Difference between revisions of "Abe's 506 Club"
(New page: '''Abe's 506 Club''' was a nightclub in the Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood owned by Abe and Bob Pierce originally located at 506 West Belmont Street. The club w...) |
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| − | '''Abe's 506 Club''' was a nightclub in the [[Belmont-DeVilliers]] neighborhood owned by [[Abe Pierce|Abe]] and [[Bob Pierce]] originally located at 506 West [[Belmont Street | + | '''Abe's 506 Club''' was a nightclub in the [[Belmont-DeVilliers]] neighborhood owned by [[Abe Pierce|Abe]] and [[Bob Pierce]] originally located at 506 West [[Belmont Street]]. |
| − | The | + | The club was a part of the famous [[Wikipedia:Chitlin' circuit|Chitlin' Circuit]] of Southern music venues where black musicians could find gigs during [[segregation]]. Together with the [[Savoy Gardens]] ballroom, it was host to a list of artists that included [[Wikipedia:Louis Armstrong|Louis Armstrong]], [[Wikipedia:James Brown|James Brown]], [[Wikipedia:Ray Charles|Ray Charles]], [[Wikipedia:Aretha Franklin|Aretha Franklin]], [[Wikipedia:Ike Turner|Ike]] & [[Wikipedia:Tina Turner|Tina Turner]], [[Wikipedia:Fats Domino|Fats Domino]] and [[Wikipedia:B.B. King|B.B. King]]. Blues musician [[Sam McClain]] became a regular performer at the club in [[1963]] and was "discovered" by DJ [[Papa Don Schroeder]], and they made a popular recording of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams." |
| − | + | In [[1965]] the club moved to a larger space across the street, at 515 West Belmont. The walls of the club were decorated with enormous oyster shells that held telephones. Abe Pierce purchased the adjacent [[Savoy Ballroom]] in {{date needed}} and merged the two venues. | |
| + | |||
| + | Like other businesses in [[Belmont-DeVilliers]], however, the 506 Club was affected by the neighborhood's economic decline in the 1970s. After a final [[December 31|New Year's Eve]] dance in [[1981]], the club closed its doors for the last time. The historic ballroom section of the building was razed in [[2000]]. | ||
{{blackhistory-stub}} | {{blackhistory-stub}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Saber Club]] |
| + | *[[Newton's Bunny Club]] | ||
*[[Tom's Tavern]] | *[[Tom's Tavern]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{refbegin}} | {{refbegin}} | ||
| − | *Christy Hurt. [http://uwf.edu/history/podcasts/Timeless_Voices/BandD_Clubs.mp4 "Belmont & DeVilliers Nightlife." ''Timeless Voices: Oral Histories from Pensacola's African-American Past'', UWF Public History, 2007. | + | *Christy Hurt. [http://uwf.edu/history/podcasts/Timeless_Voices/BandD_Clubs.mp4 "Belmont & DeVilliers Nightlife."] ''Timeless Voices: Oral Histories from Pensacola's African-American Past'', UWF Public History, 2007. |
| + | *"Pensacola's version of Harlem's Cotton Club is now a condemned landmark." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 24, 2000. | ||
{{refend}} | {{refend}} | ||
[[Category:Defunct businesses]] [[Category:Belmont-DeVilliers]] [[Category:Bars & nightclubs]] | [[Category:Defunct businesses]] [[Category:Belmont-DeVilliers]] [[Category:Bars & nightclubs]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:26, 20 June 2008
Abe's 506 Club was a nightclub in the Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood owned by Abe and Bob Pierce originally located at 506 West Belmont Street.
The club was a part of the famous Chitlin' Circuit of Southern music venues where black musicians could find gigs during segregation. Together with the Savoy Gardens ballroom, it was host to a list of artists that included Louis Armstrong, James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, Fats Domino and B.B. King. Blues musician Sam McClain became a regular performer at the club in 1963 and was "discovered" by DJ Papa Don Schroeder, and they made a popular recording of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams."
In 1965 the club moved to a larger space across the street, at 515 West Belmont. The walls of the club were decorated with enormous oyster shells that held telephones. Abe Pierce purchased the adjacent Savoy Ballroom in (date needed) and merged the two venues.
Like other businesses in Belmont-DeVilliers, however, the 506 Club was affected by the neighborhood's economic decline in the 1970s. After a final New Year's Eve dance in 1981, the club closed its doors for the last time. The historic ballroom section of the building was razed in 2000.
 | This African-American historical article is a stub. You can help Pensapedia by expanding it. |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Christy Hurt. "Belmont & DeVilliers Nightlife." Timeless Voices: Oral Histories from Pensacola's African-American Past, UWF Public History, 2007.
- "Pensacola's version of Harlem's Cotton Club is now a condemned landmark." Pensacola News Journal, June 24, 2000.
