Honoring Past and Present Jazz Legends at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge. Tuesday Feb. 16th, 2010 - Detroit MI

By The Friends of George Cushingberry Jr.
Tuesday February 16th, 2010


Baker’s Keyboard Lounge is a jazz club in the City of Detroit with a very large part in the rise and development of many music and entertainment professionals. While the front line and big name acts did well, another group of musicians that played in the background and, to others who grew up in the City, this club served as a place to perfect their skills for the big stage. Big name acts like Sonny Sitt, Les McCann, Kenny Burrell, Earl Klugh, John Coltrane and others frequently played at the club.

Comedian Redd Foxx and others frequently did shows there and walked across the street to the Kroger’s supermarket (which is now a US Post Office) to get something to cook. The “trickle down effect” was in the form of the sons, daughters and friends of this industry who did well. Guitarists such as Edward “T-Money” Green, Randy Jacobs, Saxaphonist Kerry Campbell and others continue to play their instruments with the professionalism of the artistry of the forefathers and foremothers that we all grew up around and went to high school with. A complete roster of the legendary artists who performed at Baker’s Keyboard can be viewed by clicking here.

Some of us youth who grew up in the neighborhood could only look at the marquee and imagine who was playing in there at the time. We were too young to go inside and only relied on play by play descriptions of the action from some of our older brothers and sisters.

While the neighborhood has changed around it, the club remains a mainstay in the community and to honor one of the most successful businesses in Detroit, our friend George will be hosting a Black History event on Tuesday February 16, 2010 @ 6PM at the club. This event will honor the origins of Detroit’s indigenous music and will honor Jazz supporters and musicians. We will start with honoring the ones who have transitioned on like Teddy Harris and the legendary public radio broadcaster Ed Love, all the way to US. Rep John Conyers who is an accomplished musician and big jazz supporter.


We will honor the current owner John Colbert with a special award for being faithful to the City and the neighborhood. Marcus Belgrave Professor of Music at Oberlin College will be another honoree along with legendary Saxophonist James Carter and Dwight Adams.





The featured artists for the evening will be Marian Hayden along with Rodney Whitaker Professor and Chair of Michigan State University Jazz Department.

Gaymond Ensley will kick off the evening starting at 6pm with students from the following educational intuitions, Wayne State University, Marygrove College, and Detroit Cass Technical High School.

Minimum donation requested-$20, Sponsors-$40, Gold Sponsor-$400, Platinum-$4000.

Proceeds will go to the Northwest Detroit Leadership Fund to support scholarships for school expenses.

For More Information contact:

Griffin Rivers (517)974 1863
Sabrina Lewis (517)230-9101
Roscoe Thomas (313)273-3522

(Driving Directions to Bakers via Google Maps 20510 Livernois 48221)

Sponsored by Our Man In Lansing
Co-Sponsors: Mi Hospital Association, NW Detroit Leadership, Michigan NORML