Northwest Dance & Music Venues

Harry Levy (Owner - Magic Inn), Norm Hoagy and B. Frisque  (Photo by Sal Carrabba - Provided Courtesy of Stephanie Porter)  About 1948
The Magic Inn
6th Avenue and Union Street
Seattle, Washington

Some of the bands that performed at this place during those great years of NW music were:
 

Little Willie John
Norm Hoagy Orchestra
 

Others ?

Pete Carraba on trumpet, Bill Kotick on drums, Norm Hoagy on sax, Lola Sugia on vocals, Al Wied on bass and Ernest Rosa on piano.
The Norm Hoagy Band at The Magic Inn (circa 1959).

One of the acts who played there in the early 60's was Little Willie John.  Little Willie was the guy who had a hit with "Fever" in 1956/57.  Of course, Peggy Lee had a hit with the song too with some updated female lyrics.  The last time Little Willie performed here in the 60's he got into a fight after the show and killed someone.  Willie was sent the the WA state prison at Walla Walla where he died years ago.

Stan Foreman

Little Willie John is arrested for murder after performing at Seattle's Magic Inn on October 16 and 17, 1964.

On October 16 and 17, 1964, Seattle's Magic Inn nightclub (6th Avenue & Union Street) hosts the famed 1950s rhythm & blues singer Little Willie John (1937-1968) for a rollicking weekend engagement.  His arrest for homicide by the Seattle Police Department several hours after the second show makes that gig among John's last performances.

Read more at HistoryLink.org  (HistoryLink File #8414)

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Last Update:  28 February 2013
Credits:  Peter Blecha, HistoryLink.org, Stan Foreman, Stephanie Porter, Maia Santell