SEATTLE — Long before Hendrix’s first riffs or grunge became a thing, Seattle had jazz. And the epicenter for this musical movement was along historic, Jackson Street.
"They described Jackson Street as the poor man's playground for everyone was equal," said music journalist Paul De Barros.
To ensure Seattle’s jazz history is not forgotten, De Barros and Black Heritage Society of Washington president Stephanie Johnson-Toliver are part of a group behind the Jackson Street Jazz Trail, a self-guided walking tour to some of the spots where jazz clubs used to line the area.
"The minority groups were pretty much relegated to this part of town,” said Johnson-Toliver. “Not so much welcome I would say, north of Yesler, that was a pretty hard stop. And so it was very active and vital here along Jackson Street."
One of the spots on the trail is on 6th and Jackson at the Black Elks Club.
"The Elks Club and the Elks were a civic group. They were one of the social groups, African American social groups here in Seattle, and there were a number of them at that time," Johnson-Toliver said. "People [were] looking for places where they could identify and felt welcome. And the Elks Club was one of those places."
The Black Elks Club was also where an unknown musician from Florida used to play.
"There was this dude named R.C. Robinson who came out here with his guitar player from Tampa, Florida, and later became known as Ray Charles," said Da Barros. "And that's where Ray Charles got his first regular gig, right here in Seattle."
Another building on the trail has been standing since it was built in 1908.
"Washington Hall has a really deep and rich history in our community, and the African American community, It was rented out and leased out an entertainment space, and you would see people there too like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald," said Johnson-Toliver. "So, Washington Hall was very major, and still today is a hub for entertainment and entertainers still performing out of Washington Hall."
With each stop on the Jackson Street Jazz Trail visitors are invited to step back in time to the places that shaped Seattle’s musical landscape.
"It's just been a beautiful opportunity to work together and with the other community members who were excited about this trail and getting the history out. This is just the beginning for us on this trail," Johnson-Toliver said.
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