ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY: Jookin' in the A

by Libby Anthony

When we know our history, we can successfully plot our future. The history and contributions of Atlanta’s entertainment trailblazers have never before been told so thoroughly and inclusively. “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jookin’ in the A” tells the stories. Atlanta is a microcosm of Black America. It is a successful portrait of black people; their experiences; their pitfalls and their accomplishments. The Atlanta entertainment environment has served as a “startup” for entertainment worldwide. So goes Atlanta, so goes the world?! “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jookin’ in the A” is a history of Atlanta’s local musicians, their jooking, their accomplishments; and a tribute to the entrepreneurs who created the space to jook. It is homage to black entrepreneurship and live entertainment. “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jooking in the A” is a “must read” for anyone who ever partied in Atlanta and would enjoy a stroll down memory lane. The jook joint in America is traced back to the days of slavery. Its origin tracks back to the Gullah people, who likely hung on to the word “jook” from its true origin in West Africa. Jook is often associated with wicked and disorderly; while “to jook” is to dance. From slavery through reconstruction to modern day, the jook joint has had social, cultural, economic and civic impact on black communities. Its importance to American music can never be overstated. Quincy Jones referred to the jook joint as “the anvil on which so much music was forged”. Make no mistake – the emergence of Atlanta as an ‘entertainment center’ is not new, it is rather a resurgence. Atlanta has always been a crucible for music. It has always been an ‘incubator’ for entertainment. Its entertainment history is the history of black entertainment in America. From barrelhouse to bass, from honky-tonk to hip hop, hundreds of artists have passed through the jook joints of Atlanta on their way to stardom. “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jookin’ in the A” memorializes the joints and pioneers of Atlanta’s entertainment scene through the eyes of 40 year entertainment professional, Libby Anthony. It reminds us and tells the stories of the first entrepreneurs and their struggles from the Atlanta riot through Jim Crow and post-integration. It chronicles the pitfalls of the promoters while glorifying their contributions to the community. From Decatur Street through Campbellton Road and beyond, the book honors the stories of the jook joint owners, promoters and players. While exploring this important stop on the ‘Chitlin Circuit’, the importance of the circuit is acknowledged. Since some of the same issues and problems continue to plaque the black entertainment business, Ms. Libby via, “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jookin’ in the A” provides parallels of understanding and circumspectly explores solutions to some current concerns. “ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT Jookin’ in the A” is entertaining, informative and important for preserving and promoting Atlanta's (and hence America’s) black entertainment industry.

241 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2021

Reviews

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

"ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY "Jookin in the A” by Libby Anthony is a fantastic read on the evolvement of the Black/African American’s plight to enter and survive in the music industry! Ms. Anthony tells how music and dance started and grew in Atlanta, the state of Georgia and other areas of the United States. She gives an in-depth account of the Black/African American’s entertainment history! Her discussion of "Booking Agents, Promoters, and Ownership of Venues” is an education for newcomers to the industry. “Jookin in the A” starts with a brief history of Juke Joints, a place where slaves gathered for entertainment! She writes about the developments of nightclubs in Atlanta and other areas in Georgia, the financial plights of the owners, and the racial discrimination face by the owners. There is the history of the violations of the civil rights of Black/African American owners, promoters, and booking agents, how they were overlooked by black artist for managements and bookings and how they chose to retain their white counterparts in the industry!
This reading is most informative, and remarkably interesting; a must read for anyone interested in working as a Promoter, Booking Agent, or Manager! A great read for anyone who craves knowledge about the involvement for the evolvement of the Black/ African American’s trek for a place in the world of entertainment! ATLANTA ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY " Jookin in the A” can be purchased from Amazon or from the author Libby Anthony, at "Libby Anthony" ipi_bookings@yahoo.com