Blues Family Tree Project
Venues
Huston-Tillotson College
Huston-Tillotson College is the historically Black institution
that resulted from the merger of Sam Huston College and Tillotson
College. Located in the heart of Black East Austin, Huston-Tillotson
is the oldest institution of higher education in Austin (Tillotson
Institute, founded in 1881). During the 1940s and 50s, the
schools had national reputation for their jazz programs, each
with outstanding collegiate jazz big bands. The most noted
of these were the Sam Huston Collegiates, under the direction
of Bertram Adams. By the time James Polk Arrive in Austin,
the schools had been consolidated, but the jazz program continued
to be a major component of the school's ability to attract
promising musicians to Austin. In recent years, however, the
music program at Huston-Tillotson has all but disappeared.
There is no longer a performing laboratory jazz band at the
college.
New Orleans Club
New Orleans Club was one of the Austin's popular night spots
for live rhythm and blues in the 1960s. Ernie Mae Miller was
a regular New Orleans club performer during the 1960s, and
recorded a live album there.
Victory Grill
Victory Grill was the most popular music venue in East Austin
during the early 1950s. It was located on East 11th Street
and was home-base of the original incarnation of T. D. Bell
and the Cadillacs. During its heyday, most of the popular
national blues, rhythm and blues, and jazz acts that played
Austin performed there. More often than not, T. D. Bell and
the Cadillacs were the back-up musicians who performed with
those touring acts.
In 1991, Johnny Holmes, with the help of local blues supporters,
attempted to re-open the Victory Grill but finances and city
building code restrictions made this impossible. At this writing
the Victory Grill remains closed.
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