of a man named Mr. Thompson, who owned the nightclub leading up to 1963 when it was purchased by Paul Knauls. The Cotton Club was part of the Chitlin' Circuit, which was a network of venues on the West Coast that were safe for African American performers to play their music. Many of the celebrities that came to the Portland area to perform would finish their evening at the Cotton Club. In addition to being a popular spot for celebrities on the Chitlin's Circuit, the club gained traction among white community after being featured in the column “Baker’s Dozen” written by Doug Baker of the Oregon Journal. The club was successful for about seven years until its doors closed in 1970. Notable performers included: Sammy Davis Jr. and Cab Calloway Duke Ellington Mel Brown, who went on to be the drummer for Diana Ross Calvin Walker, The Sander's Brothers, Seven Souls, and Sunday's Child were all involved with the cotton club early in their musical careers Ron Steen Renn Woods See also Jazz in Portland, Oregon Music of Oregon References African-American cultural history African-American history in Portland, Oregon Defunct nightclubs in Portland, Oregon Eliot, Portland, Oregon Jazz clubs in Oregon Jazz in Oregon North Portland, Oregon