A Place Named Storyville… Where the Blues was Born

Pops Foster

A few blocks off Bourbon Street in the New Orleans French Quarter used to exist an area called “Storyville”. An appropriate name for this area of legalized prostitution in the early 1900s. The clientele was of all races and social levels. Here establishments ranged from cheap “cribs” or 50 cent joints, to a row of elegant mansions for well-heeled customers.

Louis Armstrong

It is also the area where new forms of music flourished. Establishments hired a piano player and sometimes, small bands as bonus entertainment. Most of these players couldn’t read music. They were musically self-taught using church hymns and bits of classics they picked up as their musical base.

Jelly Roll Morton

It was those early piano players who sat at their piano for hours, night after night, entertaining the customers of those cribs waiting their turn to go upstairs. But over time they got bored and began just playing what they felt. The result of these impromptu variations became a new form of music. At first it was called the Blues. You can understand why. But the Blues turned from sad to fun and became the music of dance parties in the streets or at famous ballrooms like the Orleans Ballroom and later The Big Easy.

Buddy Bolden

As their music became more popular it continued to evolve into what is known today as Jazz. Famous musicians who got their start in Storyville include Buddy Bolden, Jell Roll Morton and Pops Foster. Following behind them came the greats like Kid Ory, Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain and many more.

Visit Preservation Hall and join in a free concert by today’s talented Blues and Jazz artists to experience the history of this all American grown musical artform. Preservation Hall is one of the sites visited on SelfTour’s GPS Guided Walking Tour App of the French Quarter.