During the 1920s and 30s, tampa was a stop on the chitlin circuit. The chitlin circuit npr coverage of the chitlin circuit. Preston lauterbach is the author of bluff city, beale street dynasty, the chitlin circuit, a wall street journal and boston globe book of the year, and coauthor. The chitlin circuit, by preston lauterbach, about prerock black. In successive waves, talented musicians hit those stages running. Code switch this network of performance venues nightclubs, bars, juke joints and theaters formed during jim crow because black. Playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi by suzassippi on september, 2017 5.
In the late 50s and early 60s these tours were crucial to black artists like b. Now, though, preston lauterbachs the chitlin circuit. The chitlin circuit, named for the hog intestines eaten by slaves for survival and considered a soulfood staple by some, was the network of. The term chitlin circuit is derived from a popular item which appears on many southern soul food menus. The chitlin circuit was a string of music venues in the south that sold chitlins and other soul food dishes.
The story of the chitlin circuits great performers before the civil rights movement, segregated american cities helped give birth to the chitlin circuit, a touring revue that provided employment. Lauterbach, a freelance writer based in memphis, got more than he bargained for when he decided to write a book about it. When jim crow and segregation were even more prominent in the united states, the negro race, freed through emancipation, did not have equal access to public white only places. Stories from the life of a migrant child is an autobiographical novel by francisco jimenez based in part on his journey from mexico to the united states of america. Cerys matthews traces the roots of the chitlin circuit, which that provided employment for hundreds of black musicians and performers before the civil rights movement got under way. Sep 12, 2011 the chitlin circuit, named for the hog intestines eaten by slaves for survival and considered a soulfood staple by some, was the network of mostly southern dance halls, nightclubs and movie theaters that made up a booming entertainment industry for the artists, audiences and promoters who had been shut out of the american mainstream by jim crow segregation. The chitlin circuit, by preston lauterbach, about prerock. The small intestines of pigs, especially when cooked and eaten as food. The chitlin circuit is the collective name given to performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper midwest areas of the united states that were safe and acceptable for african american musicians, comedians, and other entertainers to perform in. Many prominent black entertainers worked the chitlin circuit from the 1800s through the 1960s, and a tradition of predominantly black venues has endured in the united states, even though segregation laws have been struck from the books. In addition to motown, memphis, philly and chicagostyle rhythm and blues, southern soul borrows freely from country, gospel, rock, pop. This circuit derived its name from the soul food item chitterlings stewed pig intestines a delicacy favored by blacks, but looked upon unfavorably by whites.
Southern soul musicwith its own stars, its own audience and daytoday hits is the resurgence of that verseandchorus, storytelling tradition. Southern soul music, chitlin circuit, black music guide. The chitlin circuit was the collective name given to the string of performance venues throughout the eastern and southern united states that were safe and acceptable for african american musicians, comedians, and other legendary entertainers to perform at during the age of racial segregation in the united states from at least the late. Sep, 2017 playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi by suzassippi on september, 2017 5 back in the september 5th roundup, thomas rosell mentioned the upcoming mississippi valley state university lecture series on the chitlin circuit, the name that emerged for the african american music venues under segregation. Back in the september 5th roundup, thomas rosell mentioned the upcoming mississippi valley state university lecture series on the chitlin circuit, the name that emerged for the african american music venues under. Lauterbachs book explores the connection between the chitlin circuit and rock n roll music. Needless to say, theyve got big dreams for what lies ahead. The chitlin circuit a connected string of music venues, diners, juke joints. Were talking about the black music businessblack performers, black audiencesrun by predominantly black businesspeople with a few whites in the mix. Jul 08, 2011 the chitlin circuit was more than just music it nurtured comedians and was championed in the plays of august wilson but preston lauterbachs focus is on how the chitlin circuit.
The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll, by preston. Shmoopsters, wed like you to meet francisco and his family. Preston lauterbach is the author of bluff city, beale street dynasty and the chitlin circuit, a wall street journal and boston globe book of the year. Sophisticated, facile and somewhat aloof and almost condescending in new york, cooke is raw and gritty in front of the harlem square club crowd. And the road to rock n roll by preston lauterbach 409 ratings, 3. The chitlin circuit is the name given to a string of performance venues, mostly throughout the southern us, which was safe and acceptable for africanamerican entertainers to perform in during.
Toba nurtured such performers as leonard reed and willie bryant, creators of the shim sham shimmy c. Norton 2012 preston lauterbachs meticulously researched and present the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll turns a bright light on what might be considered the higgs field of rock and roll, that is the history that gives indigenous american music its mass or weight in this metaphor. Riding the chitlin circuit august 24, 2010 august 24, 2010 tom poland a writer is only as good as his material, and now and then something profound falls into his lap. Chitlin circuit definition, a group of clubs and theaters featuring black performers and intended to appeal to black people. Tampa bays musical history thrived during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, especially in the central avenue district. Chitlin circuit definition is a group of theaters and nightclubs that cater to africanamerican audiences and feature africanamerican entertainers.
Combining terrific firsthand reporting with deep historical research, preston the first history of the network of black juke joints that spawned rock n roll through an unholy alliance between vice and entertainment. After dark in a mexican border town, a father holds open a hole in a wire fence as his wife and two small boys crawl through. The chitlin circuit, like tin pan alley and motown and other legendary music locations, is both a real and symbolic term for the onandoffagain venuesshoeboxsized bars, clubs, cafes and increasingly in the 21st century, casinos that support traditional rhythm and blues in a tenuous but tenacious thread through americas mostly. This fam lives in mexico, but theyre about to go on a major adventure to california, where they want to build a new life. Stories from the life of a migrant child wikipedia. Chitlin circuit definition of chitlin circuit by merriam. These are those hits by the artist that roamed up and down the treacherous highways and biways, avoiding the well known night riders. After all, a circuit is basically a journey that goes around and aroundand then around some more. For many, the chitlin circuit is a literal reference to americas underbelly. Home african american history playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi. The chitlin circuit, by preston lauterbach, about pre. Jonathan yardley, washington post, the chitlin circuit, and the road to rock n roll, preston lauterbach, 9780393342949. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The chop suey circuit of chinese nightclubsprimarily. A circuit of nightclubs and theaters that feature africanamerican performers and cater especially to africanamerican audiences. According to national public radio, the chitlin circuit was a group of performance venues located mostly in the south that were safe and acceptable places for africanamerican musicians and. The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll wsj. The chitlin circuit was almost an entirely africanamerican phenomenon, says the author of the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll, preston lauterbach. The chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll preston lauterbach 368 pages isbn 0393342948 w. Today, rock historian ed ward looks at two books, preston lauterbachs the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll and fever, susan. King symposium scott barretta, contributing columnist published 3. Racial attitudes of 1920s give rise to creation of.
The chitlin circuit also spelled chitlins circuit and chittlins circuit and chitterlings circuit is the name that was given to entertainment venues for black performers in the stillsegregated south following world war ii. As a title, the circuit references all of the moving around the characters do in this book. Most performers in the rock and roll hall of fame had some connection to the chitlin circuit. Preston lauterbach the chitlin circuit similar books. Preston lauterbach is the author of the chitlin circuit and the road to rock n roll, a wall street journal, boston globe, and npr book of the year. According to national public radio, the chitlin circuit was a group of performance venues located mostly in the south that were safe and acceptable places for africanamerican musicians and entertainers to. And the road to rock n roll a factstudded and exhaustively researched book. Chitlin synonyms, chitlin pronunciation, chitlin translation, english dictionary definition of chitlin. Theres papa, mama, franciscos older bro roberto, and his younger bro trampita. A writer is only as good as his material, and now and then something profound falls into his lap.
A precursor to the creation of the chitlin circuit was the theater owners booking association, or t. And the road to rock n roll from the worlds largest community of readers. The chitlin circuit was more than just music it nurtured comedians and was championed in the plays of august wilson but preston lauterbachs focus is on how the chitlin circuit. And the road to rock n roll kindle edition by lauterbach, preston. And so begins this collection of twelve autobiographical stories by santa clara university professor francisco jimenez, who at the age of four illegally. For close to two years now ive been working on a book for the university of south carolina press. The nickelanddime revenue stream, fed by an overbrimming pool of musical talent, gave birth to the chitlin circuit, a network of venues where. The story of the chitlin circuits great performers before the civil rights movement, segregated american cities helped give birth to the chitlin circuit, a touring revue that provided.
Playing the chitlin circuit in mississippi preservation. Chitlin circuit definition of chitlin circuit by the. So begins life in the united states for many people every day. Johnsons the cost of lovea romantic comedy stageplay, zetta miguel brand, pink city corp.
Journalist and editor preston lauterbach focuses his first book length work on the chitlin circuit, an underground group of segregated night clubs. The chitlin circuit is the collective name given to performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper midwest areas of the united states that were safe and acceptable for african american musicians, comedians, and other entertainers to perform in during the era of racial segregation in the united states. Performance venues for the nations best black musicians 2 posted by susan march 1, 2020 latest posts, music in the early part of the 20th century, african american musicians and comedians couldnt just walk into any place and work their magic. Karyn white and bowlegged lou perfomance by karyan white christopher williams surface. The story of the chitlin circuits great performers. In its most shadowy forms, the chitlin circuit found bookmakers, bootleggers and racketeers managing artists and promoting shows.
Saturday 14th 2019 at the crest hollow country club woodbury ny hosted by. He is a former visiting scholar at rhodes college and a virginia humanities fellow. The best of todays southern blues various artists on allmusic 2001 this is. Chitlin circuit definition of chitlin circuit by the free. The chitlin circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper midwest areas of the united states that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for africanamerican musicians, comedians, and other entertainers during the era of racial segregation in the united states from at least the early 19th. The contrast between this sam cooke playing a tiny miami stop on the chitlin circuit and the one who showed up at new yorks copacabana the next year couldnt put the singers flip sides into greater relief. Dec 20, 2011 the story of the chitlin circuits great performers before the civil rights movement, segregated american cities helped give birth to the chitlin circuit, a touring revue that provided.
Code switch this network of performance venues nightclubs, bars, juke joints and theaters. Chitlins or chitterlings are hog intestines, a favorite southern food. Chitlin definition of chitlin by the free dictionary. The chitlin circuit, named for the hog intestines eaten by slaves for survival and considered a soulfood staple by some, was the network of mostly southern dance halls, nightclubs and movie theaters that made up a booming entertainment industry for the artists, audiences and promoters who had been shut out of the american mainstream by jim crow segregation. A definitive account of the birth of rock n roll in black america, this book establishes the chitlin circuit as a major force in american musical history. King, solomon burke, james brown, and jackie wilson to name a few. The chitlin circuit was a collection of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and upper midwest areas of the united states that provided commercial and cultural acceptance for africanamerican musicians, comedians, and other entertainers during the era of racial segregation in the united states from at least the early 19th century citation needed through the 1960s. The first history of the network of black juke joints that spa. Of disputation about the chitlin circuit, a black theatre circuit, and the playwright august wilson. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the chitlin circuit. And if theres one thing that francisco and his family know how to do, its move among the same few cities in california, right along with the seasons. Take the exit to southern and go back north a block or two to find this restaurant tucked under an overpass. This is a really good book on the history of the chitlin circuit, a collection of nightclubs throughout the south eastern and south central united states which featured africanamerican musicians and which, as the title suggests, played a major role in the development of rock n roll.
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