A great day with writer Arlene Corsano. She is one of the reasons that I started this trip. Or actually songwriter Rose Marie McCoy is. Corsano wrote a book about her and when I ordered it in 2015, she said: ‘If you ever come over to New York, I’ll show you around.’ And so I did and she took me to Harlem.

She showed me the big and impressive Cathedral of St. John the Divine, had soul food at the famous Sylvia’s, went to the annual Harlem Parade. But the best of it all is that I finally saw the Apollo Theatre up close. A lot of songs that I sing with my band Swing & Tell are from ladies that were discovered there at the famous Amateur Nights. It was the YouTube of that time. So to finally see it and go inside, was great.

There’s is going to be an audition for the Amateur Night competition on the 23d and I might join in. The woman at the information desk inside the theatre told me that I have to be there around 02.00 o’ clock in the morning to make a chance to audition. Hell yes that’s early, but wouldn’t it be great if I could walk in the footsteps of my idols?

It’s also my first vlog in English. Let me know what you think of it.