The House That Fess Built
Tipitina's was founded in 1977 for the simplest and best of reasons: a group of New Orleans music lovers wanted Professor Longhair to have a place to play. Henry Roeland Byrd — known to the world as Professor Longhair, Fess, or simply the greatest pianist New Orleans ever produced — was in his sixties, in failing health, and struggling financially despite having created some of the most influential recordings in the history of American music. His fans pooled their resources, found a building at the corner of Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas in Uptown, and opened a club named after one of his most beloved songs.
It was an act of love disguised as a business venture, and it changed the musical landscape of New Orleans permanently. Tipitina's gave Fess a home stage for the final years of his life — he died in 1980 — and in doing so created a venue that would become the most important music club in the city.
The Music Club That Defined a Scene
Over the decades since its founding, Tipitina's has hosted virtually every major New Orleans musician and a staggering number of national and international acts who recognized the club as hallowed ground. Dr. John played there. The Neville Brothers played there. The Meters played there. The Radiators practically lived there. Brass bands, funk bands, zydeco bands, blues guitarists, and jazz ensembles have all taken the stage at the corner of Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas, playing to crowds that range from a handful of devotees to a packed house of 850.
The club's reputation extends far beyond New Orleans. For touring musicians, playing Tipitina's carries a significance that transcends the size of the room. It's a pilgrimage, a chance to stand on the same stage where Fess played his rolling, rhumba-inflected piano, where the Nevilles harmonized, where the second line tradition met the rock and roll tradition and both came out better for it.
More Than a Venue
Tipitina's has also served as a community institution. The Tipitina's Foundation has supported music education and New Orleans musicians through instrument donations, health care assistance, and professional development programs. After Hurricane Katrina, the club became a gathering point for the music community, a place where displaced musicians could reconnect and begin rebuilding their careers alongside the city.
The building itself is gloriously unpretentious — a low-slung structure with a bust of Professor Longhair outside and a room inside that smells like beer, sweat, and decades of good music. The sound system is excellent. The sightlines are intimate. And on a great night — when the band is locked in and the crowd is moving and the room is doing what it was built to do — there is no better place to hear music in New Orleans, which means there is no better place to hear music anywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tipitina's
Why is it called Tipitina's?
The club is named after "Tipitina," one of the most beloved songs by Professor Longhair, the legendary New Orleans pianist for whom the venue was originally created.
When was Tipitina's founded?
Tipitina's was founded in 1977 by a group of music lovers who wanted to give Professor Longhair a regular venue to perform in his later years.
Where is Tipitina's?
Tipitina's is located at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in the Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans.
What kind of music is played at Tipitina's?
Tipitina's hosts a wide range of live music including New Orleans funk, R&B, jazz, brass band, zydeco, blues, rock, and touring national acts. The club is particularly known for its deep connection to New Orleans' own musical traditions.
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