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Larry and His Attitudes Count Basie Chuck Berry Johnny Cash Dave Burgess and the Champs The Checkers The Chordeens The Coasters The Col-Lee-Jets The Cordeers |
Bobby Darin Fats Domino Lord Dent and the Invaders The Drifters Duane Eddy Duke Ellington Woody Herman Band Harry James Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids |
Leon Smith and the Orbit Rockers Carl Perkins Little Richard Clayton Watson and the Silhouettes The Teen Kings The Thunderbirds The Twisters |
Woody Herman Band at the
Cottonwoods - 9 November 1947 - Photo by John Eggen
The Cottonwoods Ballroom was located on highway 20 about halfway between Albany and Lebanon, about 7 miles from highway 99 (before I-5) It was built as a dance hall in 1930 and operated steady until 1961, then sporadically over the years. It even suffered the indignity of being a "disco" in 1979. The building was last used as a bingo hall until 1995, when the roof collapsed and it was torn down. The sign still stands on the vacant lot.In the 1940's, the list of big bands who played at Cottonwoods reads like a "who's who" of that era. It is a fascinating list for those who are interested in that time. For example, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Count Basie, The King Cole Trio, Louis Armstrong, etc, etc.
Jim Creighton
Cottonwoods Researcher
jimacr8on@yahoo.com
June 2007
My father-in-law told stories about how he saw Elvis Presley play there before he was famous.
Becky Hiller, September 2010
We were the first group to play Rock and Roll at the Cottonwoods Ballroom in Albany, Oregon. After the first gig the owner, "Evelyn", fired us because she thought we were too loud.
A month or so later - she called us back -- and we went back as a trio.
Jess Johnson, The Corvettes
December 2013
Fats Domino was there too. He also signed autographs at Sarchets' Music Store downtown. I got one and still have it. Unfortunately, I was too young while I lived in Albany to go inwside the dance hall.
Joan Fick, August 2017
