Apple sets series of global events for 50th anniversary

It’s been a big week for Apple. On Wednesday, it launched the MacBook Neo, its first low-cost Mac laptop. On Thursday, Tim Cook kicked off Apple’s 50th anniversary with a letter to fans. And on Friday, Alicia Keys performed a surprise set at the Apple Store in Grand Central Station to celebrate.

The Apple Store was closed Thursday and Friday as Apple erected a makeshift stage. Rumors of a Keys performance began circulating a few hours before the event.

Apple also announced that it’s just the start of a series of gatherings around the globe to “highlight human creativity and ingenuity in action, and showcase the remarkable things people can do when they have the right Apple products in their hands.

Keys has been an Apple partner for years, having taken part in the iTunes Festival, Rehearsal Room, and Apple Music Live Holiday Masquerade Ball. On Friday, she turned the Apple Store Grand Central into a concert hall for Tim Cook, John Ternus, Greg Joswiak, and hundreds of fans and influencers. The 8-song set included many of Keys’ biggest hits:

• Nat King Cole
• You Don’t Know My Name
• Karma
• Fallin’
• If I Ain’t Got You
• Girl on Fire
• No One
• Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

Apple shared a series of photos from the event, but hasn’t posted video of the concert on its site or Apple Music. It’s not clear when the other gatherings will commence, but stay tuned for similar events over the next several weeks.