Former Location –
One of the Bay Area’s better known nightclubs for black acts in the 60’s and 70’s, the Showcase Lounge had everybody here at one time or another including Ike and Tina Turner, B.B. King, The Temptations and Jackie Wilson.
By hosting major acts, The Showcase Lounge helped cement Oakland and the East Bay as a stop on national music tours — giving local music lovers access to world-class performances without needing to go to major coastal cities.
Notable Acts Appearing At The Showcase Lounge Include:
January 8, 1972 – The Whispers
December 24, 1965 – Harold Andrews
September12, 1965 – The Coasters
July 26, 1965 – The Fuller Brothers
February 24, 1965 – Paul Revere and the Raiders
The Showcase Lounge
3228 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland CA 94609
I lived right across the street from the Showcase and had a birdseye view of the goings on. It definetly was a showcase of cars, fashion and hair styles and some amazing artists. EVERYONE was LAID OUT!!
Wasn’t it great to be able to hear that great music from your apartment? I lived midway down 33rd next to the Baptist Church in 1972, wonderful times! I remember when the O’Jays played at the Showcase!
Released last year was a CD of a BB King show at The Showcase in January 1971. Good it is too!
Is this tony burke that sayed on myrtle
Sorry that should read February 1971 not January. The CD is on Floating World and is from a radio broadcast from the venue.
My Father played here for quite some time I heard it was a showcase for real.
To my Father I miss you.
Sharp memories from the mid-1960s. …. Lou Rawls, Les McCann, Joe Williams , Hank Crawford, etc. . . . . Don Barksdale owned the place. He made this white boy feel welcome.
How about The Whispers, The Ballads, The Natural Four and Freddie Hughes👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
I saw Richard Pryor at the Showcase when he debut as a new comedian in 1969 or 1970.