A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
The Colored Musicians Club is the oldest running African-American club in the United States. In its heyday, it hosted jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis and dozens more. It formed in 1918 and found its home at 145 Broadway St. in 1934. Jazz music can still be heard in the upper room which hasn't changed much over the decades.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Bands perform every Monday and Thursday night, a jam session is held on Sunday nights and special events happen on various other nights. Carol McLaughlin's big band plays on Thursday Feb. 9, 2017. Bassist Ed Croft, who moved from Pittsburgh to Buffalo, joined the band.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The Colored Musicians Club formed in 1918 and found its home at 145 Broadway St. in 1934. It incorporated in 1935.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Up the narrow steep stairway is where the magic happened. Quality jazz music is still being performed there.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Though the sign is still on the door, it is no longer a private club.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
A peep hole is still in the door at the top of the stairs and visitors still need to be buzzed in.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The front door is visible from the peep hole.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
This is a view looking down the stairs to the front door.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
There's a chair lift for disabled people. They hope to put in an addition that will include an elevator.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's big band plays every Thursday evening starting at 8:30.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Andrew Peruzzini, of Buffalo, on trombone with Carol McLaughlin's band.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin, on sax, has been playing at the club for 20 years.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Tina Williams, left, and Richard Marso, of West Seneca are first-timers to the club. They came to see their friend Ed Croft play the bass.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's band takes a break between sets.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The club is more quiet during the day. The decor is very similar to days past, the emphasis always being on the music.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
This is the stage.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Some of the bands that provide big band music have many members.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The bar was constructed long ago by members with carpentry skills.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Club President George Scott shows the emergency exit in the former kitchen. Originally this was a secret escape for when they were raided by police for illegal gambling. Scott has been the board president for 20 years. He also has a big band that plays every Monday night.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
A poster of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. sits on the window sill.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The walls are decorated with musicians with Buffalo connections.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The phone has been sitting at the bar for decades. It's only for incoming calls and is still used today.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
This is the performers' lounge.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Musicians sign the door in the performers' lounge.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Musicians sign the door in the performers' lounge. This is a signature by Buffalonian Dr. Lonnie Smith, a world-renowned musician, composer and performer.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The back room contains an old safe that was used for many years.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The exterior painting was created by local musician and artist Herbie Small.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The first floor of the Colored Musicians Club is now a museum showing off its rich history. Buffalo was a hotbed of jazz music especially during the 1920s through the 1950s.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Teacher and student. On left is Elvin Shepherd, who taught Grover Washington Jr., a national jazz star who was raised in the Buffalo projects. He was one of the leading musicians to mix jazz and R&B, which today is called smooth jazz. He died in 1999 at the age of 56.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Buffalo was the place to play, and for many national jazz stars, the Colored Musicians Club was not only a great place to find top-notch musicians for their bands, but a fun place to jam after a big performance. Thirty-five national artists played at the club. Here are a few.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Lil Hardin Armstrong was the second wife of Louie Armstrong and is known in jazz history as its first female artist. Though she was not from Buffalo, she belonged to Local 533.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
A case shows some of the documents for Local 533. The ledger kept track of dues paid by members. The page is opened to member Lil Hardin Armstrong, the second wife of Louie Armstrong. Though she didn't live in Buffalo, she was a member for her entire life. Her estate continued to pay her dues for four years after her death in 1971.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Considered Buffalo's jazz diva, singer Dodo Greene chose music over a medical career and traveled the world performing to audiences with her blues-jazz vocals. She was the first artist to sign a contract with Blue Note Record, America's premier jazz label.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Frankie Dunlop was the most famous member of a prominent Buffalo musical family. He played with many national acts including Thelonoius Monk. His drumming can be heard on over 100 jazz recordings.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Colored Musicians Club President George Scott, left, and board member George Arthur in the club museum. Feb. 3 marked the 100th anniversary of the formation of the black musicians union, American Federation of Musicians Local 533.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
There is an interactive area in which visitors can highlight the sound of the different instruments. Local 533's banner hangs proudly over the stage. It was used in marching band competitions around the country. That and ragtime were very popular during the union's inception.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
There is an interactive area in which visitors can highlight the sound of the different instruments. Kenny Green's drums are part of the display. The bass was also from one of the Buffalo musicians.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
There is an interactive area in which visitors can highlight the sound of the different instruments.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Banners hang from the ceiling of the museum.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The museum still has the original tin ceiling.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
In the museum is its certificate of incorporation in 1935.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Colored Musicians Club board member George Arthur, left, and President George Scott in the club museum looking at a photo of Dizzie Gillespie with some local musicians. Gillespie is at the piano. Standing behind him is Buffalo musician Elvin Shepherd and on the right playing sax is Buffalo musician Wilbur Trammel. Miles Davis and John Coltrane are also in the photo.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Late Buffalo artist William Cooper was commissioned to do this thematic painting for the museum. It depicts the energy and passion provided by the musicians there.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
One of the displays shows bar glasses that members had engraved with their names or nicknames so that when they came in, they could use their own glasses.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
A case shows some of the documents for Local 533. This is a receipt for Aretha Franklin in which she paid the dues for some of her musicians in 1965.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Tickets from the annual Easter Sunday fundraisers in one of the display cases. Duke Ellington was the featured performer for the 32nd annual ball.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
The unfinished basement houses unused artifacts from the club's history. This old sousaphone will be restored in the future. When the club first formed, marching bands were very popular.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Here are some vintage records.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Here's a musical score for "Getting To Know You," handwritten in pencil. According to club president George Scott, the musicians were very adept at making last-minute key adjustments before performances.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Here's a poster of a gig featuring one of the top musicians, Al Shepherd.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Upstairs at the club.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's big band plays on Thursdays.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's big band has performers from various generations.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
SUNY Buffalo State student Marcus Roper plays guitar in the band.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's big band plays on Thursday Feb. 9, 2017. Richard Sowinski, of Clarence, has been with the band for three years.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Niles Dening is on trombone for Carol Mclaughlin's band.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Carol McLaughlin's band takes a break.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
These seasoned musicians enjoy each other's company during the breaks, but they love to play.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Augie Grillo, of Buffalo, has been playing at the club for 25 years.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Dan Pieczynski, of Wheatfiled, has been with the band for eight years.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Bartender Shirley Sarmiento serves a customer.
A Closer Look: Colored Musicians Club
Local 533 merged with the Local 43 in 1969 to become Local 92. The purchase of the building in 1944 helped the Colored Musicians Club to maintain its identity.
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