The Harlem club that banned all Black patrons except the performers

The Cotton Club Opens in 1923

Owney Madden bought Club Deluxe in 1923 and renamed it the Cotton Club, which once sat at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem.

Madden used the club to sell his illegal “Number One Beer.” Meanwhile, black performers entertained nightly under Prohibition’s shadow.

Madden’s connections made the club both profitable and untouchable. The club became Harlem’s top nightspot, known for its glamor and segregation.

Duke Ellington Breaks Through

Duke Ellington’s orchestra debuted at the Cotton Club on December 4, 1927. Songwriter Jimmy McHugh suggested them after trumpeter King Oliver declined the job.

This lucky break changed jazz history. Madden broke Ellington’s old contract so he could perform. The group arrived just in time, renamed the “Jungle Band.”

The name played into white stereotypes but boosted their popularity. Their unique sound mixed jazz, blues, and orchestral tunes.

This performance began Ellington’s national rise.

Adelaide Hall Creates Vocal Magic

The Cotton Club turned Adelaide Hall into a global star. Her wordless vocals stunned the wealthy white crowd.

She had recorded this song with Ellington in October 1927 and then performed “Creole Love Call” during the first Cotton Club show.

Hall used her voice like an instrument, creating haunting effects. This fresh style helped reshape jazz vocals and the song’s success made them both famous.

Songwriters Find Their Voice

Dorothy Fields started writing lyrics with Jimmy McHugh for Cotton Club shows in 1927, creating lasting classics in American music.

Fields was just 23, breaking into a male-dominated field. Songs like “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” and “Diga Diga Doo” debuted in club revues.

Fields captured the slang and rhythm of Harlem nightlife. These songs balanced rich crowd appeal with jazz authenticity.

The music was later featured in Blackbirds of 1928 on Broadway.

Blackbirds of 1928 Featured Bill Robinson

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson danced at the Cotton Club throughout the 1920s, starring in Blackbirds of 1928, the most successful all-Black Broadway musical.

His “stair dance” showed perfect rhythm while tapping up and down steps. He earned $3,500 weekly (record pay for a Black performer back then).

Robinson’s calm, precise style impressed white audiences. He even partnered with Adelaide Hall in sold-out performances.

The show moved from Harlem to Broadway and ran 518 times.

Famous Radio Broadcasts of 1929

NBC began airing Cotton Club shows in September 1929.

The Friday night broadcasts expanded jazz’s reach beyond New York. Radio gave Black performers national exposure.

Listeners heard Duke Ellington’s complex jazz arrangements at home. The broadcasts marked a turning point for the genre.

Ellington’s music also reached places it never could before, helping the Cotton Club become a symbol of American jazz.

Cab Calloway Takes The Stage After Ellington

Cab Calloway brought his “Brown Sugar” show to the Cotton Club on September 28, 1930. He had led The Missourians downtown before getting the offer.

His band replaced Duke Ellington’s when Ellington left for Hollywood to appear in a movie. What started as a short job soon turned into a long stay.

He brought energy: wild dancing, big gestures, sharp vocals. This job launched his career in jazz. At just 23, he transformed the club’s stage presence.

Calloway’s style broke from traditional bandleaders’ stiff routines.

Minnie The Moocher Captivates Crowds

Cab Calloway first performed “Minnie the Moocher” at the Cotton Club in 1931.

According to the Financial Times’ ‘Life of a Song’ series, ‘Minnie the Moocher’ became a signature classic for Calloway with deep jazz roots.

Calloway danced wildly, made big faces, and let his slick hair fall forward on stage as crowds repeated his “hi-de-ho” shouts with growing excitement.

The record became the first by a Black artist to sell one million copies. This breakthrough helped Black musicians gain power in the music business.

Ethel Waters Headlines in 1933

Ethel Waters starred in the Cotton Club Parade revue with a strong voice and a deep, soulful feeling that won over the white crowds.

Waters used the platform to grow into a national star. She performed “Stormy Weather” with Duke Ellington’s band.

The female artist’s emotional voice turned the song into a jazz classic. Soon after, the revue ran through spring and drew packed crowds.

Waters became one of the only Black guests allowed inside. Her success in turn challenged the club’s racial restrictions during those times.

Visiting Cotton Club Today

The original Cotton Club no longer exists since it closed on February 16, 1936.

After the original club (142nd & Lenox) closed in 1940, a new incarnation emerged in 1977, founded by nightlife impresario John Beatty at 656 W 125th St.

They continue the legacy with 14‑piece jazz orchestras, modern art vocalists, tap dancers and regular Monday night swing sessions.

To get a taste of jazz history, visit the National Jazz Museum at 58 West 129th Street. The museum displays photos and artifacts from the club’s heyday.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm, the admission fee is only $10. The Apollo Theater walking tour covers Cotton Club history every Wednesday at 11 am.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• This Abandoned NYC Subway Station Still Has Its Original 1904 Chandeliers, Vaulted Arches & Tiffany Skylights
• This Oyster Bay Estate Still Houses Teddy Roosevelt’s African Safari Trophies & Presidential War Room
• The Brooklyn Steakhouse Where the Waiters Are Gruff, Cash is Useless, and the Steaks are Perfect