And This is Maxwell Street

 

The place
Map of Chicago showing places related to the people mentioned on this Web site

1. The Square Deal Club (230 W. Division): Johnny Young played here in the late 1940s
2. Mike Shea's Studio (9 E. Huron St.): Mike Bloomfield interviewed Nighthawk here in 1964
3. Arvella Gray played on the corner of Grand and State Friday evenings in the summer of 1964
4. The Purple Cat (2119 Madison): Johnny Young played here in the early 50s
5. The House of Roxy (1100 Madison): Nighthawk played here in the 60s
6. Walton's Corner (2754 Roosevelt Rd.): Big John Wrencher played here in the 50s and 60s
7. The 1815 Club (1815 Roosevelt Rd.): Carey Bell and Johnny Young performed here in the 60s and 70s
8. Maxwell Radio and Record Shop (831 W. Maxwell St.): Johnny Young first recorded here
9. USA Records (1448 S. Michigan Avenue): Johnny Young recorded here
10. The Hole (Morgan between 14th and 14th Place): Nighthawk played here in the 60s.
The live version of Annie Lee and Sweet Black Angel was recorded in the street nearby
Click here to see a detailed map of the Maxwell Street Market area
11. The Plantation Club (227 E. 31st): Johnny Young played here in the 40s and 50s
12. Eli's Pawn Shop (3400 block of South State Street): This is where the protagonist of "Murderin' Blues" goes to get his pistol out of pawn)
13. Mel's Hideaway (3945 S. Indiana Ave.): Carey Bell played here in the 50s
14. Turner's (4012 S. Indiana Ave.): Nighthawk played here in the 60s
15. The Cozy Inn (State and 43rd St.): Drummer Robert Whitehead performed here in the 60s
16.The original Pepper's Lounge (503 E. 43rd): Nighthawk performed here in the 50s and 60s
17. Cadillac Baby's Show Lounge (624 E. 47th Street): Carey Bell played here in the late 50s
18. The 708 Club (708 E. 47th Street): Nighthawk played here in the 50s and 60s
19. Chess Records (4750 S. Cottage Grove): Chess was at this location until 1954
20. Chess Records (49th and S. Cottage Grove) Nighthawk probably recorded here or above
21. United/States Records (5052 S. Cottage Grove): Nighthawk recorded here in 1951 and 1952

 

Maxwell Street Market in full bloom

 

The project

The music

The musicians

 

Help preserve Maxwell Street Market

For more about Maxwell Street and the blues
see these links...

Read more about the blues...a blues bibliography

 

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