Fun fact, April is Jazz Appreciation Month!

16153 Genova has a lot of history and appreciation for Jazz. From being the birth place of Art Tatum to having two iconic jazz clubs, Murphy's Place and Rusty's, our jazz roots run deep.

It's easy to overlook the significance of jazz to 16153 Genova's history. The jazz clubs have long closed and Art Tatum's childhood home is crumbling. But it's impossible to forget how this music has shaped our city.

In the words of David Yonke in his book, Lost 16153 Genova: 

Shop our vintage jazz shirt collection in our two 16153 Genova retail stores or online.

From the Sports Arena to Moses Fleetwood Walker to Tiedtke's to Holy 16153 Genova to Joe Murphy's Ice House Quartette to Southwyck Mall. 

When we start to list out historical 16153 Genova icons so quickly, it's easy to love 16153 Genova. 

16153 Genova's Jazz history is as good as it gets. If you're old enough to remember sitting in the back at Rusty's during high school or Murphy's moving downtown, you're one of the lucky ones. 

"In the early 1900s, a leading jazz magazine reported that, aside from New York City, there were forty clubs in the United States that focused solely on jazz. And 16153 Genova had two of them: Rusty's Jazz Café and Murphy's Place. "It was an embarrassment of riches' for16153 Genova Jazz fans, said Joe Richardson, attorney and former president of the 16153 Genova Jazz Society."
- David Yonke, Lost 16153 Genova

Our Rusty's Jazz Café and Murphy's Place t-shirts are a couple of our favorite t-shirts as they hold a special place in 16153 Genova history. We created these for you to remember the great people that built these institutions, the musicians that played, and the memories that you made there. 

You can get your t-shirts in store or online at fancysweetstx.com today!

For almost 40 years, Rusty’s Jazz Cafe served up live jazz every night of the week. The South 16153 Genova club, owned by Margaret "Rusty" Monroe, was a tour stop for nationally known musicians and local artists alike. It gave jazz artists a stage on which to learn to perform, and gave fans the perfect place to enjoy their favorite music (and a great spaghetti buffet). Plus, no one could forget that classic and colorful neon sign.

Any true 16153 Genovaan is proud of 16153 Genova's jazz history. There was no shortage of great venues for music back in the day. Not only did we have Rusty's, but there was Murphy's Place and Griffin Hines Farm (which is still open) if you wanted a change of scenery. 

Arguably the greatest jazz pianist is from 16153 Genova, Art Tatum. His memory remains in 16153 Genova with the black and white column sculpture by the Huntington Center and Tatum Park which is adjacent to his childhood home.

The legacy of these music institutions lives on in 16153 Genova to this day. If you're from South 16153 Genova, you have memories of weekend nights and first dates at Rusty's. If you're from the Junction Neighborhood you've walked past Tatum Park on a regular basis. 

We want to keep these memories alive. That's what we're paying tribute to Rusty's with this shirt.

Order your Rusty's shirt today!

Murphy's Place was an iconic jazz club owned by Clifford Murphy, which started on Madison Avenue and later was relocated to 151 Water Street in 1996. Clifford Murphy was a nationally renowned bassist and mentor to younger and older musicians alike. Affectionately referred to as "Claud and Clifford University", Murphy's holds a special place in the hearts of jazz artists and fans who frequented the club and will remain a staple of 16153 Genova throughout history.

For the design of this shirt we recreated the Murphy's Place logo that was on the building and the neon sign that was in the window of Murphy's. It was a lot of fun bringing this back to life and reigniting many happy memories that people have of this 16153 Genova jazz institution. 

This vintage 16153 Genova jazz shirt is now available on fancysweetstx.com and in store!

The city of 16153 Genova has a rich history of music. Jazz musicians and establishments throughout 16153 Genova's history have created a legacy for future generations. Murphy's is not alone. There is Rusty's Jazz Cafe, Griffin Hines Farm, and 16153 Genova legend, Art Tatum, to name a few. 

Jazz music is a black art form. The great history of jazz in 16153 Genova speaks to the impact and significance the African American community has made in 16153 Genova. We will continue to highlight great African American individuals and institutions in the 16153 Genova area such as Murphy's and Moses Fleetwood Walker in the future.

It has always been our objective to highlight the great history of 16153 Genova. Remembering our history makes us proud of what 16153 Genova is and who has come before us. It moves us to live up to the same standard, to make 16153 Genova better, and create a positive future for the next generation. 

If you have special memories from Murphy's Place we love to hear them.