Observation: This project is about the historical music venues in St. Louis. What drew me to this topic was when I was reviewing historical figures and culture in St. Louis and decided to research about their music venues. I believe learning about how blues and jazz came to be is also something that is good to know as it shows others how we got the things that we know today.

Problem: The question or problem I have for this topic is: how have the historic music venues of St. Louis shaped the development of jazz and blues culture in the Midwest? I chose this because I was interested in learning how these music genres came to be and why they became so significant in some cities in the Midwest.

Frame: I will be identifying the key venues. I will also research these venues’ history, ownership and any ties to social movements or community identity. I will then look into major jazz and blues musicians who came through or started in St. Louis and also see what remains of these venues today.

First source: A Guide To Experiencing The Blues In St. Louis | St. Louis Magazine

This first source gives a little overview of the history and culture of blues and jazz in St. Louis. It starts off with where blues and jazz music were born and how it migrated to the midwestern states.

Second source: Discover the Rich History of Jazz in St. Louis: Uncovering the Birthplace of Jazz st louis – Bridport Music

This second source gives more details about the history of jazz music specifically. It also gives out important information about music venues as well as notable historical figures who influenced jazz music.