Friday, February 28, 2014

IN LOCAL HISTORY: LEO GOODEN "BLUE NOTE" CLUB, 4200 MISSOURI AVENUE,EAST ST. LOUIS,ILLINOIS


by Dwight L. Quinn


When I was growing up in East St. Louis, music was every
where, at night live bands was heard coming out of the
doors of almost every lil club or travern on a corner.
And don't let the club be close to a Church were they are
having night service,now you're getting it all. On radio
there's a Live, remote broadcast going a local band is 
jamming and people are having themselves a good time.
There were clubs like this on both sides of the wateri.e
as we would than describe the division of the Mississippi 
River. The Club that was getting popular than in the early
60's was the The Blue Note Club,located at 4200 Missouri
Avenue, in East St. louis,Illinois owned by the late Leo 
Gooden. Leo, as most people, who knew him would address 
him was an important local St. Louis mover-and-shaker 
whose ear for talent helped him assemble one of the best 
bands of its time, assembled initially to be the house 
band at Gooden's Blue Note Club.

A look into the mini-soul empire of Leo Gooden -- an tiny 
little enclave in East St Louis that was making some mighty 
hip music in the early 60s! Gooden wore many hats at the time 
-- politician, club owner, and local businessman -- but he 
also put together his own band and record label L. G. Records. 
He worked in a very hip mix of R&B and early 60s soul jazz modes! 
Through his nightclub, The Blue Note, Gooden came into contact 
with a variety of great musicians, both national and local -- 
and he brought their inspiration to play on sessions recorded here 
for his LG family of labels – he is featured on a handful of 
singles and two rare LPs.

Early 60s East St Louis jazz band. Originaly assembled to be the 
house band at Leo Gooden's Blue Note nightclub. The group, anchored 
by the Hammond B-3 playing of Don James, the dynamic drumming of 
Kenny Rice, and the tenor sax work of Charles "Little Man" Wright, 
pre-shadowed the organ-led jazz combos that appeared later.
Albert King would frequently set in with the Band and was given
the opportunity to play on several Leo Five recordings,"Worrisome 
Baby","Lonesome",and "You Threw Your Love On Me So Strong". Other 
local greats that worked with Leo and his L.G.Record Label was 
Ccharles Drain and Jamie Ross.

Members of Leo's Five:
Charles Wright, Don James, Fred Jackson, Leo Gooden

The 60's bands couldn't have been so widely recognized if it hadn't
been for the newer upcoming Radio personalities,bringing in a new
way of introducing music to the general listening public one of those
pioneering radio personalities of the time in the Greater St. Louis
was Spider Burks one of St. Louis’ first black disc jockeys, and 
he is remembered for giving jazz an urban identity in St. Louis market. 
He had graduated from Hampton Institute and began working at KXLW here 
in 1947. During his stint at that station, which lasted until 1956, 
Spider became a huge moneymaker for the station and himself.
He got the job initially when a radio shop owner on Easton Avenue 
sponsored a half-hour block of time and used Spider as his disc jockey.

Things went so well that the station hired him, and he would sell 
advertising to supplement his income.
He’d bring in his own records, and his two shows, “After School Swing 
Session” and “Down the Alley Behind My House” were huge favorites of the 
high school set. The record companies soon realized Spider Burks’ show 
could really “sell” their product.

Burks also worked as a disc jockey on KSTL, KADY/KADI-FM and KATZ, 
leaving the business in 1969.

St. Louis and East St. Louis histroically been a huge contributor and
weight station for all types of music,especially the sounds of blues,
gospel and jazz.Making St.Louis not only the Gateway to the West,but 
also the one of the Main birth places of the Blues.

Sources:Ace Records,East St. Louis Library Archives,Monitor and 
D.L. Quinn



6 comments:

  1. The Blue Note was my favorite source of jazz in the greater St Louis area. I stopped in for a set almost every weekend, usually being the only white face in the building. I have not found a comparable night club in 50 years. I miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Blue Note was my favorite source of jazz in the greater St Louis area. I stopped in for a set almost every weekend, usually being the only white face in the building. I have not found a comparable night club in 50 years. I miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Do you recall a DJ named Don Oday who played "golden oldies" at WESL Radio in East Saint Louis during the late 60's to early 70's?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great music and atmosphere. The bandstand was on a tiered riser and once things started grooving some of the finest dancers ever hit the floor and worked those tiered steps. Can still see them now

    ReplyDelete