Paul Myers opened the Aqua Lounge circa 1965. It was one of Philadelphia’s premier jazz clubs. The Aqua Lounge was the first jazz venue on “the Strip.”

Aqua Lounge headliners included Roy Ayers, George Benson, Art Blakey, Dave Burrell, Betty Carter, Ron Carter, Johnny Coles, Charles Earland, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gloria Lynne, Hugh Masekela, Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan, Irene Reid, Max Roach, Pharoah Sanders, Shirley Scott, Gil Scott-Heron, Archie Shepp, Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Dakota Staton, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Witherspoon.

In an interview with the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences’ West Philadelphia Music Project, jazz drummer Lucky Thompson shared his memories of the Aqua Lounge:

And right along 52nd street, there was a club called the Aqua Lounge, it used to bring a lot of famous musicians through there, like Miles, Max [unclear], and I mean they would come out and stand in one of the corners smoking a cigarette, and Philly Joe Jones, and umm, a lot of Shirley Scott, a lot of famous musicians. Called the Aqua Lounge. That was one of the clubs known for being on the Strip.

Gil Scott-Heron name-checks the Aqua Lounge in “Is That Jazz?”

Lee Morgan had a week-long engagement at the Aqua Lounge in October 1971. It was his last hometown appearance before his tragic death four months later.

The Aqua Lounge closed around 1975. It is now the home of the African Cultural Art Forum.

Lee Morgan’s historical marker was unveiled in front of the Aqua Lounge/African Cultural Art Forum on International Jazz Day 2024.

The Aqua Lounge is a stop on the walking tour, 52nd Street Stroll.