Alexandra Beyonce Burke

The music industry is controlled by the people with the right connections to reach the top. For instance, Alexandra Burke is relatively unknown in the US and has yet to score a new deal since being dropped by RCA Records but thanks to help from manager Kevin Liles and Beyonce’s choreographer, she found her way onto the exclusive Apollo stage.

Burke was part of an all-star tribute to the great Chaka Khan at the Apollo Theater Spring Gala Concert in New York last evening, although most people at the venue didn’t even know her name. Alongside Jennifer Holiday, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige and Patti LaBelle, Burke welcomed Khan into the Apollo Hall of Fame while recycling one of Beyonce’s old routines.

Just imagine the whispers in the crowd as patrons said to each other, “Beyonce’s skin looks darker than it does on the L’Oreal box” and “oh great, another Tina Turner tribute act.” Hey, at least Burke made a name for herself and probably caught the attention of label executives in the building. Watch her perform Rufus’ “Do You Love What You Feel?” from the Masterjam album below:

Photo by Wire Image

Thoughts?