The Bijou Cafe opened on October 4, 1972. The club was in the former location of the legendary Showboat. The Bijou hosted luminaries including Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Bill Evans, Jon Lucien, Phoebe Snow, Gil Scott-Heron, Deniece Williams, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Bobby Womack, Ramsey Lewis, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Billy Paul, Sun Ra, Richard Pryor, Dick Gregory, Horace Silver, and Herbie Hancock.
Grover Washington, Jr. recorded “Live at the Bijou” in May 1977.
In the 1970s and early ‘80s, the Bijou was Philadelphia’s premier showcase for up-and-coming artists, including Barry Manilow, Angela Bofill and U2.
Longtime radio personality T. Morgan recalled:
The jazz lineups were nothing short of spectacular and the comedy was even better! The National Lampoon Show with future superstars John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner and Lorraine Newman all appeared together. Another comedy troupe, Firesign Theater also appeared. Billy Crystal was an opening act four times and a headliners three times. His impersonation of Muhammad Ali was a big crowd favorite. Albert Brooks, Richard Pryor, Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld and Dick Gregory all keep the audiences amused.
All That Philly Jazz 
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