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Welcome to Harlem Renaissance Report
The Cotton Club was one of the most famous nightclubs of the Harlem Renaissance, operating primarily during the 1920s and early 1930s in New York City.
Location & Background
- Opened in 1923 in the Harlem neighborhood.
- Originally owned by gangster Owney Madden.
- Decor was based on a racist “plantation” theme that romanticized the Old South.
Music & Performers
The Cotton Club became a major venue for Black musical talent, helping launch or elevate the careers of legendary performers:
- Duke Ellington (house band leader for several years)
- Cab Calloway
- Louis Armstrong
- Bessie Smith
- Lena Horne
- Ethel Waters
Many performances were broadcast nationally on the radio, spreading jazz across the United States.
The Cotton Club