Juke Joint Jukebox

Juke Joint Jukebox: An Historical Cabaret takes a look at the originations of Juke Joints as created on slave plantations of the 1500s and 1600s of early America.

Gary Stanford – Creator/Director
Benjamin Sakaguchi – Music Director/Arrangement

As slavery ended, Juke Joints did quite the opposite and became one of the primary adult social mechanisms in the country. It also became a primary venue for some of our most beloved music artists to perform, collaborate, network, and more.

As Prohibition forced alcohol underground, many of the best parties with the highest rollers and hottest performers followed along, creating an underground arts environment like never seen before or again.

As Prohibition ended the we notice that the Juke Joint moved above ground and flourished in the biggest metropolitan cities in the country, bringing the best of the best of musicians, performers, and music.

As WW2 slowed the industrial flourish of the newly invented Jukebox, a slew of new artists hit the scene and the radio/tv airwaves with their music performed at Juke Joints by a multitude of club performers.

We take a dive into Jukeboxes, Diners, and styles of the 50s, the Motown/rock and roll era of the 1960s.

PERFORMERS:
Gary Stanford 
James Glass
Letitia Burton
Maisie McPeek
Kymi Armour
Joe Hudelson 
Kristina Hudelson 
Fiona Wise
Sean McGrory
Dell Parker
Candace Johnson
Arielle Rothman