3135 K St., NW
“The home of Dixieland music.”
Room capacity of 450 (some claim it held 500).
Opened 1953. Jazz continued until at least 1964. Club sold in 1998 to Millennium Partners and Eastbanc, Inc. Last show December 31, 1998.
Recordings by Coleman Hawkins (1959).
“From 1953 until the early ’60s, the Bayou thrived with Dixieland, following that with a brief run as an exotic dance club. It first became associated with rock in the mid ’60s, when the Telstars became the new house band.” (WP 12/30/98 p.D4)
Formerly Pirates' Den, Jazzland, and Port Georgetown.
Owner Vincent Tramonte and brother and Mike Munley (1953-), Dave Williams and Jack Boyle [Cellar Door Productions] (1980-1997), John Boyle (1997-1998).
Artists
- Wild Bill Whelan (1953-1963)
Bobby Conway and Wild Bill Whelan at The Bayou
Woody Herman at Bayou
WP 3/28/65 p.G7
Count Basie at The Bayou
WP 6/6/65 p.G6
Bibliography
Harrington, Richard. “Last Call At the Bayou; After 45 Rockin’ Years, The Landmark Nightclub Closes.” Washington Post, December 30, 1998.
Heath, Thomas. “The Bayou’s Story, and a Labor of Love.” Washington Post, March 26, 2012.
Kelly, John. “The Bayou, Born of Bad Blood and Good Jazz.” Washington Post, July 31, 2011.
Kelly, John. “When the Bayou Was Boss in D.C.’s Rock Scene.” Washington Post, July 17, 2011.
Roberts, Byron. “I Wish There Were More Land of Dixie.” Washington Post, September 19, 1965.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Benefit at the Bayou.” Washington Post, October 6, 1985.
Stokes, W. Royal. “Getting Wild Again.” Washington Post. November 20, 1983.
“Louis Bellson/Horan Toperzer Big Band.” Unicorn Times, May 1975.
“Two Firemen Hurt in Blaze That Burns Out Night Club.” Washington Post, November 8, 1953.
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