Apollo Theatre Owner Sutton Dies

Percy Sutton, the pioneering civil rights attorney who purchased New York City’s famed Apollo Theatre for $250,000 in 1981, died Dec. 26 at age 89.

The landmark Harlem venue recently celebrated its 70th year thanks to Sutton, who likely saved it from the wrecking ball and oversaw its subsequent restoration.

Outside of the live entertainment industry, however, he’s likely better known as a powerful civil rights attorney and political figure, representing Malcolm X for a decade and running for mayor of New York City in 1977.

Sutton also founded Inner City Broadcasting and purchased WLIB-FM, NYC’s first black-owned radio station. ICB eventually picked up WBLSD-FM, which ruled the city’s radio ratings for years. He eventually acquired radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit and San Antonio.