Brooklyn Soul Venues - 1960's

[Roburt]

Been mentioning a few 'neglected' Brooklyn soul venues on the thread about THE SHELLS .... but opening it up as a separate topic to allow more places to be discussed.

Loads of big theatres in Brooklyn back then that had live soul shows on at times.

The Brevoort Theatre seated 2300 & admitted a 'standing only' crowd as well when sold out. As the packages featured at the theatre usually stayed a week back in the early / mid 60's, then with 3 shows a night midweek & 4 a night on weekends, around 50,000 people would attend the most popular of the live shows ..... and the only advertising they did was to post up handbills on lam posts around the borough plus get radio DJ's to mention who was on.

Other theatres there included the Fox, Paramount & Bushwick (pictures of some up on the SHELLS thread).

But there were also lots of bars & clubs that also had live acts on.

The Riverland Lounge located on the corner of Brevoort Place and Bedford (right across the street from the Brevoort Theatre) had live shows ... PLUS .... the 521 Club (1134 Fulton St) not only featured live acts but ran it's own record label !!!

I'm told that there were also bars / lounges in the mid section of Fulton St, (between Franklin & Bedford). Another bar and lounge that was located on the corner of Spencer and Fulton (again this was situated between Franklin & Bedford). There was also a big bar on the corner of Bedford and Fulton, but the names of them all seem to be lost in the sands of time.

Those Brooklyn based 'Dig Deeper' boys certainly have a legacy to live to.

Anyone know of any more good live venues (or record label bases) in the area back then ??

[Roburt]

The Bushwick Theatre in Brooklyn back in the day.

It was closed (as a theatre / cinema) at the end of the 60's and then used as a church.

The building then fell into misuse but still exists today in a slightly changed form (as a school).

Bet it would have been a good place to see a 1960's soul package at.

[Roburt]

The 521 Club was located at 1134 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, on a busy road junction (the corner of Fulton & Franklin Ave). By all accounts, you could see into the club if you were standing on the platform of the adjacent Franklin Ave Metro Station (which was elevated here rather than underground — see photo of access bridge onto stn platform).

Seems that it operated from the late 50's through to the mid 70's and was owned / run by a number's runner; Eugene Goldston or Golston. The likes of Eb Davis & the SoulGroovers, Lew Kirton, Jerry Lawson (of the Persuasions), the Shufflers & Paul Osher were all regulars at the place.

The club had its own house band, who at one time were Sue recording act; Jimmy Oliver & Soul Twisters. Jimmy Oliver & his Soul Twisters were the club's resident band from 1961 to at least 1966. They were most probably the group referred to as the 521 Club Band on Paul Walters 45. The band obviously opened up for all the live acts who played the club (backing the main act up instrumentally after having started the show on their own). Seems they must have performed a lot of Motown numbers in their shows (judging by the songs they did covers of on their Sue LP).

The club's record label put out at least a couple of 45's, these were by Little David (Smith) and Paul Walters. Recording artists who played / hung out at the club included Millie Jackson, Little Johhny Taylor, The Invitations, The Persuasions, Kenny Hamber & Sterling Harrison.

Today, the building that housed the club is a Popeyes Chicken fast food restaurant (see picture; its the building under the bridge behind the white van).

Fulton St starts just inland from the East River, just across from Lower Manhattan, so the club was quite handily placed.

Anyone know anything more about the label or the acts they signed to record deals ??

Edited January 3, 2013 by Roburt

[Pomonkey]

Yes Roburt, we do have a legacy to live up to!! The Brooklyn gig I would have wished to have been at was on March 3rd, 1967 literally just around the corner from my apartment, at the St George Hotel - that's still there, was an SRO for a long while, now mostly expensive condo's - Bill Doggett supported by none other than.....Tommy Dent, wow wow wow.

BTW Fulton St is named after the guy who ran the very first commercial ferries between Manhattan and Brooklyn btw, together with Robert Livingston who the street I live on here was named after, it's a small world.

A very close friend of ours is a mine of information of "back in the day" venues, yes there were a whole lot for sure

[Roburt]

Most NY area record labels back in the 60's used Manhattan addresses.

There was the likes of De Jac that had a Long Island address and quite a few with New Jersey addresses ....

... but apart from 521 Records, which soul orientated ones operated from Brooklyn addresses ??

Edited January 4, 2013 by Roburt

[Roburt]

I'm a sad git these days ............. having to answer my own question ...........

Dr. York & his York Records was Brooklyn based (Hart St) in the 80's.

Hi Voltage cut for One Way Records who were also Brooklyn based in 82/83 (Dahill Rd).

Jody Records were also based in Brooklyn. In the 80's they put out stuff by the likes of Bo Rye, Alex Alexander & Eddie Hailey.

There must have been other soul labels based in the borough in the 60's / 70's though.

[Roburt]

The sirshambling web site has a page on Little David (smith) who cut for 521 Records.

David's children have recently contacted the site & have passed along this info ........

"David Smith was born in Goldsboro NC. He moved to Brooklyn when he was about 19. He performed at the 521 club in Brooklyn NY on Fulton Street on a regular basis. His stage name was Little David. He had also recorded Moonlight, Love Me,and Everybody's Laughing In My Face on the 521 label. My dad was a talented guitarist and vocalist. He wrote all his songs including It Hurts Baby. His records sold out but he did not see any money as many artist during those days. Instead of staying on the road he decided to raise his family. David was a great dad and person. He passed away in 1994 but he passed the torch to me. We come from a long family line of musicians. The photo is my dad on guitar and George Williams trumpet player for the Fatback Band. I know if he had continued with the music he would have been a legend as all of his musical friends are today but he put family first."

David had 2 x 45's out on 521 around 1962 --

... "Everybody’s laughing in my face / Love Me" (521 #1001 - 1962?) + "It hurts baby / Moonlight" (521 #1002 -1962?)

The 1962 dates has been guessed at as ZIP codes were introduced in 1963 & its thought that this would also have been put on the label if that date had been reached.

Edited February 5, 2013 by Roburt

[Mike Smith]

On 03/01/2013 at 05:35, Roburt said:

The 521 Club was located at 1134 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, on a busy road junction (the corner of Fulton & Franklin Ave). By all accounts, you could see into the club if you were standing on the platform of the adjacent Franklin Ave Metro Station (which was elevated here rather than underground — see photo of access bridge onto stn platform).

Seems that it operated from the late 50's through to the mid 70's and was owned / run by a number's runner; Eugene Goldston or Golston. The likes of Eb Davis & the SoulGroovers, Lew Kirton, Jerry Lawson (of the Persuasions), the Shufflers & Paul Osher were all regulars at the place.

The club had its own house band, who at one time were Sue recording act; Jimmy Oliver & Soul Twisters. Jimmy Oliver & his Soul Twisters were the club's resident band from 1961 to at least 1966. They were most probably the group referred to as the 521 Club Band on Paul Walters 45. The band obviously opened up for all the live acts who played the club (backing the main act up instrumentally after having started the show on their own). Seems they must have performed a lot of Motown numbers in their shows (judging by the songs they did covers of on their Sue LP).

The club's record label put out at least a couple of 45's, these were by Little David (Smith) and Paul Walters. Recording artists who played / hung out at the club included Millie Jackson, Little Johhny Taylor, The Invitations, The Persuasions, Kenny Hamber & Sterling Harrison.

Today, the building that housed the club is a Popeyes Chicken fast food restaurant (see picture; its the building under the bridge behind the white van).

 

Fulton St starts just inland from the East River, just across from Lower Manhattan, so the club was quite handily placed.

 

Anyone know anything more about the label or the acts they signed to record deals ??

Thank you for the great Info. Little David Smith from the 521 is my Dad. I updated info to sir shambling about who my dad was.