Amazing Indiana Music Stories:

Indiana Avenue Jazz

Indiana Avenue of Indianapolis was one of the key jazz locations in the US, dating back to the late 1800’s.

Some of the best known jazz artists to come from this scene include J.J. Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Noble Sissle, Slide Hampton, Phil Ranelin, and David Baker.

Less known is that Indiana Avenue club owners Denver and Sea Ferguson may have created “The Chitlin’ Circuit” which was a live performance circuit for black artists during the segregated times in the mid 1900’s. The Fergusons owned the Sunset Terrace club, among others. They worked with club owners across the South and Midwest to route artists across many cities.

Indiana Avenue was first and foremost the center of black Indianapolis, until urban renewal and highways decimated it.

David Brent Johnson’s history of Indiana Avenue jazz is located at WFYI Public Media’s website here.

For a detailed history of Indiana Avenue, including its jazz aspects, visit the Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis entry.

The Great American Songbook Foundation covers Indiana Avenue music here.

To purchase a copy of David Leander Williams “Indianapolis Jazz” book, visit Arcadia Publishing.

To purchase a copy of Preston Lauterbach’s “The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n Roll” book, visit Amazon.com.

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