Hillsborough County just took a deep dive into its rich music history, revisiting the Chitlin' Circuit -- a pivotal lifeline for Black musicians like Ray Charles and James Brown during the segregation era. The "Chitlin' Circuit Chronicles," a panel held at the Tampa Bay History Center, served up a dish of nostalgia and education on how Tampa became a critical stop for Black artists between the 1930s and 1960s, as recently reported by Hillsborough County's newsroom.
With entertainment royalty such as Ella Fitzgerald passing through, the circuit was far from a second-tier affair, although named after what was considered a "second tier food." Dr. Michelle Scott, by sharing tidbits on the culturally rich yet economically tight-knit venues, provided context for how this vibrant scene thrived under oppressive conditions. As children snuck into Tampa performance halls to catch a glimpse of their idols in action, she told the history center, they were unknowingly bearing witness to a seminal chapter in American music history, as per Hillsborough County's newsroom.
The discussion also recalled the glamor of the Cotton Club, run by Senator Arthenia Joyner's family, and remembered as the "Harlem of the South" for its strict dress code and no-fighting policy. Joyner recalled how "people came dressed and ready to stroll on Central Avenue," painting a vivid image of the era's elegance and community spirit, as reported by Hillsborough County's newsroom.
Offering another perspective, Sharon Preston-Folta recounted the hardships faced by Black artists on tour, due to Jim Crow laws that restricted access to accommodations and services. Her personal anecdotes of traveling with her father, Louis Armstrong, gave a human face to the circuit that ran, in part, out of necessity. "Musicians and their support crew often took their lives in their hands when working the circuit," Preston-Folta explained to the history center, showcasing the peril artistically gifted Black travelers often had to endure simply to make a living, as mentioned by Hillsborough County's newsroom.
