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House of Blues

House of Blues Entertainment, LLC. is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.[1] The first location opened at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts on November 26, 1992 (Thanksgiving Day).[2] The chain has been a division of Live Nation Entertainment since July 2006,[3] and there are 11 locations throughout the United States as of July 2020.

Overview

The first House of Blues opened on November 26, 1992, in the Harvard Square commercial district and retail area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a live music concert hall and restaurant.[4] The company was financed by Dan Aykroyd, Aerosmith, Paul Shaffer, River Phoenix, Jim Belushi, and Harvard University, among others.[5] This location closed in 2003 as the company sought a larger Boston venue.[6] However, the hands-in-concrete driveway where members of the Blues Brothers and others left their mark, remains. Aykroyd is still associated with the brand and attends most openings, performing as one half of The Blues Brothers.[7]

In 1993 House of Blues launched a 501(c)(3) non-profit called International House of Blues Foundation which provided arts programs, resources and musical instruments for youths. The Music Forward Foundation continues to provide services for youth and has generated more than $20 million of support for these programs over its 20+ year existence.[8] Also in 1993, the syndicated program The House of Blues Radio Hour launched in partnership with CBS Radio Hour. The show is hosted by Aykroyd, in character as Elwood Blues, and focuses on the history of blues music and the contemporary artists honoring the art form. Its final episode aired in July 2017.[9]

In 1999, House of Blues acquired Universal Concerts from Seagram.[10] On July 5, 2006, Live Nation acquired House of Blues Entertainment and created the Live Nation Club and Theater Division.[11] As a division of Live Nation, the company operates 11 clubs throughout North America.

Locations

Active

Former

List of affiliated Live Nation venues

The following is a list of venues operated by Live Nation:[12]

Gallery

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Province of Canada

References

  1. ^ Hyman, Dan (2012-12-04). "Dan Aykroyd Reconvenes Blues Brothers for House of Blues' 20th Anniversary". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  2. ^ "About | House of Blues". www.houseofblues.com. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  3. ^ Duhigg, Charles (2006-07-06). "House of Blues Sold to Live Nation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  4. ^ "Cambridge has a new House of Blues in Harvard Sq". The Tech. Archived from the original on 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  5. ^ "Joey Kramer Gets Rockin' & Roastin' with the House of Blues®". Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  6. ^ "News / Boston Globe / Living / Arts / House of Blues in Cambridge to close; begins seeking new site". boston.com. 2003-08-30. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  7. ^ "Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi christen new House of Blues Anaheim". March 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  8. ^ "About Us -". House of Blues Music Forward Foundation.
  9. ^ "About Us | TheBluesMobile". thebluesmobile.com. 5 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Seagram Plans to Sell Its Concerts Unit". Los Angeles Times. 27 July 1999.
  11. ^ "House of Blues Sold to Live Nation". Los Angeles Times. 6 July 2006.
  12. ^ "LN Clubs and Theaters". www.livenationclubsandtheaters.com.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to House of Blues.