations.

Yo!

Bibbity bop.

Yo!

Bibbity boo.

Ooh-poppa-gap 'n how do you do?

I got the naughty for the body.

I got the stones for your Jones.

I can get blood from a turnip and sugar from a bone.

I got what you wanna be doing all night long.

Welcome, brothers and sisters to the mother ship -- the Mount Everest African Methodist Episcopal Anglican Evangelical Baptist Unitarian Albigensian Dionysian Mpumba Bahá Judeo Hindu Christian Buddhist Catholic Zionist Zen Voodoo Protestant Santería Islamic Lutheran Luddite [indistinct] Zoroastrian Manichean Theosophist, the Shinto Seventh-Day Adventist Science of the Mind Pentecostal [indistinct] non-denominational allergic to segregational can't help but be sensational pluralist new age Coptic and copacetic Church of Excessive Negritude.

Hallelujah!

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Can the church say amen?

All: Amen!

Can the church say a-women?

A-women!

Can the church say nonbinary gender fluid?

Nonbinary gender fluid!

Can the church say LGBTQ-XYZ?

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ This is the church where every individual is guaranteed spiritual abundance and material prosperity... if you own it.

Some folks don't dig diversity, equity and inclusion like my church.

They say... some peoples... is better than other peoples.

Some peoples is more supreme than other peoples.

♪♪ They say... white is right.

♪♪ If you brown, you can stick around.

If you're yellow you could be mellow.

If you're red, you can still get ahead.

But if you're black... ♪♪ If you be black... ♪♪ ...you got to get out all the way back.

♪♪ That's what they say.

♪♪ Now... if it's true... what they say... then I'll be on my way.

[ Cheers and applause ] Give me a beat.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ If it's true what they say ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What's the purpose of a man?

♪ ♪ Just to turn his eyes away?

♪ ♪ Just to throw up both his hands?

♪ ♪ What's the use his backbone ♪ ♪ If he never stands upright?

♪ ♪ If he turns his back on everyone ♪ ♪ That he could have stood beside?

♪ ♪ If it's true what they say ♪ ♪ I'll be on my way ♪ ♪ But who are they to say what the truth is anyway?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ 'Cause the ones who tell the lies ♪ ♪ Ahh ♪ ♪ Are the solemnest to swear ♪ ♪ And the ones who load the dice ♪ ♪ Ooooh ♪ ♪ Always say the toss is fair ♪ ♪ And the ones who deal the cards ♪ ♪ Deal the cards ♪ ♪ Are the ones who take the tricks ♪ ♪ With their hands over their hearts ♪ ♪ While we play the games they fix ♪ ♪ And the one who speaks the words ♪ ♪ Speak the words ♪ ♪ Always say it is the last ♪ ♪ And no answer will be heard ♪ ♪ To the question no one asks ♪ ♪ So I'm askin' if it's true ♪ ♪ I'm askin' me and you ♪ ♪ And you ♪ ♪ And you, and you ♪ ♪ I'm asking ♪ ♪ More than anything, we stand ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I believe if there is still a will ♪ ♪ We're standing with him ♪ ♪ Then there is still a way ♪ ♪ I believe in us together ♪ ♪ We're standing near him ♪ ♪ More than anyone alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I believe that with each other ♪ ♪ We hear him ♪ ♪ We are stronger than we know ♪ ♪ I believe we're stronger than they know ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We're standing ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And it isn't for the few to tell the many what is true ♪ ♪ So I'm asking you ♪ ♪ If it's true what they say ♪ ♪ I'll be on my way ♪ ♪ We're standing ♪ ♪ Tell me what to do ♪ ♪ We're standing ♪ ♪ Is it true?

♪ ♪ Is it true what the-e-e-e-ey ♪ ♪♪ Now, there are some things we all know, but we don't take them out and look at them very often.

We all know that something is eternal.

And it ain't houses and it ain't names and it ain't Earth and it ain't even the stars.

Everybody knows in their bones that something is eternal.

And that something has to do with human beings.

All the greatest people who ever lived have been telling us that for 5,000 years.

And yet you'd be surprised how people are always losing hold of it.

♪♪ There's something way down deep... that's eternal... about every human being.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm gonna make a change ♪ ♪ For once in my life ♪ [ Applause ] ♪ It's gonna feel real good ♪ ♪ I'm gonna make a difference ♪ ♪ I'm gonna make it right ♪ ♪ As I turn up the collar on ♪ ♪ My favorite winter coat ♪ ♪ This wind is blowin' my mind ♪ ♪ I see the kids in the street ♪ ♪ With not enough to eat ♪ ♪ Who am I to be blind ♪ ♪ Pretending not to see their needs?

♪ ♪ A summer disregard ♪ ♪ A broken bottle top ♪ ♪ And a one man's soul ♪ ♪ They follow each other on the wind, ya know ♪ ♪ 'Cause they got nowhere to go ♪ ♪ That's why I want you to know ♪ ♪ I'm starting with the man in the mirror ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ I'm asking him to change his ways ♪ ♪ And no message could've been any clearer ♪ ♪ If you wanna make the world a better place ♪ ♪ Take a look at yourself and then make a cha-a-a-a-a-ange ♪ ♪ I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love ♪ ♪ It's time that I realize ♪ ♪ That there are some with no home ♪ ♪ Not a nickel to loan ♪ ♪ Could it be really me ♪ ♪ Pretending that they're not alone?

♪ ♪ A willow deeply scarred ♪ ♪ Somebody's broken heart ♪ ♪ And a washed-out dream ♪ ♪ Washed-out dream ♪ ♪ They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see ♪ ♪ 'Cause they got no place to be ♪ ♪ That's why I'm starting with me ♪ ♪ I'm starting with the man in the mirror ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ I'm asking him to change his ways ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ And no message could've been any clearer ♪ ♪ If you wanna make the world a better place ♪ ♪ Take a look at yourself and then make a change ♪ ♪ You gotta get it right while you got the time ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you grow your heart ♪ ♪ You're gonna grow your ♪ ♪ You gotta get it right while you got the time ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you grow your heart ♪ ♪ You're gonna grow your ♪ ♪ You gotta get it right while you got the time ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you grow your heart ♪ ♪ You're gonna grow your ♪ ♪ You can't blow your ♪ ♪ Your mi-i-i-i-ind ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh, hoo ♪ ♪ Man in the mirror ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh, hoo ♪ ♪♪ Liam: Andre?

We've got to bring these people on home.

We got to take them home?

♪♪ So where we gonna move to?

"L-O-V-E"?

I think you got to give them some of that.

Okay.

Got to give them some "L-O-V-E." Alright.

We're going to get there right now.

♪♪ I'm Black.

I'm a Black man.

I'm a Black man who has existed in this Earth plane, this three-dimensional Earth plane for 74 years.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ I don't need... no fake proclamation.

I don't need no [indistinct] emancipation.

What I need, like everybody else... ...is genuine, authentic, total love.

[ Cheers and applause ] L-O-V-E -- love.

♪♪ So... ♪♪ ...with no further ado...

I'm going to send... something... delicious... your way.

[ Laughter, cheering ] ♪♪ ♪ When I bounced out of Baltimore [indistinct] ♪ ♪ I had two things on my mind ♪ ♪ I wanted to meet some very fine people ♪ ♪ And have me a real good time ♪ ♪ Well, I met me some smiling faces ♪ ♪ They showed me what there was to see ♪ ♪ And when it came to my relations, they said... ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you love somebody ♪ ♪ You will be loved in return ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now the island of Manhattan ♪ ♪ Is the center of the world ♪ ♪ They got any vice or pleasure ♪ ♪ For every boy and a girl ♪ ♪ It has 31 flavors of romance ♪ ♪ I've tasted heaven, I tasted hell ♪ ♪ And I'm delighted to tell you the story ♪ ♪ How the heartbreak ended as well ♪ ♪ Love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ And when I loved somebody ♪ ♪ I have their chance to love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ Come on, baby.

♪ I wanna love ♪ ♪ I wanna love ♪ ♪ I wanna love ♪ ♪ I wanna love ♪ ♪ I wanna ♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ A-a-a-a-a-aww ♪ ♪ There's love that's filled with integrity ♪ ♪ And there's love that's filled with pride ♪ ♪ There is love that's dripping with jealousy ♪ ♪ But let's look on the brighter side ♪ ♪ There is love that gives you the power ♪ ♪ To stand up and carry on ♪ ♪ And there's love that's yours to manage ♪ ♪ From the very day you're born ♪ ♪ But the greatest love to discover ♪ ♪ Is that you're too blessed to be stressed ♪ ♪ The moral of the story is the universe always says yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes ♪ ♪ Yes, yes, yes, yes ♪ ♪ Ye-e-e-e-e-e-es ♪ ♪ If you love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You better love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you love somebody ♪ ♪ You will be loved in ♪ ♪ Retu-u-u-u-u-urn ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Bring it on down ♪ Okay.

It's time for us to bounce.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

But before we make like a banana and split...

...I got to do some housekeeping here.

Thank you to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

[ Cheers and applause ] The staff and crew at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Apple Room.

[ Cheers and applause ] Paloma Estevez, company Manager.

[ Cheers and applause ] Doug Chang, video producer.

Charles Cermele, producer -- the big boss.

♪♪ My uber orchestrator, Larry Spivack.

Are you close?

Where are you, Larry?

Okay.

Todd Sickafoose, my second orchestrator.

♪♪ Now, you probably figured out by now I'm the old dawg.

And these are my new tricks.

[ Cheers ] [ Laughs ] I'm going to start stage left over there.

Blowing on the reeds -- get out of the way so they can see him.

Give some love to to the patient man himself, Patience Higgins.

[ Cheers and applause ] Next to Patience is Mr. Old School himself.

Come on, now.

Let's give some love to Curtis Fowlkes on the trombone.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Strumming on the guitar here, let's give some love to my bed.

He was the everything I was doing tonight just giving me a cushion to work on.

Yeah?

Give some love to Mr. Michael Chorney.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ You've heard of the keeper of the flame, right?

[ Chuckles ] The keeper of the gate.

Well, this is the keeper of the beat.

Give some love to Mr. Dan Rieser.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Stage right here, Mr. Bass Man.

He's playing two of them, right?

Electric and acoustic.

Alright, please give some love to Mr. Brad Jones.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ The master of two keyboards, Mr. Cody Owen Stine.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ I want to introduce you individually to my RhinestoneRockStar BoogieWoogieDollBabies.

All you got to do is pull that string.

[ Chuckles ] Right.

This lovely lady here, we've been working together for a long time.

Long time.

Too long.

"Too long," she says.

But let's check this out.

This lady has the distinction -- Remember the original production of "Cats"?

This lady opened "Cats" and 18 years later closed "Cats."

[ Cheers and applause ] She's living like a queen now out in Western Pennsylvania.

Give some love to Ms. Marléne Danielle.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ To her right is my personal the Queen of the Nile.

Now Marléne and I worked together since '82.

This lady and I've been working together since '69.

Okay?

It's all about loyalty.

Fidelity.

Please get some love -- Please get some love to Ms. Freida Williams.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ And last -- Oh, no, not last.

Christina, where are you?

Christina?

Christina?

Christina?

Christina?!

Alright.

Here's Christina, who keeps us looking as lovely as we do.

Christina Cocchiara.

[ Cheers and applause ] You know about Moses who parted the Red Sea?

Well, this Moses manages this stage.

Coming out here, Moses.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Personal assistant to Mr. De Shields, and my love child, come on out here, love child.

James Mirrione.

[ Cheers and applause ] You see we're all in this sequins, right?

I think I did the work.

Last but not least... my MD.

My doctor of medicine and music.

Please give some love to my "white" hand... [ Laughter ] ...Mr. Liam Robinson.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Bring it on!

Bring it on!

Bring it on!

♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ And when you love somebody ♪ ♪ You will be loved in return ♪ Open the bay!

Open the bay!

Everybody shine!

♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ You got to love somebody ♪ ♪ L-O-V-E ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you love somebody ♪ ♪ You will be loved ♪ ♪ You will be loved ♪ ♪ You will be loved in return ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ [ Laughter ] [ Inhales sharply ] ♪ Ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-eah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, ye-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eah ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause continue ] [ Cheers and applause fades ] [ Lively, indistinct conversations ]