Philadelphia's music history — a DIY tour
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia doesn't make it easy for music fans to explore the city's vast and rich musical legacy, but you can cobble together a do-it-yourself tour of the sights, sounds and neighborhoods that nurtured talent.
Other places for inspiration: local news site Billy Penn puts out a Black Music Map every year in honor of Black History Month, and fans and experts offer tours through Jane's Walks, like this recent one exploring Ridge Avenue's jazz corridor.
—SIGMA SOUND STUDIOS, 212 N. 12th St. The studio founded in 1968 by engineer Joe Tarsia helped create "The Sound of Philadelphia" — rich layers of vocals and orchestral arrangements, often echoing with a political message.
—THE UPTOWN THEATER , 2240 N. Broad St. The Uptown rivaled New York City's Apollo theater, and was a major stop on the "Chitlin Circuit" — a network of clubs and theaters with mostly black owners and audiences during segregation.
The building now houses a small business development center, but the studio is still intact with the original lighting and memorabilia is highlighted around the building.
Over the years there was talk of transforming it into a music museum, possibly housing the Rhythm and Blues Foundation or restoring it as a live music venue.
—THE CHECKER CAFE (LATER, THE CHECKER CLUB), 2125 Ridge Ave. This dilapidated building is the shell of the last jazz club along what was once the bustling Ridge Avenue jazz corridor.