The Barrelhouse
The Barrelhouse Club, at 107th and Wilmington in Watts, Los Angeles, was a rhythm and blues nightclub opened in 1948 and co-owned by Johnny Otis, and Bardu and Tila Ali.
It was named in honour of the Barrel House in Omaha, Nebraska, the first club in that district to welcome black and white customers.Artists who performed at the venue included Mel Walker, Esther Phillips, who first performed there at a talent show, The Robins, The Hollywood Flames, and Big Jay McNeely. Many of the performers at the club would join Otis' Rhythm and Blues Caravan in the early 1950s. Pete "Guitar" Lewis, who played guitar for Johnny Otis between the late 1940s and mid 1950s, also recorded an instrumental, "Midnight in the Barrelhouse," for the Excelsior record label, presumably in honor of the club.
