Downtown in Buffalo in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Colored Musicians Club
Organized in 1918 and charted in 1935, the Colored Musicians' Club has long provided rehearsal space and social opportunities for Buffalo's African American musicians. From its beginnings, it hosted jam sessions with some of the foremost jazz artists in the country, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Jimmy Lunceford and Ella Fitzgerald. The club bought this building in 1944, and rented space to local 533, American Federation of Musicians, the colored musicians' union of Buffalo. When local 533 merged with the white local 43 in 1969, ownership of this building by the club insured its survival as a thriving institution.
Erected 1998 by Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society, Buffalo State College, Buffalo Musicians' Union, Local 92, American Federation of Musicians.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.
Location. 42° 53.197′ N, 78° 52.074′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, New York, in Erie County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway and Michigan Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 145 Broadway, Buffalo NY 14203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mary B. Talbert (within shouting distance of this marker); Michigan Street Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Michigan Street Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Michigan Avenue Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Little Harlem Hotel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Melting Pot (about 300 feet away); Moving North (about 300 feet away); The Nash House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.
More about this marker. The figure at the top of the marker is the Buffalo History Museum.
Also see . . .
1. Colored Musicians' Club and Museum. Website homepage (Submitted on March 8, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
2. Colored Musicians Club - National Park Service. Download National Register of Historic Places documentation (Submitted on February 4, 2024, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 413 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 8, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.