Gip's Place: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Gips Place.jpg|right|175px]] | [[Image:Gips Place.jpg|right|175px]] | ||
{{Locate | Lat= 33.41004 | lon=-86.92817 | zoom=17 | type=h}} | {{Locate | Lat= 33.41004 | lon=-86.92817 | zoom=17 | type=h}} | ||
'''Gip's Place''' | '''Gip's Place''' was a blues joint located in the back yard of [[Gip Gipson]]'s home on [[Avenue C Bessemer|Avenue C]] on [[Paul's Hill]] in [[Bessemer]]. | ||
An avid blues fan and part-time musician, in [[1952]] Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. [[Lenny Madden]] built the garage that | An avid blues fan and part-time musician, in [[1952]] Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. [[Lenny Madden]] built the garage that later housed Gip's Place. Gipson and [[Jeff Dunaway]] kept up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint. | ||
Gip's Place | Gip's Place became, over the years, a must-stop venue for blues musicians across the Southeast. They cited the "authentic Delta" feel of the little shack that could hold 50 people shoulder-to-shoulder. On summer nights the side-tarps were removed to allow more people to hear the music while gathered in Gipson's back yard. | ||
An early-morning fire on [[July 16]], [[2011]] caused damage to a storage building between Gipson's home and the performing area, destroying several guitars, including one that was a gift from Chuck Berry. | An early-morning fire on [[July 16]], [[2011]] caused damage to a storage building between Gipson's home and the performing area, destroying several guitars, including one that was a gift from Chuck Berry. | ||
On [[May 4]], [[2013]], [[Bessemer Police Department|Bessemer Police]] shut down the venue for operating illegally. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." ''Black & White'' | * Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." ''Black & White'' | ||
* Carlton, Bob (April 25, 2010) "[http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2010/04/for_blues_loves_gips_place_in.html For blues lovers, Gip's Place in Bessemer is the place to be on Saturday nights.]" | * Carlton, Bob (April 25, 2010) "[http://blog.al.com/bob-carlton/2010/04/for_blues_loves_gips_place_in.html For blues lovers, Gip's Place in Bessemer is the place to be on Saturday nights.]" {{BN}} | ||
* Tomberlin, Michael (July 16, 2011) "Fire at Gip's Place won't silence hot licks, cool music." ' | * Tomberlin, Michael (July 16, 2011) "Fire at Gip's Place won't silence hot licks, cool music." {{BN}} | ||
* Stein, Kelsey (May 5, 2013) "Bessemer police shut down backyard blues joint Gip's Place." {{BN}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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[[Category:1952 establishments]] | [[Category:1952 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:1952 buildings]] | [[Category:1952 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:2013 disestablishments]] | |||
Revision as of 13:00, 5 May 2013
Gip's Place was a blues joint located in the back yard of Gip Gipson's home on Avenue C on Paul's Hill in Bessemer.
An avid blues fan and part-time musician, in 1952 Gipson began hosting barbecues in his back yard for musicians to entertain friends and neighbors. The weekend events grew in popularity and he gradually added a small enclosure with a stage. Lenny Madden built the garage that later housed Gip's Place. Gipson and Jeff Dunaway kept up with maintenance and repairs on the juke joint.
Gip's Place became, over the years, a must-stop venue for blues musicians across the Southeast. They cited the "authentic Delta" feel of the little shack that could hold 50 people shoulder-to-shoulder. On summer nights the side-tarps were removed to allow more people to hear the music while gathered in Gipson's back yard.
An early-morning fire on July 16, 2011 caused damage to a storage building between Gipson's home and the performing area, destroying several guitars, including one that was a gift from Chuck Berry.
On May 4, 2013, Bessemer Police shut down the venue for operating illegally.
References
- Reynolds, Ed (August 7, 2008) "The Juke Joint: An authentic blues experience lies only a few miles west of Birmingham." Black & White
- Carlton, Bob (April 25, 2010) "For blues lovers, Gip's Place in Bessemer is the place to be on Saturday nights." The Birmingham News
- Tomberlin, Michael (July 16, 2011) "Fire at Gip's Place won't silence hot licks, cool music." The Birmingham News
- Stein, Kelsey (May 5, 2013) "Bessemer police shut down backyard blues joint Gip's Place." The Birmingham News
External links
- Gips Place on Facebook