The Crescendo (music venue)
The Crescendo was a West Hollywood music venue located at 8572 Sunset Boulevard. It opened in 1954, along with the Interlude upstairs, and ran until 1964. The club's performers included Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Mathis, and Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, and comedians Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. The venue was frequented by celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Fisher, Sammy Davis Jr., Jacques Sernas, and crime boss Mickey Cohen.
History
The Crescendo was owned and operated by Gene Norman '' of GNP Crescendo Records, who had purchased the property in 1954 from singer Billy Eckstine, who had run the venue as the Chanticlair. The Chanticlair, Crescendo, and Interlude welcomed integrated audiences. Norman sold the Crescendo in 1963 to focus on GNP Crescendo Records, and in 1965 the club became The Trip.Performers
Performers at the Crescendo included:- Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
- Louie Armstrong
- Count Basie
- Oscar Brown, Jr.
- Eddie Cano
- Chubby Checker
- June Christy
- Sam Cooke
- Joey Dee & the Starliters
- Billy Eckstine
- Duke Ellington
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Chico Hamilton
- Billie Holiday
- Harry James
- Louis Jordan
- Stan Kenton
- Perez Prado
- Machito
- Herbie Mann
- Shelly Manne
- Gerry Mulligan
- Anita O'Day
- Perez Prado
- George Shearing
- Nina Simone
- Art Tatum
- Cal Tjader
- Mel Torme
- Sarah Vaughan
The club also headlined comics including: