Setting the Stage for the Chitlin’ Circuit: Thibodaux History and Culture
Hannah Robert and Jennifer Marts podcast editor & staff Thibodaux, Louisiana, formed as a trading post between New Orleans and Bayou Teche in the late 1700s. This area, rich in cultural traditions, was a melting pot of races and nationalities. It was this mix of African, French, Spanish and Creole cultures that made South Louisiana […]
Recreating the Circuit: Stark Field
jaci remondet staff
Louisiana Native Chitlin’ Circuit Performers
“No other place has contributed a richer heritage of pop music to the rest of the United States, from Dixieland [jazz] to rock n’ roll to contemporary jazz.” Grace Lichtenstein and Laura Dankner, in their book “Musical Gumbo: The Music of New Orleans.” sarah kraemer features editor Louisiana and its towns are home to many […]
The Chitlin’ Circuit: a Foundation for Current Musicians
carlie dalgo staff One thing people all share in common is their ability to communicate through music. The harmonies ringing from a group of singers, the bass line thumping, the pounding beat of the drum – it’s all a universal language. While the Chitlin’ Circuit gave Black musicians a platform to express themselves during segregation, […]
Odd Fellows Hall
skylar neal staff Fifteen miles south of Thibodaux, the Odd Fellows Hall in Houma echoed with the dynamic performances of Chitlin’ Circuit artists through the night. In the 1930s-1970s, Guitar Slim, Joe Tex and Ike and Tina Turner performed in Houma, Louisiana, at the Odd Fellows Hall, a venue along the Chitlin’ Circuit. Located at […]
The Sounds of Thibodaux
sally-anne torres staff Filled with the sounds of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz and more, Thibodaux was the perfect stop for roaming musicians and entertainers traveling along the Chitlin’ Circuit. James Brown James Brown, originally from Georgia, was a significant figure on the Chitlin’ Circuit, according to Scott Barretta, music historian for the Mississippi Blues […]
Chitlin’ Circuit Map
catherine clement design editor
The Circuit at a Glance
catherine clement design editor
The Music, History, and Inspiration of the Chitlin’ Circuit
jaci remondet staff A vibrant soundtrack of soulful music plays within the walls of juke joints and dance halls that make up the Chitlin Circuit. The cords play sounds of pain, joy, challenges and resilience, but these melodies are not just confined to that time and within those walls. The musical roots stem deep into […]
It Takes A Village: Hosea Hill, Frank Painia and Deacon John Moore
gabrielle chaisson staff The Chitlin’ Circuit was more than a gig or a venue—it allowed Black musicians and entrepreneurs to succeed in the Jim Crow era. “In the region, there was a pretty elaborate network of educated musical people in the Black community and the music gravitated from them.” Tommy Lyons, Musician But at the […]