# Club Baron

Club Baron was a popular nightclub built in 1955 on Jefferson Street in Nashville, Tennessee. The building now goes by Elks Lodge. It is colloquially known as a jack-of-all-trades. The owner, Jackson H. Brown, was a local pharmacist. The club hosted notable artists such as Jimi Hendricks, Ray Charles, and Joe Henderson. In addition, ice skating rinks, a pharmacy, and music for patrons. Patrons were primarily from Fisk University, Tennessee State University, and Meharry Medical College. The name change to Elks Lodge came when Elks Lodge No. 1102 bought the establishment in 1972.
In 2016, the Historical Marker Database, an initiative to preserve Nashville history, created a historical marker of Club Baron, reviving lost African American history. This is particularly important because a few years later, the building faced the threat of demolition. Due to protests led by CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., Butch Spyridon, the club not only survived demolition but also received funding for renovations.

## Performances

Notable Performances :
| Artist | Music Genre | Date(s) Performed |
| Fats Domino | Rock & Roll / Blues | 7/25/1955, 7/26/1955, 5/4/1959 |
| Sonny Thompson | Rhythm & Blues | 9/4/1955 |
| The "5" Royales | Rhythm & Blues | 10/11/1955, 12/25/1955 |
| Muddy Waters | Blues | 10/27/1955 |
| Roy Brown | Blues | 11/23/1955, 11/24/1955 |
| Etta James | Gospel, Blues, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul | 12/13/1955, 12/14/1955 |
| Bill Doggett | Jazz, Blues | 2/29/1956 |
| Ray Charles | Soul, Rhythm & Blues | 10/24/1956 |
| Little Walter | Blues | 12/12/1956 |
| Jay Hawkins | Blues & Rock | 6/5/1960 |
| The Isley Brothers | Rhythm & Blues, Soul | 6/5/1960 |
| Jimmy Jones | Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll | 6/5/1960 |
| Al Brown's Tune Toppers | Rhythm & Blues, Rock & Roll | 6/5/1960 |
| Ruth McFadden | Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Pop | 7/21/1960 |
| Jackie Wilson | Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Pop | 7/21/1960 |
| Arthur Prysock | Rhythm & Blues, Jazz | 7/21/1960 |
| Chris Colombo & Orchestra | Jazz | 7/21/1960 |
| Larry Birdsong | Rhythm & Blues | 12/7/1961 |
| Joe Henderson | Jazz | 7/15/1962 |

## Other notable occurrences

* On September 16, 1963, Cassius Clay visited Club Baron while travelign from Miami, FL to his hometown of Louisville, KY. He engaged with reported outside of the Club Del Morocco, and read them a poem about his upcoming fight with Sonny Liston in 1964
* Jimi Hendrix was a frequent patron of Club Del Morocco. However, in 1963 he visited Club Baron to challenge renowned Nashville guitarist Johnny Jones to a guitar duel. While Jones beat Hendrix, Jones covered "Purple Haze" in 1969 as a tribute to Hendrix
* On September 25, 1963, Joel Vradenberg, the operator of the Club Baron at the time, was forced to forfeit $100 in bonds due to charges of disorderly conduct. He was said to have a "disorderly house" and allowing minors and intoxicated persons to loiter on his property
* On April 29, 1965, the Davidson Country Grand Jury pushed for the closing of the Club Baron, calling it the "crossroads of crime in our city"
* On May 2, 1965, a woman from North Nashville was stabbed to death at the club
* On August 5, 1965, the Club Baron reopened after closing in June for remodeling. The owner, Jackson H. Brown, chose to begin personally running the club
* On October 11, 1966, the Club baron was auctioned off by Jim Stevens Realty and Auction Associates

## Danger of demolition

Club Baron went into disrepair due to neglect and storm damage, raising concerns about its demolition. The structure, which had hosted the Elks Lodge #1102 since the 1960s. However, its deteriorating condition, which included a falling roof and considerable water damage, earned it a spot on Historic Nashville, Inc.'s endangered property list. Given the loss of numerous historic landmarks along Jefferson Street, there was growing concern that Club Baron, like others before it, would be destroyed.
Efforts to save the building gained traction when Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp., became involved. The neighborhood was skeptical at first since prior promises of assistance had not been delivered. However, Spyridon quickly raised over $300,000 through personal outreach and online campaigns, securing cash for critical repairs. The roof and awning were repaired and electrical and plumbing issues were addressed. The project aimed not only to save the building, but also to restore its use as a community place.