January 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Free
On Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 2:00pm, Russ Gifford will present about “50 Years of Big Names, Great Music, and Memorable Venues: Sioux City on the Music Circuit” Admission is free; reception to follow.
It was no accident that Sioux City spent decades as a key stop for some of music’s biggest names. Sioux City boasted venues with great stages, big, beautiful dance floors, and all in a central location that provided the key train and travel connections to the world. Early radio in Siouxland also provided a major ability to reach people across the region. As one of the major cities in the Plains, the second largest city in Iowa, Sioux City was home to a variety of people. These people who could be moved by big bands, country crooners, smooth jazz singers and hot new stars.
Move was a key point: Dancing was the draw of music, and Sioux City’s dance facilities were second to none in the Midwest. Sioux City drew big names – and rave reviews – as they toured the country. In Sioux City, the artists made connections! From the Skylon to Shore Acres, the Rigadon to the Paddock, the Tomba and the Turin Inn, we will see the places and hear the stories of the names that made Sioux City a popular part of the music scene! We will also see how Sioux City made history in each era, including Jazz, Swing, and the groundswell that became Rock n Roll!
None of this was by accident. Sioux City was not a side bar but a key location for great performances, thanks to great locations, great promotions, and great audiences!
We will meet names from yesterday that made memories for millions, from Louie Armstrong to Elvis, big bands to the Beach Boys, Sioux City enticed, entertained, and elated the stars of the stage. We will also meet the man that became a vital link in creating this circuit, and enshrined Sioux City’s place in it.
Join Russ Gifford and see these great locations that have been forgotten and hear the stories of the artists that left a mark on music and on the business. Russ Gifford, Senior Lecturer with Western Iowa Tech’s Institute for Lifelong Learning, delivers tales of American history to audiences in the tri-state region. His two decades of programs include over 350 unique talks, plus numerous articles, and historical papers. Gifford’s work garnered two teaching awards, and his lectures have been supported by grants from Humanities Iowa, the Kind World Foundation, and others. More information at https://www.russgifford.net/russ_gifford_about.htm
