Howard’s Steak House
Howard’s Steak House was located at 715 Sixth Ave. No.
This was a famous jazz venue, home of after-hours jam sessions with Lester Young, the Pettifords, Duke Ellington, and Eli Rice. It went back to at least the spring of 1950.
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Ira and Jeanne Pettiford and Friends at Howard’s Steakhouse, 1950. Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
HOWARD’S CLUB JAZZ
In September 1952 Howard’s Steak House became Howard’s Club Jazz. Performers included:
- Eddie Williams Combo – sax man supreme
- Stan Williams – percussion star on double drums
- Mr. X, vocalist and pianist
- B.B. King
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Minnesota Daily, October 1952. Ad courtesy Robb Henry
Howard’s Club Jazz advertised in the fall of 1953:
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- Ira Pettiford and His All Stars
- Rook Ganz
- Frank Hines
- Perry Peoples (who perpetrated the fake Buddy Miles hoax in 1971)
On December 31, 1953, Howard’s Club Jazz reopened under new management.
In June 1954 it was back to Howard’s Steak House, with the Five Cats playing nightly.
It closed in 1955.
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Howard’s Steak House. Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society
The building was demolished in about January 1957.