Charlie Burke

Dublin Core

Title

Charlie Burke

Subject

Charlie Burke's going for broke- the nice way

Description

Charles Burke grew up on Coursol Street in Montreal and, after finishing school, worked as a railway porter. His seniority on the railway allowed him to select a schedule that left his weekends free, which gave him the opportunity to start a side project, a small jazz club. Because he worked during the week and ran the club on weekends, the Black Bottom operating outside “mainstream” nightlife hours, opening late and often continuing until early morning, which made it a popular destination for serious jazz fans and musicians. Over time, the club earned a reputation as a safe space for Montreal’s Black community and a place to socialize, connect, and celebrate Black culture through both jazz and food.

Creator

Herbert Aronoff

Source

Aronoff, Herbert. “Charlie Burke’s going for broke-the nice way,” The Gazette, June 20, 1970, 39 https://www.newspapers.com

Publisher

The Gazette

Date

June 20, 1970

Contributor

The Gazette

Rights

The Gazette

Type

Newspaper

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Newspaper

Files

The_Gazette_Sat_Jun_20_1970_Page_39.jpg

Citation

Herbert Aronoff, “Charlie Burke,” Black Canadian History Exhibit, accessed December 5, 2025, http://omeka.uottawa.ca/mathieu-black-canadian-history-exhibit/items/show/379.