A tribute to Andre Harrell to air on REVOLT, BET, iONE digital platforms and FOX Soul on May 24
Join Mariah Carey, Babyface, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Naomi Campbell, and more who’ll be celebrating the legacy of the life of the party Mr. Andre Harrell AKA “Mr. Champagne and Bubbles.”
On Sunday (May 24), some of the biggest stars in entertainment, music and fashion will come together to pay their last respects to the late great Andre Harrell. At 7 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, the founder of Uptown Records and former REVOLT Media & TV’s vice chairman will be honored in a commercial-free program that is set to air on REVOLT, BET, iONE digital brands, and Fox Soul — the website and app included.
Being that Andre’s nickname was “Mr. Champagne and Bubbles,” the late music exec is going to be celebrated with this party-styled broadcast instead of having a traditional funeral. The event will be executive produced by Andre’s 25-year-old son, Gianni Credle-Harrell; Andre’s ex-wife and mother of Gianni, Wendy Credle; and Rikki Hughes.
Special guests who’ll be making appearances to honor the life and legacy of the deceased music/entertainment pioneer include Mariah Carey, Babyface, Chris Rock, Russell Simmons, Lee Daniels, Jamie Foxx, Kimora Lee Simmons, Robin Thicke, Naomi Campbell, Clarance Avant and many more.
“There is a divine message when a soul as bright as Andre’s — Mr. Champagne and Bubbles — the official life of the party, chooses to transition during a time when so many people, whose lives he touched so deeply, cannot get together to console each other, to share joy-filled stories, and to do the ‘hampty hamps’ two-step in the name of his love,” said Wendy.
She continued: “This tribute is Andre’s gift to him and all of us. When his day came, Andre said, ‘Listen, if they ain’t playing Frankie Beverly and Maze’s “Before I Let Go” at my funeral, guess what? I ain’t going.’ He said, ‘I don’t want a funeral. I want a party.’ Well, Andre, in the words of Frankie, ‘You made us happy, this you can bet / You stood right beside us, and we won’t forget.’”
Born in Harlem and raised in Bronx, New York; Andre got his start in the music industry as one half of hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Then, in 1983, he got his first taste of the music executive lane when he worked as vice president and later general manager of Def Jam Records. Three years later, he would leave that label to found his own – Uptown Records – and the rest would be music history.
Thanks to Uptown Records, the world was blessed with groundbreaking artists like Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Teddy Riley and his group Guy, Jodeci, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Lost Boyz, Father MC, Monifah, Soul For Real and more. Even a young Sean “Diddy” Combs would get his start in the biz while interning for Andre at the label.
Andre is survived by his father Bernie, brother Greg; and son, Gianni, who he called “his best friend.”