Saxophonist Emmanuel Garilus’ name can now be mentioned in the same breath as legendary entertainers Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.
Like those musical icons, Garilus, a Haitian native and Gainesville resident, emerged victorious during Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem, New York. Garilus played Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” on June 25 to win the final round of the 90th season of the nation’s longest-running talent show, which left him feeling both blessed and overwhelmed.
Garilus, according to Apollo aficionados, is believed to be the first contestant to take first place in each of the four rounds of competition. His win is also thought to be the first time the grand prize has gone to an instrumental musician.
He was invited to compete at the Apollo after taking part in the One Nation One Project (ONOP) GNV Talent Search program.
“I played my heart out, and that’s where I met Marion Caffey and Ms. Cynthia Curry (Gainesville’s city manager). They loved it. Thankfully, I was chosen as one of the winners, and that opened the door for me to the Apollo. It was a moment I’ll never forget,” the 26-year-old Garilus said.
Caffey, a Gainesville native and producer of the competition at the Apollo, was convinced that the best way to conclude the city’s two-year ONOP project, which was focused on using culture and the arts to reduce youth gun violence, was by celebrating young performers.
“He really has something special,” Caffey said of Garilus. “He has an unquantifiable connection to that saxophone and the audience. They love him. He doesn’t overplay. He’s modest. He’s humble. But when he’s onstage it’s really extraordinary.”
Garilus, who is getting married later this month, took home a top prize of $20,000, along with his and hers special edition Bulova watches designed by the company as a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald in honor of her history at the Apollo. He also was awarded a weeklong professional development experience in Los Angeles working with producers at the Coke Studio at L.A. Live, according to a city of Gainesville press release.
Originally from Port Au Prince, Haiti, Garilus began playing the saxophone at age 13.
“I was sitting in church one day and a man with a blue suit got on stage and played his heart out,” Garilus said. “That moment inspired me to join the band.”
A 2021 graduate of the University of Florida’s Arts in Medicine program, Garilus was a featured performer on the city of Gainesville float in the 2024 “A Very GNV Holiday Parade” and he has been appointed as a consultant to the city’s cultural affairs board. His performances have over 1 million views on YouTube and more than 100,000 monthly listeners, a reach that will only expand as he continues to inspire audiences around the world, according to the press release.
“The second half of the year is already shaping up to be amazing. I’ve got a lineup of luxury weddings, corporate events, Christian concerts, conferences and a few governmental affairs. I’m excited to keep growing and sharing my work with people,” Garilus said.
This story and others like it are included in the Gainesville Guardian newsletter. This free newsletter arrives by email at 5 a.m. every Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter today at https://profile.gainesville.com/newsletters/manage/. If you have any questions, please email Guardian Editor Cleveland Tinker at ctinker@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Haitian native, Gainesville resident wins iconic Amateur Night at the Apollo competition
Reporting by Cleveland Tinker, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
