History
According to Historian Eric Brock, New Orleans is the indisputable capital of jazz. It is the birthplace and finishing school of this soothing genre of music. Yet New Orleans is by no means the only city associated with this purely American art form. Certainly Memphis, Chicago, New York, and other notable cities have played a major role in the development and refinement of jazz and its cousin, The Blues.
Shreveport, too, has a significant musical heritage associated with these musical art forms. On the southwest edge of Shreveport's Central Business District is a area that has long been forgotten. Bluegoose is a enclave of a much larger neighborhood called Crosstown, which was distroyed in the 1960's for the construction of Interstate 20. The remnant of Bluegoose is the remaining portion of an area that is rich in history.
Bluegoose takes its name from a speakeasy that operated during prohibition. The Bluegoose was located in a converted camelback double shotgun house at the southwest corner of Snow and Picket Streets. On its wall was a painting of a Goose-a blue one. In 1942 the structure was torn down and a one story juke joint called the Silver Slipper took its place. Then later, The Ebony club. The Bluegoose is one of the birthplaces of blues in Shreveport. Artist such as, J.T. "Funny Papers" Smith, Ocar "Lone Wolf" Woods, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ed Scheaffer, Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter,Jesse "Babyface" Thomas, Ramblin Willard Thomas,Dave Alexander,Mighty Joe Young, "Black Ace" Turner, Kid West have played or even perfected their styles of playing here at The Bluegoose.
The Blue Goose was near the center of things in the Crosstown area. Many of the musicians who were found at the Blue Goose Grocery or in the Bluegoose neighborhood ended up there because they were passing through Shreveport by rail and the area was close to the tracks and the station. In a sense, the neighborhood was a little melting pot. The Blue Goose saw many note worthy musicians play there. Babe Kyro Lemon Turner, known as Black Ace; Kid West and Joe Harris, all performed with Buddy Woods there, and later recorded for john Lomax as part of a project for the Folksong Archive of the Library of Congress. More contemporary blues musician who played in the area include Shreveport native and blues pianst Dave Alexander, better know as Omar Sharif ( no relation to actor), who is still active today, and "Mighty Joe" Young, a blues guitarist currently recording in Chicago. (source Eric Brook and Dan Garner)
The Blue Goose was near the center of things in the Crosstown area. Many of the musicians who were found at the Blue Goose Grocery or in the Bluegoose neighborhood ended up there because they were passing through Shreveport by rail and the area was close to the tracks and the station. In a sense, the neighborhood was a little melting pot. The Blue Goose saw many note worthy musicians play there. Babe Kyro Lemon Turner, known as Black Ace; Kid West and Joe Harris, all performed with Buddy Woods there, and later recorded for john Lomax as part of a project for the Folksong Archive of the Library of Congress. More contemporary blues musician who played in the area include Shreveport native and blues pianst Dave Alexander, better know as Omar Sharif ( no relation to actor), who is still active today, and "Mighty Joe" Young, a blues guitarist currently recording in Chicago. (source Eric Brook and Dan Garner)
 'Oscar Woods' |  'Blind Lemon Jefferson' |
The Bluegoose Blues Foundation
We are a charitable, educational non-profit corporation, located in the historic neighborhood of Crosstown, which lies in the Bluegoose District in Shreveport, Louisiana. We exist to redevelop and rejuvenate the dilapidated communities of the Crosstown area by teaching individuals the value of self-worth and how to become a viable asset to their community.
Our Philosophy
In order to have a stronger community, we must teach ourselves to be stronger!
Our Objective
Our objective is to restore a sense of loyalty and pride to both individuals and the community as a whole. With the renovation and modernization of homes, individuals and families can enjoy a higher standard of living. Communities will look newer and better, while retaining the unique historical and personal qualities that make up the community.
Mission Statement
Bluegoose Blues foundation is a community development corporation that is devoted to the restoration of dilapidated communities of the Crosstown area by music and education initiatives. Our mission is to restore homes, community facilities, and business attractions to viable and profitable structures; with the restoration of these buildings, individuals and the community as a whole would reap the benefit of a higher standard of living and renewed community involvement
Mission Statement
Bluegoose Blues foundation is a community development corporation that is devoted to the restoration of dilapidated communities of the Crosstown area by music and education initiatives. Our mission is to restore homes, community facilities, and business attractions to viable and profitable structures; with the restoration of these buildings, individuals and the community as a whole would reap the benefit of a higher standard of living and renewed community involvement
| Askari Hinton Discuss the future of the Blue Goose Blues Foundation...
Blue Goose/Crosstown Documentary |
