Ray Charles, Ella Fitgerald, James Brown, and many others were part of the segregation-era travel network that brought musicians to the county
Hillsborough County made music history roughly 80 years ago when Tampa was a stop on the Chitlin' Circuit. B.B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and James Brown were just a few of the celebrated musicians that performed in the area between the 1930s and 1960s.
A conversation highlighting the Chitlin' Circuit's significance in Hillsborough history was recently hosted by the Tampa Bay History Center. Insights on the local music scene were discussed by a well-rounded panel that included a former Florida state senator and authors, filmmakers, and civil rights activists.
Second-tier turned delicacy
Before the discussion turned to childhood memories of sneaking into a bygone Tampa performance hall to hear Ray Charles, the panel addressed how the decades-past network of mostly Black-owned music venues came to be known as the "Chitlin' Circuit."
Dr. Michelle Scott, author, historian, and professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, explained that the prepared food called chitterlings, or "chitlin's," was made from pig intestines. Back in the day, they were eaten by the Black working-class community and sometimes served at "Black only" establishments.
Though it wasn't mainstream, the pork dish, after being dressed up and seasoned, was considered a soul food delicacy. Naming the performers' network after a "second tier food" reflects the idea that, during Jim Crow, the racially segregated circuit was not valued by those outside of the Black community.
The Cotton Club, owned and operated by the Joyner family, was a local stop on the Chitlin' Circuit. Senator Arthenia Joyner shared her memories of the Tampa hotspot when her father ran the venue, and she considered herself a "child of Central Avenue."
During the 1950s and 60s, Tampa was nicknamed the "Harlem of the South" and, according to Joyner, the Cotton Club was considered the "premier place to go." Men were required to wear coat and ties and the women always looked sharp. A policy of no fighting was strictly enforced at the club. As Joyner described it, "people came dressed and ready to stroll on Central Avenue."
On the road as a Black musician during Jim Crow
Sharon Preston-Folta, author and filmmaker, spoke to the logistics of performing on the road as a Black musician during segregation. Preston-Folta, whose father was legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong, traveled with her parents as a young child on the Chitlin' Circuit.
She highlighted the challenges -- and sometimes dangers -- Black performers faced when trying to find lodgings, restaurants, and general services during the Jim Crow era. Laws forbidding nonwhites from using most businesses presented unique challenges for Black people, especially when traveling through the South. Preston-Folta pointed out that due to widespread discrimination, musicians and their support crew often took their lives in their hands when working the circuit.
The panel discussion, moderated by NPR TV and media critic Eric Deggans, took place on Feb. 19. A performance by jazz singer-songwriter Siobhan Monique followed the panel discussion's question and answer segment.
Arts Council of Hillsborough County
The "Chitlin' Circuit Chronicles" event was made possible by funding from the Arts Council of Hillsborough County through the Special Event Partnership Grant program.
The Special Events Partnership Grant is for events administered by nonprofit organizations. The grant is designed to strengthen and promote cultural assets through growing and supporting arts and cultural events that encourage community-building.
To learn more and see first-hand the works of past grant recipients, view the Art813 series on YouTube. For more information about grant funding, visit the Arts Council of Hillsborough County and sign up to receive the Arts Council monthly e-newsletter.