The Crescendo was a West Hollywood music venue located at 8572 Sunset Boulevard. It opened in 1954, along with the Interlude upstairs, and ran until 1964. The club's performers included Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Mathis, and Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, and comedians Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. The venue was frequented by celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Fisher, Sammy Davis Jr., Jacques Sernas, and crime boss Mickey Cohen."Reveals Divorce Plans" Longview Daily News, 3, June 7, 1962 History The Crescendo was owned and operated by Gene Norman (né Eugene Abraham Nabatoff; 1922–2015) of GNP Crescendo Records, who had purchased the property in 1954 from singer Billy Eckstine, who had run the venue as the Chanticlair. The Chanticlair, Crescendo, and Interlude welcomed integrated audiences."Count on the Coast: Basie, '58," by Marc Myers, All About Jazz, January 10, 2014
Norman sold the Crescendo in 1963 to focus on GNP Crescendo Records."Count on the Coast: Basie, '58," by Marc Myers, All About Jazz, January 10, 2014 Carl Greenhouse acquired the club, and on June 4, 1965, it reopened as Crescendo Tiger's Tail. On September22, 1965, it changed its name to The Trip, and by early1967, it had become The New Crescendo.
Performers
Performers at the Crescendo included:
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Louie Armstrong Count Basie Oscar Brown, Jr. Eddie Cano Chubby Checker June Christy Sam Cooke Joey Dee & the Starliters Billy Eckstine Duke Ellington Ella Fitzgerald Dizzy Gillespie Chico Hamilton Billie Holiday Harry James Louis Jordan Stan Kenton Perez Prado Machito Herbie Mann Shelly Manne Gerry Mulligan Anita O'Day Perez Prado George Shearing Nina Simone Art Tatum Cal Tjader Mel Torme Sarah VaughanCanyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon, by Harvey Kubernik, Scott Calamar (ed.); Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. (2009), pps. 14–17 & 60; ;
Folk music was represented with appearances by:
The Limeliters Joe & Eddie Theodore Bikel Chad Mitchell Jim McGuinn
The club also headlined comics including:
Woody Allen Shelley Berman Lenny Bruce Lord Buckley Bill Cosby Redd Foxx Dick Gregory Tom Lehrer Bob Newhart Don Rickles Mort Sahl Jonathan Winters
Selected recordings at the Crescendo 1954:Art TatumLive at the Crescendo, Vol. 1 & 21954:Earl HinesLive at the Crescendo, Vol. 2 (released 1992)1955:Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong at the Crescendo, Vol. 1, Vol. 2 & Vol. 3,1955:Frank Morgan, Conte Candoli and Machito's Rhythm SectionGene Norman Presents: Frank Morgan with Conte Candoli and Machito's Rhythm SectionNote: the CD reissue of this album adds 5 tracks recorded August 1956 at the Crescendo with Jack Sheldon, Frank Morgan, James Clay, Bobby Timmons, Jimmy Bond, Lawrence Marable1956:Billy DanielsGene Norman Presents: Mr. Black Magic – Billy Daniels at the Crescendo1957:Mel TorméMel Tormé at the Crescendo1958:George Shearing & The QuintetOn the Sunny Side of the Strip (released 1960)1958:Count Basie & His Atomic BandComplete Live at the Crescendo (re-released 2016; 5 CDs)1959:René Touzet and His OrchestraRené Touzet and His Orchestra Play for Dancing at the Crescendo on the World Famous Sunset Strip1959:Frances FayeCaught in the Act1961:T. C. JonesT. C. Jones – Himself! (released 1961)1960:Jeri SouthernJeri Southern at the Crescendo1960:Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Zoot SimsThe Swingers!1960:Eddie Cano & Jack CostanzoWith Tony Martinez and His OrchestraDancing on the Sunset Strip1960:The Teddy Buckner BandFrank Bull and Gene Norman Present: The Teddy Buckner Band on the Sunset Strip1961:Ella FitzgeraldElla in Hollywood | Twelve Nights in Hollywood1961:MachitoMachito at the Crescendo1963:Jonah JonesAnd Now in Person Jonah Jones1963:Arthur LymanThe Exotic Sounds of Arthur Lyman at the Crescendo(re-issued in 1965 as Cast Your Fate to the Wind)1964:Wayne NewtonIn Person!
Notes
References